Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-07-06
THE NATIONAL ANNIVERSARY.
The Gettysburg Ceremonies-TheC Celebra.
tion in Various Cities-Enthusiasm Of
the People.

1908, Eoward Everett delivering an Grafton,
Cabinet, the leading generals of our armies,
and many of our most distinguished statesmen
commemorating the occasion by them presence
The cemetery includes seventeen acres. and
occupies the ground upon which the center of
our line of battle rested July and 3. 1863, and
is one Of the most prominent and important
positions OF the whole conflict. 1t was esti.
mared that some sixty three thousand dollars
would be required to complete the cemetery,
which sum was divided among the different
States having lots therein, in the ratio of their
representation in Congress. The dead bodies
were removed and buried with the utmost care
Every effort was made to obtain the names of
the soldiers, and with very good success. The
total number buried in the cemetery is thirty
five hundred and twelve. The following shows
the number from each State:-Maine, 104; New
15s; Rhode Island. 12; Connecticut, %; New
York $50; New Jersey, a; Pennsylvania, SOL;
Delaware, De 5li Maryland, 81; Virginia, IL;
166; Wisconsin, II; Minnesota, Sc; United States
regulars, 1856; unknown North, All; unknown.
South, 425; unknown, inner circle, I43 The
collins are deposited side by side in parallel
trenches. A space of twelve feet is allowed TO
each parallel, leaving five feet of grass path
between each row Of interments. The head
stones are precisely alike, and form a con-
unuous line of granite blocks, rising nine
inches above the ground with n width of ten
inches on their upper surface The name, COM
pany, and regiment are carved in the granite.
The center of the semi circle formed by these
graves is the spot upon which the monument
will be erected, and dwarf shrubbery and trees
will be so arranged as to entirely separate it
from the lots.
The design ofthe monument is adapted for ex-
ecution either in marble in granite and
bronze, as may be deemed expedient, the ma
terlal being controlled entirely by the amount
appropriated. 20
The superstructure is sixty feet high and con-
sists Of a massive pedestal twenty five feet
square at the base, and il crowned with colos-
sal statue representing the Genius Of Liberty.
Standing upon a three. quarter globe, she raises
with her right hand the rictOr's wreath of lau-
rel, while with her left she gathers up the
folds OF our national flag under which the vic
tory has been won.
Projecting from the angles of the pedestal
are four buttresses, supporting an equal num-
Der OF allegorical statues representing respec-
lively War, History, Peace, and Plenty
War is personified by statue of the Ameri-
can soldier, who, resting from the conflict,
relates TO History the story of the battle which
this monument is intended to commemorate.
History in listening attitude, records with
stylus and tablet, the achievements of the field,
and the names of the hOnored dead.
Peace is sympolZed by statue of the Ameri-
can mechanic, characterized by appropriate ac-
cessOries.
Plenty is represented by a female figure, with
a sheaf Of wheat and fruits of the earth, typify.
ing peace and abundance as the soldiers crown
ing triumph.
The panels of the main die between the sta
tues are to have inscribed upon them such in
seriptions as may hereafter be determined.
The main die Of the pedestal Is Ocfagonal in
form, paneled upon each face. The cornice
and plinth above are also octagonal, and are
heavily moulded. Upon this plintn rests an
octagonal moulded base bearing upon its face,
in high relief the national arms.
The upper die and cap are circular in form,
the die being encircled by stars equal in mum.
Der with the States whose sons contributed their
lives as the price Of the victory won at Gettys-
burg. r.-. :,t-
occasion for laying the corner stone of the mon
ument, and arrangements for this object had
been praaressine for many months. As the
IF frGa STsw near ior .hs re- the city
tions for extending hospitality to visitors, and
many days before the 4th a great proportion of
the buildings, both private and public, Were
occupied. On Monday the trains running to
Gettysburg were crowded to their utmost ca
pacty, the tide Of visitors not essening till the
last moment when the exercises were con-
cluded and the vast throng had set in a current
homeward. .."..-. ..-.. .-Es--r- n
On the evening of the Sd the special train
| which it ws expected would bring the Presi-
dent and his suite arrived President Johnson
having been prevented from indispOSition from
being present, however, sent the following let
| ter, which was read to the audience during the
ceremonies:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, July 3, 1864
| NJ. Daniel Wills, Chairman, de-, DC, Gettys-
DEAR SIR: had promised myself the pleas
ure Of participating in person in the proceed
owing to my indisposition, I ana reluctantly
i should have been pleased, standing on that
twice consecrated spot, to share with you your
Joy the return Of peace, to greet with you the
surviving heroes of the war who come back
with light hearts and heavy laden with honors,
| and with You to drop grateful tears to the men,
Ory Of those that will never return.
Unable to do SO in person, l can only send
you my greetings and assure you of my full
sympathy with the purpose and spirit OF your
exercises O-morrOw.
OF all the anniversaries Of the Declaration of
independence, none has been more important
| and significant than that upon which you as
semble.
Four years of struggle for our nations life
have been crowned with success; armed trea-
son is swept from the land our ports are re-
opened; our relations with other nations are of
| the most satisfactory character; our internal
commerce is free; our soldiers and sailors re-
sumo the peaceful pursuits of civil life; our
flag floats in every breeze, and the only bar
rier to our national progress-human slavery
Let us trust that each recurring Fourth of
July shall find our Nation stronger in mum
bers,-sironger in weilth,-stronger in the har-
mony of it's citZens--stronger in its devotion to
Nationality and Freedom
AS l have often said, i believe that God sent
this people on mission among the nations Of
the earth, and that when He founded our ma
tion, He founded it in perpetuity. That faith
sustained me through the struggle that is past.
1t sustains me now that new duties are de-
1 feel that whatever the means He uses, the
Almighty is determined to preserve us as a
people. And since have seen the love our
fellow Citizens bear their country, and the sac.
rifices they have made for it, my abiding faith
has become stronger than ever that ssGovern-
ment of the people, is the strongest as well Us
the best of Governments. sft -IF
In your joy tomorrow, I trust You will not
forget the thousands of whites, as well as
blacks, whom the war has emancipated, who
will hail this Fourth of July with q delight
which no previous anniversary of the Decla-
ration ofIndependence ever gave them. Con-
trolled SO long by ambitious selfish leaders,
who used then for their own unworthy ends,
they are now nee to serve and cherish the
Government against whose life they, in their
blindness, struck. am greatly mistaken it.
In the States lately in rebellion, we do not
henceforward have an exhibition of such loy-
atty and patriotism as was never seen nor felt
there before. - - = y
where You have consecrated National Gem
etery you are to lay the corner-s stone Of Ma
tional Monument, which in all human prob
ability will rise to the full height and proper
tion you design. Noble as this monument of
stone may be, it will be but q faint symbol Of