The National tribune., 1883-09-06
impromptu eamp-fires were organized through
the camp aad kept up until far IN the night.
The Last Day.


ed the breaking up of the Eneampment. Com
mander Osborne left for his home in Wilkes
barre at 9:i5 a. IN. At noon exactly the coloTs
were lowered from the tall hag-pole, being
saluted by artillery they came down, and,
at 1870, all hands formed in line, and with the
band playing and colors flying, took up the
line of march for the depot, where special
train was in waiting to receive them. At lbs,
amidst the responsive cheers of the citizens
and comrades, the train moved out and after
safe and pleasant run reached Philadelphia at
5:45 p M, all hands pretty well tired out but
thoroughly pleased with their weeks visit to
the famous battlefield.
ENCAMPMENT NOTES
The change of locality next year is a sad blow
to the people of Gettysburg, who had come to
look upon their historic ground as the perma-
nent place of encampment, and the occasion
itself a permanent source OF revenue upon
which many depended for great part of their
subsistence 1t has been estimated that not
less thon $4,000 have been left there each year
by the comrades, large sum for such small
town to reap the benefits of. AS before stated,
however, there is chance for the next En-
eampment to be held there in case Bellefonte
should not be found to be suitable place.
The population Of Gettysburg has not only
not increased since the battle, being then about
5000, but has actually decreased between zoo
and 300 during the last ten years, and ii is not
to be wondered at. for it is a dull quiet, sleepy
place, without manufactures Of any kind with
out wealth. or. apparently, the energy TO pro-
cure it. With the exception of the EatalysiEe
Springs Hotel, outside of town about a mile,
and dwelling now being erected by one of the
professors of the seminary, near that institu-
tion, modern built house is nowhere to be
seen. Not but what the Old-fashioned houses
have coZy, home-Iike lock, but they show
none of the progressive signs OF the age. Dur
ing the Encampment the people devote their
whole time to providing gaecommodation ons for the
VISITORS nearly every house being a boarding
house. and to the sale of relics from the battle
field. Canes cut from the woods around can
| be bought by the cord, musket balls by the
bushel, and fragments Of shells by the ton, as
well as an occasional musl1et barrel rusty bay
onet, saber, or cauteen and mouldy cartridge
box How the citizens exist during the other
/ ffty-one weeks OF the year is mystery.
| The Eighty y-eighth Regiment Survivors Asso-
| citation claims to be the oldest in point of or
| ganiZation, dating back to the year 1870. It
numbers about 1876 members, and holds its an
nual meetings on August 9 of each year, alter
nately at Reading and Philadelphia, that of
! this year being an exception. Two Command
/ ers-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Repub-
/ lie come from this acknowledgements Z. B.
I Beath and Louis Wagner.
/ Commander-in-Chief Beath left on Monday
afternoon, his business requiring his presence at
| home During his stay he attended the dediea-
| ton ceremonies of the Eighty-eighth regiment
| and took an active part IN the business meet
| ing of the association that Immediately fol-
| lowed.
State Senators Wagner and Aull and Repre-
sentatiYes Lined, White, Stewart, Swartz, and
! Gentner, all of whom are G. A. r. men, visited
/ the camp and remained from Monday until
4 the breaking up on Friday They received a
hearty welcome from the comrades and enjoyed
/ themselves greatly, visiting many points OF
! interest and entering heartily into the amu5e-
ments of the occasion.
/ THE NATIONAL. CEMETERY.
The National cemetery, situated on Cemetery
| Hill, is q most beautiful spot and receives the
best of care. Comrade Wilson, the superintend-
ent tells me that at the time of the battle 1t was
a corn field, and that ali the plants, trees and
shrubbery have been planted since it was dedi-
Gated toits present use. The cosy house in which
he lives, just inside the gate, was built entirely
/ of stones taken from the field when it was
being cleared up. Here 3,579 brave boys in
| blue lie buried, as well as q large number Of
those who fought on the other side, and who
| have section of ground to themselves. While
most of the graves have the names, company
! and regiment of their occupants plainly cut in
the stones at their heads, it is sad to see 81
many designated simply by number or the
ominous word Unknown In tie Green
wood cemetery Immediately adjoining which
belongs TO the citizens of the town, there arr
seventy-one additional soldiers graves. Here
old John Burns and his wife peacefully sleeI
side by side on the hillside, and here also lies
Jennie Wade who was killed while baking
bread for our tired and hungry soldiers. She
was the only woman killed during the battle
Many broken and scattered tombstOnes still
standing give mute evidence Of the fierce con
test that ragged during those thrse fateful days
OF July.
On Tuesday was seen the SAD sight of a woman
carrying in her arms a three-year-oId child
born without arms or legs. The father was sol
dier whose health was broken down IN the serv
ice and the mother, herself worn to a shadow
through constant care of her offspring, was
visiting the camp selling photographs OF the
helpless little one as her only means Of liveli
hood, and she disposed of a large number among
the sympathizing comrades.
Among the comrades who attended the Re
union and banquet held on Tuesday Afternoon
and evening was James GallOp, company F
One Hundred and Forty-seventh Pennsylvania
volunteers, who has become toJalIy blinG
through disease contracted IN the service.
DEAD, YET STILL ALIVE.
Another comrade: who attended the Encamp
ment and stayed the whole week, was one be
longing TO Post s, of Philadelphia, who lie.
dead and buried in the National eemetery-a
least the war HC - ucStil-ilili
refuses to have any record of him. BE hal
been photographed standing on his own grave
and the picture with other evidence OF hi
identity, has, l am informed, been sent to tht
Adjutant- Generals Office TO have the reeovt
changed, but without success. The name o
| this lively corpse is stephen Kelly, company
Il, Ninety-irst regiment, Pennsylvania volun
/ teers. In conversation with him, he told n
that Just before the battle he lost his knapsaek
and it is supposed that some one found it
appropriated some of his clothes marked witt
his name, company, and regiment was kiliet
, and buried as the person to whom they proPerl,
belonged. In no other way can the strang
case be explained.
: 1t was suggested to him that his widow ap
ply for q pension, IN which case the evidence
, OF his death might be found on file at the Wa
Department, and he might have the pleasur
, of helping to spend the money arising from hi
own death. / think, however, in case of sucl
, application the record would soon be changed
1t is related that the first rebel killed il
Pennsylvania during Lees invasion Of the State
was shot near South Mountain, by one Henr.
/ Hahn, a citizen of Adams county, who was act
| ing for the time with company 3, Twenty-frs
, regiment, Pennsylvania cavalry, on June 25th
) 1858, and on the 26th the first man killed wa
q member of that company aud regiment an
u resident of Gettysburg.
. / The pedestal in front Of the place of the Com
mander of Post 8, of Gettysburg, is a section 0
the etrunk of = tree, III which IS deeply lmbedde'
I'M l.