From Historical Rutland: an illustrated history of Rutland, Vermont, from the granting of the charter in 1761 to 1911 by Rev. F. E. Davison, Rutland, Vt.: P.H. Brehmer, 1911, page 54:
Rutland Light Guards
February 9, 1911, was the fiftieth anniversary of the enlistment of the Rutland Light Guards in the defense of the Union. Vermont had but 17 companies of uniformed militia, few of them numbering over 50 men in January, 1861. One of the largest of these companies was the Rutland Light Guards. numbering 74 men and commanded by Gen. W. Y. W. Ripley. Gov. Fairbanks took early action to put Vermont in position to meet any crisis that might arise, believing that war was inevitable, and an order through Adjutant and Inspector General H. H. Baxter, January 25, 1861, ordered the commanding offiicers of each company to ascertain how many men would be ready to respond to the call of the Presiident in a war for the Union. On February 9, 1861, 54 members of the Rutland Light Guards held a special meeting in the first Town Hall at the [55] upper end of Washington Street, and of the 74 members of the company 63 responded "Yes". Of this number 52 went to war and only six are now known to be alive. Their names are Milo Lyman. H. G. Sheldon, Henry W. Davis, Samuel W. Terrill, James W. Ross and Levi G. Kingsley. The Light Guards became Company K of the First Vermont Regiment.
On May 9, 1911, seven members of the original Rutland Light Guards held a reunion at the home of Gen. L. G. Kingsley, of Pine Street. They were Milo Lyman, Henry W. Davis, Samuel Terrill, S. H. Kelley, Harley Sheldon. James Post and L. G. Kingsley.
These were the first enlisted men in the War of the Rebellion.
The Grand Army of the Republic dates back to an early period after the close of the war. Roberts Post No. 14 (named in honor of the lamented Colonel Roberts, who fell on the battlefield), was chartered November 11, 1868. The first meeting was held in the carpet room of L. G. Kingsley's store, and the post occupied the hall in the Morse (now Rutland Savings Bank) block, in 1885. The first officers were Wm. Y. W. Ripley, P. C, W. G. Veazey. S. V. C, John A Sheldon, J. V. C., C H. Forbes. Adj., E. A. Morse, quartermaster.