The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-07-15
THos. J. STEWART,
Assistant Adiutant General,
THE GETTYSBURG MEMORIAL.
An Interesting Scrap of History The Proposed
Memorial Structure.

Memorial Structure.
Rev. A. E. Tortat, of Gettysburg, Pa, con-
tributes the following communication:
"My attention has been attracted by an
article signed M. T. McMahon,' denying that
General Sedgwick said mot till the boys have
had their coffee = when his corps was ordered
into battle on arriving on the field after
forced march of thirty. five miles l made this
statement not on hearsay, but upon the au-
thority of Colonel John B. Bachelor, the
historian of this battlefield, who related the
incident on last July during the Grand Army
of the Republic Encampment, while standing
on Culp's Hill, surrounded by General George
G. Merrill, Colonel DIN, and many other vet
Grams. / am glad to know the truth and to
have it verified by others. Red tape and cold
discipline have sacrificed many lives and ,ost
many battles as well as want of discipline.
But while we admire the true soldier, whn yer
blamed that stern warrior, Napoleon, for Ia -1g
the gun of sleeping sentinel and MON Is
guard for him, instead of having him put to
death? Who will blame the humane Sedg-
wick for preferring mercy to sacrifice on this
American Waterloo? 1t comforts me to learn
that some of the boys atleast had their coffee
after that weary march. Was it unsOldieriy
to call them boys when so many Of them
were such land fell as the dear boy of his
mother on this historic spot and here drank
their last cup of coffee?' But while these
sweetly sleep their last sleep, here or else
where, the cup of sorrow is still held to the
lips of many a bereaved mother, wife or child,
because son, husband, or father are not Shall
we not comfort these bereavsd ones by honor
ing the memory of their loved and lost tho
heroes of the Nation, by erecting here on this
now sacred spot, the only battlefield of the
North in our civil war, a stately temple of
which every stone and article of furniture
shall bear the name of some dear mothers son,
who here or on other fields not only drank
his last cup of coffee but also shed his last
drop of blood for us all? We ask, then, again,
Who among the millions of the land who for
almost twenty years have enjoyed the cheer
ing cup of tea coffee beneath peaceful roof
and the starry flag of a restored Union, and
whose loved ones were spared will now send
n gift for a memorial of the humane Sedgwick,
of the brave Reynolds, the genial TOrbet, the
gallant Fitzpatrick, the victorious Meade, and
of many such other noble spirits, officers or
To make this edifce as completely historic as
possible the outside of the high tower is re-
served for names of survivors of this or other
battle-fclds which their friends or others or
themselves may place there in token of friend
ship or of gratitude for preservation, peace, or
Union The inside of the tower will be raised
with stones for the dead of other fields, while
the body of the church, inside and out, will be
devoted to the fallen of this field and to special
memorials for any of the great actors in the
political drama of our civil war; like Lincoln
and his Cabinet Garfield, and others. Twelve
marble columns will support the roof, typify-
ing the twelve decisive battles, each bearing
the name of the participants, living or dead.
Who will send us $500 for n column, with
names to be placed thereon, or a sum sufficient
for the twelve? Memorials of Generals Meade,
Torbet, ZoOk, Lyons, and others are partly
secured and many inscribed stones paid for or
promised from all parts of the country. OF
these stones pyramid is on exhibition in our
National Cemetery. AS soon as $4,000 are
contributed the structure will be begun, and
most unique historic Mosaic will be the result,
which will form great attraction to this bat
tle-feld and be a lasting monument to the
victorious Army of the Potomac. When COM
pleted this Walhalla will be dedicated for the
services of the Protestant Episcopal Church,
but, as in Westminster Abbey, no true hero of
the land shall be denied a memorial therein
therefore the books will be left open for the
public for year and stones will be placed in
the order of payment. gift of S. places
thirty letters; one of $40 stone with fifty
letters; one of $40 stone with seventy letters
Stones sent must be prepared, smooth ashlar,
u by 81 inches or IS by "a, not less than seven
deep. and to avoid spelling in being fitted for
the walls must be inscribed here Fifteen
cents per letter is charged for hard Stones ten
cents for soft. Granite is desired for the out
side, marble for the inside. A gift of $50 to
5000 secures a section of a window; from $500
to 81 600 a full window. After completion a
detailed history of every part, with interesting
incidents and names of all members of the
association, will be published for general cir
culation. All funds are placed with the In
corporated Trustees of the Church. and there