The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1866-11-02
Written for the East rsnnssuss Union TlAg.l
r,atter from Gettysburg, Pennsyl.

| tile kQWD uNNANNh " hNmVt WhA w A~N@N W
no little interest TO our readers
GETrYsBURd, Penn, Oct. 22nd, 1896.
Carr. GRESHAM, Editor Union Flay Al
though much has been written about Gettys-
surg since its great battle was fought, yet,
perhaps. a short description Of the town and
its surroundings might be interesting to
some of the readers o: the Union Flay.
Gettysburg is the shire-toWn Of Adama
county Pennsylvania, Pleasantly situated on
undulating grounds, and surrounded BY
wooded hilla and productive valleys. There
10 nothing about the Iowa alone that is
very attractive 10 tho visitor.
The private dwellings, which are princi-
pally Of b-ick and wood, are built, with few
exceptions, in q low, blockish manner, and
display but little taste or beauty. II contains
q Court House and other public Offices,
which are very fine and oOmmodioua brick
buildings.
There are, In the town, two f2l National
banks. seven ~ Churches, and 10y printing
establishments, iSsuing three weekly papers,
two Of which are Republican. and the other
Democrat. Its population 10 estimated at
three thousand 10000 souls, but John Burns,
"ths hero Of Gettysburg" says that one half
that number are Copperheads and they have
no souls. So II that be true, the town has
a population OF only fifteen hundred (l50Ol.
As to copperheads having no souls, We do
not propose 70 know, but We would waru
them not TO place too much reliance In Johns
word. The inhabitants are vefy hospitsble,
and the town ~ noted for its grest advsnta-
ges Of learning. Besides . 6ne public
school, and a female Seminary, It is the seat
! Of a Theological Seminary, and Of Pennsyl.
vania College, the latter contAininz about
two hundred (900) students, and library Of
Gftsen thousand (l5000) volumes, including
those belonging TO the two literary societies
OF College. This institution is now in a very
aonrIshing condition, the number OF siaden,5
having greatly inereaAtd since the close Of
the war. Its buildings, surrounded by a
beautiful campus,r re a very large sHd finely
constructed, and we're used as hospitals by the
rebel army during the battle. The town is
ahundautly supplied with good water, which
IL conVeyed through pipes from a neighbour
ing spring, about a mile north OF the town,
where the brave Gen. Reynolds fell ia the
hrst days FIGHT, where u hne Lythsa sp.iDS
has been discovered.
To those persona living in smoky cities,
wearied b. tho din and hustle Of business,
the quiet town Of Gettysburg ia q pleasant
retreat, during the warm months Of sumraer.
Travellers coming to see the battlefield gen.
orally visit the Cemetery nill first, which Is 4
mile south Of town. Standing here on this
central point, one can have 3 commanding
view of the whole surrounding county
Here, on this hill, is the sepulchre Of the 10y
al dead, a place made halloWed by the best
blood Of the nation. Here three thousand
three hundred aud seventy 1870 brave men,
the representatives Of eighteen States, lie
sleeping the sleep Of death.
When We ascend this kill and see about ne
30 many tombstOnes, the question naturally
itsJlf to our mind, why so many
fresh grAves2 why all this carnage and
blUOdshed4 The answer is treason, treason
And 10 We stand up on thiJ sacred spot, thers
comes up from these graves, = silent elo-
quenee, which no words can express. Il is
the voice Of slain heroes, pleading and de-
manding, in the name Of the cause for which
they died, 10 the name Of their widows and
orphans, in The name of the free Institutions
Of our land IN the name OF justice and hu.
mainly, that we shall make treason Odious, |
both North and South, and that traitors shall
be punished, whether they be found clothed
in the cloak Of Jefferson Davis or Of Andrew
Johnson.
This new National Cemetery Is to the right
and Joins the old Evergreen Cemetery. The
monument will be sixty 1907 feet
high, and will stand, when finished, on the
ground Of the Cemetery. The grave
stones are also Of granite, aud are set ia the
form Of Eemicircular seats, facing the mouu-
meut. On each side Of tho head stones,
when il could be Asceriained, the name of
the person, together with the company, rrgi-
ment and State is inscribed. Bat on ac-
count Of 4 great many Of our dead being
barbarouJly stripped by the rebels, their
names could not be ascertainsd aud on
their hsadstones the word "UnknoWn' was in
These stones, although valuable,
are more suitable tor the steps Of a Dutch
cellar, or the foundation Of bis house,
han to mark the spot where SO many patri-
DtG lie.
This Cemstsry, in a few years, il properly
managed, will be- the most beautiful and at.
Of any 10 the United States. IN any
the eye may wander from this bill
rests upon the mos. sublime and pietnr-
.sque scenery. When directed to the north
and west, il beholds the lofty SUBMITS Of the
Blue Ridge and TO the soutb, the hills Gnd
stretching for manT miles.
As no better place In al Of our land could
nave been found for so great a battle 10 be
aHd so glorious = victory 10 be won,
han on the hills surrounding Gettysburg;
10 no spot more suitable could have been Sc
eeted for SO many slain VictOrS 10 lie, thaa
,ur Cemetery bill.
Immediately below the Cemstery a home
i1r the orphans Of PennsylTania'J Union SOL
liefs, has lately been established. About
he distance Of a gun-Shot from this hill is
Culp'S Hill" . steep and rugged knob,
covered with wood. Here Gen. Gsa-
., the present Governor Of this State, 10 no.
big defended bis position against the mighty
Of EWslrs army. This place bears
nors marks Of the 6ght than any other por-
OF the field. 4 shallow riae-pit, which
vas hastily and poorly constructed, sill re-
Mains plainly 10 be seen. ThD was the only
protection that our men had from the Gre Of
he enemy, except the trees and a few large
'oeks On the northern slope Of this mill,
where the 6ght was 90 long and 80 bloody,
he trees, which are principally oak, are IT.
cut 10 psiees by the firing Of both Ar.
and about the distance Of two hun
ired (2Ool yards from our line Of breast
works, they are all killed.
Three miles Soalh Of the Iowa are the two
hills called " Big Round Top " add Little
Top" There was Ion both Of thsml