The Portland daily press., 1883-01-19
THE BATTLE OF GRrrYsBURe.
Gen. stephensOn's Lecture at City Hall.

Gen. Luther Stephenson, Jr., delivered his
celebrated lecture on the "Battle of Gettys-
burg, at City Hall last evening before Deep
ly interested audience The General is a fine
looking man, and was very handsome, but q
wound in the face received in battle partially
disfgured him.
At the beginning of the war Gen. Stephen
son resided in bingham, Mass, and was an
officer in Company I, 4th Mass Militia. The
first call for troops, made by Gov. Andrew
April 15, 1861, included this regiment. The
captain of Company failing to respond, Lieut.
Stephenson was ordered to repoit t, with the
company, at Boston, by the first conveyance.
The order was promptly obeyed, and in few
hours the command was on its way to ortress
Munroe, the regiment being the first to leave
the State, the first to land upon secession sol, /,
and the first body of volunteers that were
mustered into the United States service at the
commencement of the war of the Rebellion.
This regiment participated in the first battle
of the war at Big Bethel, and performed eff
cient service during its three months term at
Newport News aud Hampden, Va. At the
close of this service, Gen. Stephenson raised
the first company in the sd Mass Volunteers
This regiment, after doing garrison duty at
Fort Warren. Boston Harbor, and at Wash
ington, joined the army of the Potomac at
Harrison's Landing, Va, on the day of the
battle Of Malvern Hill. Receiving various
promotions, he participated in the battles of
GAINESVILLE, second Bull Run, Antietam,
Shepardstown Ford, fredericksburg Chancel-
lorsville, Gettysburg, Rappahannock Station,
Mine Run, Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Spottsyl-
vania, North Anna Tolopotomy Swamp,
Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, and in front
of Petersburg, having been severely wounded
at Gettysburg and twice wounded at Peters
burg. He was discharged from service by
reason of disability, caused by wounds, and
afterwards breyeted brigadier-general by order
of Gen. U. S. Grant, "for bravery and merit
orious services in the campaigns against Rich
mond, Va"
Gen. Stephenson's lecture was illustrated by
the aid of the stereopticon, and having been an
active participant in that memorable struggle,
it was no strapgerto him. The audience was
carried from the commencement of the Con.
federate Gen. Lees attempted advance into
the loyal territory, and the opposition given to
his forces by the Union army under Gen.
Hooker at Charlottesville and other places,
through the skirmishes, encounters and final
ly the great battle, which transpired during
the memorable early July days of '63. 1t was
Lees intention, after driving the army of the
Potomac from their position, to invade Penn-
sylvania for the double purpose of carrying
conflict on loyal ground and replenishing his
fha oofb Be- 81
vance the progress of both forces was graphi-
cally described; the natural fortiic alton of
Gettysburg, the Devils Den, Cemetery and
Seminary Hills, Round Top and Little Round
Top, the "bloody field" and other spots made
historic by war, were interestingly described.
The movements of the different divisions,
corps and detachments, the plans of comman-
ders and mode of conflict were shown in a con-
else manner. A descriptive account of the
patriotic John L. Burns whose grey locks and
20 years of lfe's struggles had not lessen ed his
ardor for his home and possessions, brought a
deserving applause. The speaker was follow
ed attentively along through the various stages
of the conflict, and as the rays of the stereopti-
con shed over TIM canvas scenes familiar and
strangely sad to many of his hearers who were
participants in the battle, the faces of such
leaders as Generals Meade, Hancock, Hooker,
Sickles, Sykes Warren, Reynolds and Sedg-
wick, brought pleasant recollections, and their
shadows, as they fitted acrossthe curtain,
were heartily and unstintingly applsuded. The
scenes of the confiict as they appear at the pre-
sent day seemed far different than those when
the deeds were committed that gave promi-
nence to their names. The speaker in conclu-
sion paid glowing tribute to the brave men
who on Gettysburg battle field gave their all
their lives for their country's service, and pic
tured the country's greatness of to-day, fore
shadowing that in the future, should war
claim America as participant, the citizens of
the United States will stand undivided and on
a loyal basis,