Honoured Men of Vermont
Today sees a turning point in this cruel and unnecessary war inflicted upon us and the Union by the selfish Secess.
To date you have fought hard, fought bravely, fought and overcome their best and many have earnt the Red Badge of Courage. For those of you going home at your enlistment end stand tall, stand proud and stand for the Union. You have earnt your time at peace and I personally thank you for the service you have provided which has made me feel rightly humbled in your presence. Be it known that the Regimental colours so bravely followed will be laid up in permanent memorial at the earliest practicable opportunity, and each man irrespective of rank or station will receive a personal Scroll of Honour should he wish it by submission to Divisional HQ.
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| Vermont Band ready to strike it up for their General. |
For those new in you are following in the footsteps of true Union Heroes, and I know that you are willing and able to take this struggle to its inevitable successful rightful conclusion. To date my call has been No concessions to the 'Secess', trusting that good sense would bring them to the manifest conclusion obvious for all to see. However I regret that our sincere efforts at ensuring common humanity and standards are maintained including several offers of prisoner exchange have fallen on deliberately deaf ears. Further at the start of this conflict the Secess General Jackson was reported to say he would gladly raise the Black Flag.
You were not cowered by such base behaviour, but as the Secess has sown so shall the Secess now reap. Be it known that with the most welcome appointment of our new Commander Grant I will now to the end if this conflict be content, as he is with nothing less than the Secess total Unconditional Surrender. So let the trumpet sound, drums beaten & arms be shouldered as the terrible swift sword of the Union is applied to the chaff of the Secess.
March on Boys to Victory!!
Holt Oglethorpe
