I just got this today.

Better that a dozen people view her in a museum than thousands see her at a reenactment.

All this trouble so that some museum beaurocrat can have a nice display that no one will ever see.

Anyone who wants to add their 2 cents worth & write to the Governor, be my guest.

From: "James Dassatti"
Reply-To: 2ndVermont@yahoogroups.com
To:
Subject: [2ndVermont] Maybe Losing Cannon
Date: Sat, 6 Jan 2007 17:29:08 -0500

January 6, 2007

Dear 2nd Battery Members:

WE MAY BE IN THE PROCESS OF LOSING USE OF THE NAPOLEON 12PDR CANNON.

About 8 weeks ago while I was still very engrossed in working on my newly purchased house (trying to get the garage foundation fixed and get it buttoned up for the winter with a door) I was contacted by Mr. Ronald Crisman of the Vermont National Guard Museum demanding that I immediately turn over the location of the Napoleon 12pdr cannon so that the National Guard could come and pick it up. He informed me that the owner of the gun Richard Fifield had determined that it was time for the gun to go to the museum. I told him that our original agreement was that the gun would go there when the Battery dissolved. Mr. Crisman told me no, that the time had now arrived. He extended his regrets but demanded the gun. He wants to put it with their new Cedar Creek display even though the 2nd Battery was never at Cedar Creek. He further expressed no interest in the Battery or its history in the Civil War or as a reenacting unit for the last 50 plus years. He did say that we serve only a membership of twenty people while he and his museum represents the 750,000 people of the State of Vermont.

I told him that Dick Fifield had given the care of the 2nd Battery and the cannon to me 30 years ago and that I felt the 2nd Battery had either the care or ownership rights to the cannon. I also stated that I felt that I had paper work that would support this claim, but since he had surprised me early in the morning (waking me from a sound sleep as I work late nights at my job) I told him that I needed time to reflect on the matter and look through my records. He insisted that this was not necessary and that Dick Fifield had provided him with proper provenance and they were coming to get the gun. I told him that it was at the Federal Arsenal at Waterveliet for repairs and that the gun was under 24 hour guard and wasn’t going anywhere without my signature. He then seemed very upset.

We parted in our conversation.

We spoke on the phone twice more in the coming weeks during which time Mr. Crisman went to see Mr. Fifield to gather more information. During the last phone conversation on or about December 12th he stated to me that he was sending the Guard to get the cannon as Mr. Fifield said that it belonged to the State of Vermont. I said nothing about this, but after researching the paper work I too came to the same conclusion (which is what I have always thought). At this point I have decided not to contact a lawyer but rather to put the situation into the hands of the governor. Soon I hope to have this correspondence posted on our web site so you can all see it. I have sent some of this to a few close friends and historic sites that might raise a voice of concern on this matter for us.

One major set back is our lack of membership currently from Vermont. If you decide to write to the Governor’s office please identify yourself as having been pleased to portray a Vermonter. If you previously lived in Vermont you may want to mention that. But basically ask him to support allowing the 2nd Battery Vermont Light Artillery to keep the Napoleon 12 pdr active and in the field representing Vermont at historical events and activities. We cannot claim ownership to the gun regardless of all the time, money and effort we have put into it. But we do want to say that this is a piece of state owned property that was given into our trust, and it has not been a trust that we have taken lightly. We have improved the cannon by rebuilding it, bringing it together with its documentable history as a part of 2nd Battery. We have represented Vermont well with it both in and out of state. We bore all of the responsibility for 30 years and wish to continue to do so.

The Governor’s address is:

The Honorable Governor James Douglas

Vermont State House

State Street

Montpelier, Vermont 05602

If you want to wait until we are able to post those letters I have sent so far that state our position in this matter, then feel free to do so. Pray for a “Just” outcome.

Sincerely,

James A. Dassatti

Capt. Commanding

2nd Battery Vermont

Light Artillery

802 464-5569

lha@sover.net

Andy Danish
USNLP, 2nd VTLA.