The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-07-07
\ THIRD toRPS EEUNIoN.

fought. everything has been done that
could bc done to make Il memorable day Tor
G~cttSyburg.
THIRD toRPS REUNION.
PENNSYLVANIA and her bravc>t and best
have WED with New England and New
York to make this the most notable 81 ali
the gatherings of old soldiers ON this soil
since the war. The purpose of this recall
WAS not only To- bring the members of the
Third Corps together for consultation and
reflection. but that they might listen {" the
words of their old commander, wh" to-day,
for the first time. speaks IN answer 10 the
criticisms that have been made upon hiScon-
duct of the battle lac fought on the second
day of July. 1863. Always 4 dramatic and
picturesque figure. either ia peace "r war,
General Daniel +. Sicklc> wa, to-day more
expressive than ever. The rain disturbed the
battlefield arrangements. hut the rink.
where the bows and girl~ who have been
born since the rebellion skim in the graceful
curves of skating or circle in IT, dance WAS
secured. BY eleven o'clock ii was crowded
with veterans representing every corps that
contended uIon this field.
Inc DulIdlng Na> a bgAutIiul picture al
life and animation, with it, decoration both
of fags and soldicry and citizens, both men
and women. The fair sex were there in
large numbers and proud of the males. who
are now but little more than reminders of
the stirring and mighty ,l>t Of which they
were 50 much to the nation. \ platform
was erected i'm from of the building and
around it throngcd some three thousand
souls. \ few tattcrcd hattIc-flags were here
and there in the throng and many an arm
less sleeve WAS carried To and fro through the
crowd. All was life and interest.
GEN. sICKLE~ RECEPrGoN.
There was good music by the Hanover
Band. and the echoes of patriotic songs were
ringing through the hall. when a veteran ON
the stage shouted, The Generals coming
There was silence for a second, only to be
followed by one tremendous shout aS General
Sicklc> hobblcd across the threshold upon
his crltchcS. Men shouted and women went
half mad with delight a. loyal hands helped
him upon the stage. 4 noble figure of the
past and present. The events of nearly Il
quarter of a century ago were recalled To
every one by his martial look and bearing
and his eloquent crutchc>. There WIS no
installing the heart of the ~as>cmblagc, and
if either General Sickles or the world ever
had any doubt aS To his standing with the
troops hc led So long and with whom he was
a rcgimental. brigade and corps commander
this days outburst has dispcllcd il.
Grouped about him on the stage were his
old division, brigade. rrgimental and battery
commanders. General carr. of New York. !
who started the corps towards the tatciul
field of Gettysburg, came on with the old
commander To- find already seated upon the
stage General Hubcrt Ward. General II. T..
Trcmainc. Sickcl>' old chief of staff; General
&. \. +. Coils, General Henry \. Barnum,
General w. J. Scwcll. of New Jersey; Major
General :. W. Crawford. General Robert Nc
.Alli>tcr. General Adam Badclu. General
Rafferty,. General Henry \. Hunt, Chief of
Artillery. who commanded the guns of the
Alfh w AE' 'A'iAAtt At 'NliN E'hA - "'i -
sore or more men all hearing illu>iriou>
names. For power and significance. there
has never been such Il gathering upon this
field since it WAS laid waste by the hoof of
war.
\ STRIKING PICTURE.
1t was indeed a striking picture of the past
made more mellow and beautiful by the
touches of the peaceful present which has in
4 great measure covered the track and tread
of armed conflict with the silver sands of a
new and broader national life and prosperity.
The occasion was fraught not only with
interest. hut with importance. New words
were Ia he said 10y the man who fought the
battle of the ID of July and whose lin> have
been sealed since the day of the wonderful
fight. While Others have spoken. le has
remained silent. Having lost his leg upon
the field, his official report of the occasion
WAS not made. Hence the meeting of to-day.
He gathered his old comrades. from lieutcn-
ants To generals and from generals Ia pri-
wales. from the four quarters of the country.
that he might read his official report to the
world in their hearing. 1t was a great deliv-
cry. The record on both sides he held in his
ham and from the statements of all the
actors in the great tragedy here enacted he
made up and to-day presented his final con
tribution Ia history IN relation Ia this battle.
His words were touching and powerful bv
turns and his hearers weIt. laughed and
hurrahed according a. his remarks were
pathetic. descriptive cor critical.
General Sicklcs then delivered a speech in
reply Ia Colonel 4. Wilson Norris attack
upon himself ~ commander of the Third
Corps at the battle of Gettysburg. He de-
Tended himself in strong language and gave
the reasons why President Lincoln had not
granted him a court of inquiry.
f. X. Martin, of Lancaster. was the orator
at the dedication of the monument of the
Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania Regiment. He
eulogized the work of the regiment in elo-
quent language and described the heroic
services of the men who covered with glory
the Union arms.