The Mountain Times

Civil War historian, Howard Coffin, retells how the Green Mountain Boys won the war

RUTLAND-The meeting room in the Gotnick Center in Rutland is packed, Howard Coffin, nationally known Civil War historian and a true Vermonter is here to tell us how the Green Mountain Boys won the war. His voice booms out across the audience, Peggy Pratt, Karen Bowles and I (three staunch Killington Arts Guild members) sit eagerly waiting.

In the next hour or so Coffin took us through the Wilderness Campaign.

He told us of the day Vermonters first arrived on the battlefield. After the fighting they were asked, "Where the heck do you fellows come from?" they answered "The Green Mountains." He told of the day at Gettysburg when 1,000 Vermonters were killed and Vermont soldiers kept coming and coming anyway. And he told of the heroics of the Vermont Calvary with it's Morgan Horses.

The Civil War, what a subject for discussion after the on-going recovery from Irene! Who wants to hear it? Everyone in this room!

Karen Bowles is particularly delighted because she is on the Osher committee that planned this program- a volunteer and a supporter. I ask Bowles about the Osher program for the winter months. "Starting in January," she says enthusiastically "Jim Davidson will be giving a series on Rutland - Frontier Days, The Railroad Comes, Old Town Rutland and a New Century 1898-1914."

Jim is three-times past president of Rutland Historical Society. I think of how many programs like these (Coffin and Davidson) would never happen without people like Karen. She is not always an artist-a quilter, a painter, a singer, a poet, or an historian. Sometimes she becomes an avid supporter who volunteers to do her part to make art available to the public.

The Killington Arts Guild, like many other organizations dedicated to the arts, is all volunteer. Sally Curtis, president of KAG in her annual report to the Town of Killington asks people to volunteer for small jobs that make The Guild and its Gallery function.

Come to the Upstairs Gallery, "Art in Your Life" at Cabin Fever Gifts on Route 4 opposite the Killington Access Road. Meet our members in person at the reception on Feb. 18 from 1-3:30 p.m. Learn more about us at www.killingtonartsguild.org and consider becoming a member.

To contact this column:vtkag@aol.com for more information.

Tagged: Killington Arts Guild, kag, howard coffin, civil war