The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-09-02

Horsehesh has suffered badly; somewhere
between $500 and 5000 have been killed.
We have lost few, but not as many as some
Others Many batteries can only partially
ill oHt their teams, though they have taken
from citizens who fOcked in 20 see the bat
,Iefeld all the horses they could get Some
Sergeanis walked away, while others were
fortunate TO get mules to ride. My own horse
was shoi-leg taken OF by shell, but Sc
cured a captured nag with a &C. s." brand.
il was not much of horse TO be proud OF,
il is true. but better than none.
Gettysburg ranks high in the list OF
bloody battles of the war and of the world.
Reports give our loss at 232l9 in killed,
wounded, and missing-23 per cent. OF the
men in line, or about one IN every four. The
rebels lost about $4,000; as they had about
the same number In action, their percentage
is higher Here let me say that all the en-
gagemonts OF the rebellion are
ABOVE THE AVERAGE
! nj the worlds battles in percentage OF losses
! Wellington at Waterloo lost less than IL per
cent. At Magenta and SOlferinO both armies
lost less Than nine per cent; at Worth,
Graveloite and SEDAN II per cent-all bloody,
desperate battles of history; and the last
might he continued indefinitely. This shows
the pluck and persistent courage OF the vol
unteer American soldier The world is only
beginning 10 understand these facts and APP
preciate the character of our four years
struggle.
This battle has been properly called the
high-water mark of the rebellion. Gettys-
burg was small, quiet town, almost an
known before the battle. il did not have
business life enough To keep mp the bobtall
railroad by which IL was connected with
the outside world. This has been put IN
operation TO meet the demands of travel, and
q new road built from Carlisle, on the north
some 30 miles. IL hss now some half dozen
hotels. Last year over 10000 visitors went
10 Gettysburg and over the battlefield. The
GAR of Pennsylvania are now M the habit
of meeting there, and militia regiments also
camp there. My own feeling IN le63 was
one of indifference To ever seeing II again.
Some years ago the desire WAS 80 strong that
/ made a trip on purpose TO 20 over the
battlefield.
TIE NATIONAL CEMETERY
is next TO the village cemetery on the slope,
toward the town, extending back 10 the
TaneytoWn road and taking in the clump OF
woods near our position. Both are sur
rounded by stone wall, a hedge separating
the two cemeteries Gettysburg monument,
dedicated July i, 1869, 10y Gen. Meade, Gov.
Morton and others, stands near the position
we held The cemetery WAS dedicated Nov.
10, 1863, while the sound OF battle came
from sonih of the Potomac. Edward Everett,
the accomplished orator, made the address
standing near the ground we had occupied.
BE was followed 10y the great hearted Lin
coin, who made that wonderful speech that
reads like a prayer or a bened 'ction,-surely
an inspiration,-in which he said:
"Ihe brave men, living and dead, who
struggled here, have consecTated IL far above
our poor power % add or detract.
The world will little note nor long re-
member what we say here, but it never can
forget what they did here.
THAT we here highly resolve that these
dead shall not have died in vain; that this
Nation. under God. shall have a new birth
Of freedom, and that the Government Of the
people by the people and for the people
shall noi perish from the earth"
With such memories clustering around
Cemetery Hall, how truly aud APPLY may be
quoted the words of the soldier poet:
On fame's eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread,
Aud glory guards with solemn round
The biyousc of the dead