128 



CIVIL HISTORY OF VERMONT. 



Part II. 



MILITARY ORGANIZATION. 



CHARACTER OF THE MILITIA. 



mander in chief, is divided into three di- 

 visions, with a major general to each di- 

 vision. Each division is divided into three 

 brigades, with a brigadier general to each. 

 Each brigade is divided into from two to 

 four regiments, and each regiment is de- 

 signed to consist of ten companies of 100 

 men in each. Each company is com- 

 manded by a captain and two lieutenants; 

 each regiment by a colonel, lieutenant 

 colonel and major ; each brigade by a brig- 

 adier general, a brigade inspector, a quar- 

 termaster and one aid-de-camp ; each di- 

 vision by a major general, a division in- 

 spector, a quartermaster and two aids-de- 

 camp ; and the whole by the governor as 

 captain general, an adjutant and inspector 

 general, a quartermaster general and two 

 aids-de-camp. The adjutant and in- 

 spector general and the quartermaster 

 general are appointed by the governor. 

 The major generals and brigadier generals 

 are appointed by the legislature ; the 

 colonels, lieutenant colonels, and majors 

 are elected by the captains and lieuten- 

 ants of their respective regiments ; and 

 the captains, lieutenants and non-commis- 

 sioned officers of each company are elect- 

 ed by their respective companies. The mi- 

 litia of the state is at present divided into 

 three divisions, 78/?ic hT]ga.des,tice?itij-ciglU 

 regiments, including a rifle regiment, and 

 tico hundred and ninntij companies. The 

 regiments are numered in regular progres- 

 sion from one up to twenty-eight. 



On the first Tuesday of June in each 

 year, every company is called together 

 for the purpose of inspection, drill and 

 discipline, and a return, of the name and 

 equipments of each individual, made to the 

 clerk of the town to which the company 

 belongs ; and once in three years, be- 

 tween the 5th of September and the 3d of 

 October, the militia of the state may be 

 assembled, for review, inspection and dis- 

 cipline, by regiment, or separate battal- 

 ion, as the commandant of briffade shall 

 direct. Tlie commissioned and non-com- 

 missioned officers and musicians of each 

 regiment are required to rendezvous two 

 days annually, in their uniforms, for the 

 purpose of training and improvement in 

 military discipline. The poll of each per- 

 son belonging to the militia, who is re- 

 turned fully equipped, is e.xempted from 

 all taxes, except the highway tax, and 

 each officer, non-commissioned officer and 

 musician is paid one dollar per day, and 

 the adjutant and inspector general three 

 dollars per day, for attendance at regi- 

 mental drills. 



The militia of Vcrmont,or Green Moun- 

 tain Boys, as they have Ijoen more com- 

 monly denominated, have always been 



proverbial for their intrepidity and valor. 

 During the revolutionary war, they acted 

 in proportion to their numbers a very con- 

 spicuous and important part, as the fields 

 of Hubbardton* and Bennington! and the 

 surrender of Burgoynej bear witness. 

 And when our country was invaded du- 

 ring the last war with Great Britain, their 

 previous reputation was fully sustained 

 by the promptness and bravery with 

 which they met the enemy at Plattsburgh 

 on the memorable 11th of Sept. 1814. 



Flag.^ — The Flag or Ensign, of this 

 state, as established by law, consists of 

 thirteen stripes alternate red and white, 

 and the Union one large star, white, in a 

 blue field, with the coat of arms of the 

 state of Vermont therein. 



Champlain Arsenal. — This is an estab- 

 lishment belonging to the United States, 

 situated at Vergennes, and is rated and 

 designated as an arsenal of the third class, 

 " for the safe-keeping of arms and other 

 ordnance stores." The land on which 

 the public buildings are erected was pur- 

 chased by the United States from E. D. 

 Woodbridge, Esq., in two lots ; the first 

 lot of about ten acres, was purchased in 

 lbl6, and the second lot, about eighteen 

 acres, in 1628.11 The location and general 

 supervision of the buildings was assigned 



* See part second, page 41. f Ibid. p. 45. J Ibid, 

 page 48. || Ibid, p 96. 



§ Tlirougb inadvertence, twice as many stripea 

 were introduced into our figure of t)ie Vermont Flag 

 as tbere should have been, and the error was not dis- 

 covered in season to have it re-engraved. 



IT These lots were severally ceded to the United 

 States by the legislature of Vermont j the first ia 

 li:2t), and the second in 1S28. 



