The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-11-15
A NATIONAL MECCA.
The Field Of Gettysburg and Its
Memorials.


country. VIII be most VISITED ~ coming years.
for 1t is great turning point in history. The
battle was ore Of the few decisive engagements
which has had a permanent influence in Civ
ing direction to the current Of history. as
stood upon the crest of Cemetery Ridge on the
afternoon Of July 8, 1853, and beheld t
ground strCNn with wounded and dead SO.
diers IN gray, fallen at the lnuzzle of the Union
srtillery, I gave utteTance to Il words:
s'I'his IS the high water mark of u -llion.n
It was plain that never again would General
Lee be able TO marshal an army like that which
had crossed the Potomac, numbering $4,000,
the best appointed, best equipped army ever
raised by the Confederate government 1t was
animated by high hopes. Every soldier was
confident that he was marching to victory 1t
crossed the Potomac making the weIkin ring
with wild hurrah. Many a soldier had com
mission from his sister or sweetheart to bring
home silk dress or a lace collar from the dry
goods stores of Philadelphia. In fond antici-
patton, the soldiers Of that army saw themselves
marching through Baltimore, sweeping down
on Washington. and ifhging the stars and bars
to the breeze above the done of the Capitol. At
Richmond, Jefferson Davis and the members of
tie Confederate government were looking for
ward to recognition by England of the Con-
federacy rs nation, tie consequent breaking Of
the blockade and the springing into existence of
q Confederate navy, built IN the dock-yards of
England. Gladstone had already declared ia
Parliament that the C0nfederscy was nation.
Louis Napoleon had sent Maximillian to Next
CO TO establish a. empire and was ready to aid
and assist the Confederacy IN establishing itself
rs a means Of breaking down this Government
q the people. Behind Lees army, as 1t advanced
to Gettysburg, wishing him success, were the
mouarchs-Of Europe, and all Eeactionary ideas,
and the arist0cr2cy and tradesnen and manufac-
turers of England. We are 10 take In the SYM
patlies, predictions, prejudices ideas ofd divine
rights Of kings, the greed and selfshness of the
manufacturers, traders and i0bbers OF England.
their desire 10 break down the commerce and
manufactures Of this c0untry.-if we would
rightly com prehend the issues Of the hour The
acknowledgment Of the Republic, the breaking
down Of this Government of the people was the
ardent desire Of France and England, and to
accomplish it they went 10 the verge of neu-
trality; but instead, at the hour of on the
afternoon Of July 3. 1863, it was decreed
that thenceforth this Republic was to re-
main an indlssolnble Union that this Coy
ernmcnt Of the people was not to perish from
the earth. So Gettysburg became great turn
ing point, not only IN the history OF this ceun-
try, but IN the history OF the human race.
Through all coming years ii viii be visited by
people OF this and other lands.
None Of the other battles Of the late war
have been so thoroughly studied. While yet
the bodies Of the fallen were unburied, Col. J.
3. Bachelor, OF Boston, eooEnizing the great
ness ofthe battle, hasteued 10 The fed, and from
that time 10 the present has been obtaining
data in regard 10 i from officers and soldiers Of
every regiment battery and battalion, whether
Union or Confederate. He early made sur
vey Of the field and his labors have been sup
plemented bT the Government survey, pro-
dncing maps upon which the exact position Of
every regiment and battery is located.
MEMORIALS
The Gettysburg Battlefield Association has
been forward TO preserve TIE Geld intact. 4
br0aa avenue has been laid out along the Gene
terry Ridge, and the setting unOf memorials has
begun. Iha state Of Pennsylvania has appro-
rr-1te1 Sl59o8, and the State Of Massachusetts,
S5999 toward erecting permanent monuments
commemorative 81 tie paTt performed BIZ the
trooIs CT those States Without doubt every
other State VIII ere long take Similar action, and
Gettysburg N'il become the great memorial
battlefield Of the EepuAiic.
On October I'D, Is already recorded by THE
JzEBC.7Es tie committee selected by Mas
aclusetts regiments and batteries to mark the
sizes where tAey stood, accompanied Dy Colonel
Bae4elaer, visited tiae fed. The party num-
bersd nearly 10, inciading several ladies'
Two days were passed On tie field The State
Lad twenty-five regiments aid batteries in the
battle nearly al Of them actively engaged and
some Of tllsn doing great things for their
country. II would make this article too long
were ! 10 aitelaBt q dstailed description Of the
bate. I sl.aA. therefore, only describe the
pz-t taken ~ so.ae q the regiments.
TIEsg DAYS FIGHT.
As your readers ali know, Ice was rayaging
Ia
W 10 Harrisburg. and A. p. Hills at
Char1s5-Is1ur when lac learned that the
Army III tie Potomac lad crossed that
river aid was at Frederick; that he at
once seat word for the different corps to
zagge towards Gettysburg: that On the morn
Ing Of Jnly l lcth's division Of 4. p. Hills
corps, marching east, ard division Of Union
cavalry ander Bulord, leaving rs bivouac Just
west 81 Gett gs5urg, came u collision.
Go out with ne from Gettysburg west. We
arc o. the road leading 20 Chambers5urg. At
our right hand, running AZ an angle Of forty
Eve degrees, is the Eumasburg road.
a mile wcst Of tie town we come to ridge
o. land forty feet, perhaps, higher than the
town. Az cur right hand Is a Theological Sem
5nary. a. Cur left grove Of oaks. 4 lane runs
north half mile 70 the Mumasburg road
Gong quarter Of nile further west we
come 70 Niiloughby Run. Beyond this is an
other ridge with beautiful green fields al
around. Sixty rods north Of the road is an un-
completed line Of railroad, with excavations
and embaAkmelEs. We are where the battle
began.
at O'Clock, The roar Of cannon echoed
Over the hiils-Pegram's battery placed by
Ieth near the house Of Mr.. Lohr The next
moment Calefs Union battery replied. The
Ekirlnishers deployed AID then came the roar
81 nasfetTy. Five miles distant south, on the
Enmettsburg road, was the First Corps Reyn-
olcs commanding; behind it the Eleventh,
howard commanding. Bnford sent word 20
Reynolds who h2stened on, and who deter
mined 70 prevent the enemy from getting pos
session Of the town. Nadsworth's division
was first on the Geld, deploying on both sides
OF the Chambersburg road Almost at the out
set Reynolds lell, shot through the head. and
Doubleday succeeded 10 the command. How
ARD arrived about II and assumed command.
Throwing the Eleventh Corps north of tbe
Town 70 confront EWell, who was appearing on
the field with his whole corps. The Confe5-
crates oulilamberea the Onion troops three to
one, bat, notwithstanding the overwhelming
force, the battle was Tes0luteIy waved tin
o'clock, when, euFeleped On both TANKS the
TWO cgrps retreatcd to Cemetery Hill--losing
about 1000 prisoners, whose retreat was cut OF.
ln the histories Of the war, the first days
Iehfing has been regarded as a very slight
alair; probably because i was q defeat 10 TIC
Union troops, bHt I doRbt II during the war
tiers was any more desperate lighting than on
Cemetery Hidgc.
IS this paper is designed to furnish
Only few n0tes on The part performed
~ portion Of fhe Massachusetts, troops,