Green Mountain Freeman

Third Annual Re-Union of the Tenth Vermont Regiment.

The third Annual Re-Union of the Tenth Vermont Regiment, took place at Love Hotel, in Waterbury, on Wednesday evening. About forty officers and men, several of whom were accompanied by their ladies, were present.

In the afternoon, all present repaired to the Cemetery, to pay a tribute of respect to the memory of Major Edward Dillingham and Capt. L. D. Thompson, who lost their lives in the service of their country.

The business meeting of the Society was held in the hall of the hotel, and in the absence of the President, was called to order by Capt. S. E. Perham of Bellows Falls, Vice President.

The following officers were elected for the year ensuing:
President-Maj. John A. Sheldon
Vice Presidents Surgeon Willard A. Child, Sergt J. G. Bostwick, Maj. A. B. Valentine.
Treasurer-Maj. H. W. Kingsley
Secretary-Capt. A. W. Fuller
Executive Committee-Sen. W. W. Henry, Maj. J. A. Salisbury, Capt. S. E. Perham.

A full and interesting sketch of the Regiment's experience, written by Surgeon Child, together with brief yet complete biographical notices of Major Edwin Dillingham, Capt. Lucien D. Thompson, Capt. Samuel Darrah, Capt. Edwin Brant Frost, Lieut. Charles G. Newton and Lieut. Ezra Stetson, carefully prepared by Chaplain Haynes, were then read. The thanks of the Society were voted to the surgeon and chaplain, with a request that the first paper be furnished to be incorporated with the history of the Regiment and that the latter continue and complete his labors, with a view to publication as soon as the work is finished.

Governor Dillingham was then called out amid great applause and responded with an eloquent address.

EX-GOVERNOR DILLINGHAM'S ADDRESS

He spoke of the pleasure he had in receiving their hearty soldiers' greeting, and touchingly alluded to their tender and sacred preservation of the memories of those who had fought with them and whom they had seen faint and die with them. Glorious as they then appeared they now seemed worthier than ever before. "I am a believer in the promises of the Scriptures," said he, "I have faith in their glorious immortality, and, though it may be an illusive fancy, it is one that I delight to entertain, that they are with you here to-night, unseen but seeing all, and with you are living over again the scenes of the camp, the march and field." "I rejoice that so many of you survived. I remember how you went forth from your homes when the danger first appeared-how the young men said to me that the war was upon the country and must be fought, and that the battle was for the young, the brave and strong. You knew, and we knew, what you undertook, but you faltered not. In prosperity and peace, men isolate themselves and grow selfish, in adversity and danger they draw together and stand in common defence and sympathy. I can comprehend something of the feeling that animates you, though I cannot recount the scenes you saw, or participate in the rehearsal as one of you. It is but human nature that the fiery trial through which you passed should have burned its impressions deeper than any into your very lives, and I rejoice that you have associated yourselves together for occasional renewal of the memories of that momentous struggle-a part of which you saw-a part of which you were, and all of which you know. You did something that you and your friends are justified in pointing to with pride. Generations of your children and your children's children yet unborn will delight to point back to their brave extraction, and tell how you faced the danger, how you suffered, what you achieved, and it needs no prophetic eye to see how proud a boast it will be to them that you belonged to the noble Old Tenth Vermont," [cheers]. "I am one of those who believe that whatever we do well in this world of failures and shortcomings is written in the Great Book on High to our credit- 'well done good and faithful servants'-and I believe this is written of you, gentlemen, and venturing to speak to you as I almost feel I have a right to, with the freedom I would address my own children, I sincerely hope that in the trials of life yet before you, none of you will do one single deed of shame to mar it."

One thing more. You labored, gentlemen, for a cause, and that was no less than the preservation of this Government. It inspired you at every step, and by that sign it conquered. The Government stands, because the people are the Government and the Government is the people, and you do not forget that as you are of the people you are looked to, to sustain it still.

The speaker then spoke of the hopeful reaction; of the success of our experiment of free government upon the monarchies of the Old World; pictured in strong contrast the manner in which the cause of Liberty was regarded by its friends and enemies both North and South during the last war; and concluded with an eloquent tribute to the progress of civilization and Christianity in our land, which is already extending an influence to the remotest corners of the earth.

The address was listened to with the closest attention and received with applause and a vote of thanks.

The Society then repaired to the supper room. After supper and the reading of letters from various absent officers, they adjourned sine die, subject to the call of the Executive Committee.

A dance continuing to the "wee sma' hours," concluded this, one of the largest and pleasantest of the re-unions of the gallant 10th Vermont.