New-York daily tribune., 1863-11-21
rur cETTYsRURG CEREMONIES
Dc.cr;ytsen Of the Battlefield and Con-
secrntion Exercises.
n. sn.cisl Corre.nondeni

portion Of the battle field Of Gettysburg for the pur
poses Of National Cemetery" wherein snouia pe
placed the bodies Of those of our men who ie IN '""
battle it would only large expense III VIC ~
moving Of the bodies by the friends oil the iaeh
but would be something which, II rightly managed ana
carried out we should all s M ns'Gn n what more appro
pirate place could those who SO hoOI! i0ugn' nnu ueu
sor the institutions OF their country and their perpetua
ton have than the spot where. struggling manfuy and
heartily they chanced to fal Mr.. Wills after much
deberation upon the matter. and after hnding that
his plan va. s lens1 s naa s an
who throughout the State Is called the Soldiers
Friend" at seized upon tho idea and after con-
sultation with the Governors Of the different States
dered Mr. Wills purchase for the State of Pennsyva
MIA such ground he might deem most suitable FOR the
purpose. This was at once done and some seventeen
OF land were purchased for the sum OF $3.50 and
arrangements were Immediately made for the removing
from the places where hastily buried after the
battle our brave Union defenders, and placing within
the grounds Of tho National Cemetery" their baowed
remains From that time TO the present this good work
has been going on; and some six weeks since It
had far progressed to fully prove is perfect suo'
cess 1t was then deemed advisable 10 appoint q day
when the grounds so sacredly set apart should DC
formally consented with aPpropTsteS - e;sIeiss s IL
States represented at the battle purchased portions OF
the grounds and agreed with the Commonwealth OF
Pennsynsns that the future expense should DC porne
An things having thus been most satisfactorily Ar
ranged Thursday, the 10th OF this month, was fixed
Gov Curtin had previously appointed Lis agent. sad
who had also been specially selected by the other State,
iDrited a ali Who 40 felt insnSd to isRd shs
upon the occasion. 1t being considered national I'M
deraking. invitations were specially addressed to the
Governors Of all the loyal States and various public
men and notabilties.
Such then. briefly was the condition and history of
;SaI ; TSsS On s nS,S
Central Railroad bound for this place via Harrisburg
Taking the at Jersey City a. o'clock the morn
Ing of that day lie found board number OF gentlemen
and ladies from N. Y and most Of the Eastern States
I'll bound to Gettysburg Aer some seven hours riding
Gsschsd the Cspa Of the State vsr. obliged
20 exchange our seats for those Of the Northern Central
Road, running from Harrisburg. Pa. through to Bas
Here. for some reasons unknown. we were detained
nearly two hours 90 that 1t was o'clock before we
were sgsn 1nGeT n .aohsd
Junction after having passed through the town OF
York where the Rebels in their passage through after
erty most modesiy demanded Of them the sum OF
ESQ OOo to save themselves from further molestation
The amount however, was never obtained Here IL
was that for the first time we witnessed although lin
edy any signs indicative Of the past presence OF the
Rebel horde
Al the Junction we vacated again our comfortable
cushioned seats and after spending IN the cold nearly
two hours some 30 passengers. o. both sexes were
transferred TO baggage cars on shs Hanover B,Anea
travelled for hour arriving at Hanover itself az
D IN. Changing there, for the third time. We once
handsome cars Of the Gettysburg Road An hours
more travel and at O'Clock we had reached our ces
tnstion We found large number Of strangers In
town, and Of course hundreds more expected In the
morning and therefore at once procured for the
night at MeClellans House. 70 called after its pro-
prietor.
inner man. your Correspondent sought the Office Of Mr.
David Villa whom he found at home and although fun
his power The Hon Edward Everett OF Boston WHO 1
had been requested TO deliver an ora'on upon the oecs
son Of the had arrived s evening before
extended 70 the President and President Of the
United States the members Of the Cabinet Lieut.. Gen
Scott Admiral Charles Stewart and the Governors Of
the several States also Gen. Meade requesting his
presence and II compatible with the movements of the
me or company to do honor 70 the remains Of those
snvations the following ettes have been received fro
Gen. Meade and Secretary Chase. declining. for the
reasons thers:s mentioned, to be present:
HEADauARTKEs, AMY OF Tss PoToSAo,
November Is, 1903 s
DAVID Wills. e's, AgensJo,h the Gaerner :. Pesn's, Dr.
sA have ts honor 10 hs en- sria,'s s.i Which
eresed extend to me aud iEe ofcer' and men OF my
S os Of .ao.s wao G o. h sd Of G.sy
Itseem. for to say, that
srms bound close ties Of long sssoc,n and m0,u. conf
S tribute sa Of Psps nor eood he piss,le. q say more
spprop.e than tina, Of those who stood sde ty ide in The
suse shared peril ard the plsnes IL whose ranks
bear sad testimony the Os they have sustained bu, ai.
has duties 70 perform which will no, seu OF lie being
the occasion and only for its
with deep AID grateful feehas to thsas ard o.
represent for your tender care q IT, hIe dssd 10, {o1r
csnye to Al who do 6.it for the inss
rity Of the Government
q ,':39fef 3saSf os.asa' csa.ua
TREASURY DxpAsrxxsr, Nov 49, 1854
Dian SIR: II dssppOnt, gestiy to ind that imperative
public duties make impossible for Inc to be present 81 the
consecraon Of the gounoa selected the at resting place Of
the soldiers who fell in battle for their country oeysoug
II eonsoies me TO think Of minged rref aad tn
unph will fall upon their and what bened lions OF the
country saved BY their heroisn vii make their
sscred among men
Very respectfully your. 81 CHASE.
DAVID WIs esq Agent for the Governors Of the States
A dispatch has also been received from Lieut. Gen.
Scott stating that the fecbensss Of his health alone win
prevent him from being present OIL TIE occasion Of the
consecration.
But now having stated thus generally the state Of
affairs up 10 this time and having prepared for ride
over and a survey OF the battlefield In the morning
your correspondent most respectfully bids all good
hight and retires 10 rest possible til morning when
after returning from my ride. hope to be able to lay
before the readers Of 1HE TRIBUNE little account
Of the battle ground.
As this place is destined 10 be for all future time
Of more less resort and certainly OF great national In
terest perhaps some singh. description thereof nay not
of Adams County Is situated the turnpike road from
Philadelphia TO Pittsburghbeing distant l4 miller xss,
OF the former and Sc miles south west Of Harrisburg.
The ground surrounding the town Is snghty undual.
Ing or perhaps might 10 better described 0s sort Of
elevated, rolling table land. Ihs Immediate country
surrounding Gettysburg Is owned aud worked princi-
academy, seven churches college. and four news.
paper oices The manufacture Of carriages carried
on quite extensively there being some ten carriage
nanufsctories here. The population ID about 800.
for hasy look the battle field. Soon after break
fast We took aveyance, and In company with few
friends started cLt. first upon the Chambersburg
Road upon which the Rebels first entered the
,own nm Friday lone 26. Pushing straight ont from