The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-05-14
Visit OF the First Corps to the
Battlefield
WHERE REYNOLDS FELL
The President and Other Dis
tinguished Men Present.

eorps during the war of the rebellion. AT it's
meeting in Washington, two years ago. the
se6ice of Historian created by the First
Corps Society, and as one of the results well
organized excursions have been made to the
hattlefields of Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chan
sellorsville and Spottsylvania, where many of
The prominent participants on each side IN
those great battles have met and discussed the
conduct of the Armies of the Potomac and
Northern Virginia, thus settling satisfactorily
very many disputed points and uncovering to
the light of history Others of which the one
party or the other was wholly unaware.
The excursion of the veterans of the Army
OF the Potomac and friends to the battlefield
OF GettysbUrg-which the readers of The
NATIONAL TRIBUNE will remember was no.
tieed from time TO time in these columns as to
socur on the 18th and 9Th instant-becamc
successful reality on those days
1t was originally projected by the members
Of the First Corps Society resident in Washing
ton as a corps affair, but under the management
of Gen. Abner Doubleday, chairman of the
committee OF the society, finally embraced all
the corps.
STARTING.
The train which left the Baltimore & Potomac
depot promptly at o'clock consisted of five
ordinary cars and two handsome Pullman hotel
ears-the president" and " ST. Nicholas" The
"St. Nicholas" was occupied by the President
of the United States, the Vice President Secre
tary of War Endicott, Mrs. and Miss Endicott,
Secretary of the Navy Whitney, Postmaster
General and Mrs. Villas, Gov A. q. Curtin,
Gen. w. S. RoSecrans and daughter, Gen. III.
w. Slocum Gen. ii. J. Hunt, Gen. Chamber
lain, Maj. Martin Maginnis, Assistant Secre-
tary of the Treasury Coon, Gen. Black, Com
missioner of Pensions; Hon. w. NJ. Springer,
Hon. VIM. Il. Manning, and several men,
hers of the Diplomatic Corps, while the
president" was assigned to members of the
Loyal Legion. In the ordinary cars were
seated about 300 old soldiers who had held
ranks from that of Major General to private
many of them being well known in history
whose names are too numerous for mention.
The morning was bright, cool and cheerful.
1t was the first trip made by the President
since he has been in the White House. and he
enjoined upon the committee that, so far as
possible, he was to remain unobserved. Secre-
tary Lamar was expected to have been with
the Presidential party, but arrived in the depot
only in time to see the train steaming out at
the other end.
The train was run over the Baltimore &
Potomac and Western Maryland Railroads to
Hanover before any stop of moment was made.
Hanover was reached at 1890 where We're con-
gregated fully 500 people, who came up to the
car windows and finally attracted the attention
of the President, who returned their salutations
with bows. About two miles beyond Hanover.
es the train was getting up to mica minute
speed, the piston rod broke and it became
necessary to return to Hanover for another
engine.
GETTYSBURG WAS REACHED
ct Has, and the excursionists were received
with a salute fired from a small howitzer near
the station. When the train arrived the Presi-
dent and party were at lunch, so the crowd of
about $500 people in waiting gathered around
the car and in the street near, calling for the
President. Congressman Swope and Gov. Pat
tison boarded the Presidents car, and soon
Gov. Curtin came out and asked the people
to go to the National Cemetery, where the ex-
efcises were to take place. In the meantime
the occupants of the other cars were scattering
In search of hotel accommodations, lunch and
other refreshments. The crowd did not take
the kindly advice of Gov. Curtin, and shouted
hack: :" We want to see him." Let's have
look at him." In the meantime Mr.. Hotz-
worth, who was a Sergeant in the army, and
has since devoted himself to the study of the
battle, as guide and probably knows more
shout 1t than any other man, unless it be Col.
Bstchelder, waited in the midst of the crowd
with his carriage, which the President was to
occupy. Finally, a lane was made, and the
President came ont and with the greatest diff
Guilty pushed through the crowd to the carriage.
He was at once driven to the cemetery, fol-
lowed by the other members of his party and
large numbers of the veterans in carriages and
foot. The speeches We're made from the
little brick platform from which Abraham
Lincoln made his ever memorable little speech
dedicating the cemetery 81 years ago, in which
be spoke OF our Government as of the people,
by the people, and for the people" When the
crowd had gathered around, Representative
Swope introduced Gov. Pattison, who welcomed
the President and veterans on behalf of the
Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania. Gov. Curtin
then called Gen. Hunt and said: "Gen. Hunt,
you will assume command of the President of
no Staro nd hot hes sc arx.l
for. This is my only order" The President
was then driven away, followed by those desir-
Ing to make the tour Of the battlefield and hear
the explanation as made to him. The Presi-
dent gone, Maj. Martin Maginns, Delegate to
Congress from Montana, responded to Gov.
Pattison in his usual eloquent manner, paying
. handsome tribute to the loyalty of the Com
Donwealth and the memory of the brave men
who lost their lives on the great battlefield not
forgetting the living present
Gen. Black was then introduced and greeted
with loud applause. His speech was eloquent,
and his tribute to the dead who died in battle
near where they now sleep in the beautiful
cemetery aroused the enthusiasm of the vet
Grams in front TO high pitch, and they cheered
and applauded loud and long.
THE PRESIDENT
was first driven to the Seminary building, into
the cupola of which Buford climbed on the
morning of the first days battle when with
MS cavalry. ne was holding back third OF
Lees army. Buford knew he could hold out
but short time longer, and he wanted to look
the country over for another place of resistance,
and also discover the whereabouts of the
First Corps, which he knew was fastening to
his relief lie saw one division close at hand,
and soon the gallant Gen. Reynolds, command
ing the left wing Of the army, Joined him in
the cspOla. Together they examined the TO-
Biography of the country, and conferred as TO
the disposition of the approaching troops. and
there can be little doubt but that so expert
eDced a soldier as Gen. Reynolds would have
recognized the great advantages for defense Of
Cemetery Hill. After all great battles there
are many disputed points. and it is not remark
able TO hear a man of one regiment make an
assertion as TO location, Or something else
which is at once disputed by man of another.
both being on the ground, which served per-
haps in the same brigade. One of the disputed
points as to Gettysburg, and quite an import
snt one is who directed or caused troops to be
placed on Cemetery Ridge. Capt. Rosengarten,
Of Gen. Reynolds's staff says, positively, he
heard Gen. Reynolds give the order-one of
Gen. Towards Aids having ridden up and asked
Gen. Reynolds if he had any instructions for
the Eleventh Corps just after lie had descended
from the cupola,-for Gen. Howard to bring his
corps forward and form IL on Cemetery Hiu as a
reserve. However this may be, Gen. Howard
received the thanks of Congress for selecting
the position and says he has no recollection of
having received any such orders.
From the Seminary the President and party
were driven to the spot where Gen. Reynolds
was killed. He had fastened to the front, and
O. Gen. Doubleday, who commanded the First