The Republican journal., 1886-11-11
A Trip to Gettysburg.


Probably every school boy and girl in the
country who has graduated from the primary
department understands something of the civil
war and its causes and results, but just why the
battlefield of Gettysburg should be selected
from all others as the Mecca for the Old soldier
and the enthusiastic tourist, may not be so
plain Everyone knows of the great battle
fought on the memorable field July 1st, 2nd
and 3rd, 1868, but every one does not realize
that that great and decisive victory for the
North was the turning point in the battles of
the divided country. At the time Of this nva-
| sion by Lees army. the war had been in prog
ress about two years, and the South had, on the
| whole, met with more successes than reyerses
| Lees object was to make a bold push on to
Northern soil, and in so doing secure recogni-
ton from all the civilized nations of Europe,
| and the financial aid which would follow. Why
did not the South conquer in that great battle?
The patriotic Yankee will answer Because
| we were too much for EN-" The answer is
certainly practical and logical but when we re.
| fleet that the South were massed together I'M
der an able leader whom they trusted thorough
~ and in whom they had the most enthusiastic
| quent change of commanders and was harrass-
Ell and hampcrcd in more ways than one, it
| seems as if higher power than that of man
| directed that memorable battle. No one can
realize, unless they visit the place, the magni-
| tnde of that three days conflict Indeed. it
might be the study of a lifetime and one man
has devoted his life to a study of the battle.
| "a R,rholJnr of
given his time for more than twenty wears to
elaborate maps of the field, and he can tell ac-
| curateIy just what regiments, brgacleS and di-
visions took part, and just what positions they
held on the successive days Of the conflict.
Generally speaking. man with hobby is
| nuisance, but the Colonel is so atable, genial
and courteous, and so genuinely in love with
his hobby that it would indeed be hard to find
any fault with him. We were certainly much
indebted to him for graphic descriptions of the
| battle at different points.
Leaving Jersey City at $50 Il. m we were
Whirled rapidly ovcrthe PENNSYLVANIA railroad,
and reached Gettysburg about 80, passing
through a rich and prosperous state, beautiful
III autumn scenery and foliage Grand noun
talnS and beautiful views of winding rivers
met our gaze, but the point to which we were
speeding was after all the absorbing subject of
conversation. 1t was interesting to watch the
varying expression on the faces Of the men as
we swiftly ncarcd the historic spot. Eyes di-
| lated, and their eager and nervous faces gave
evidence of the expectation in their hearts. |
am alludng to those who had not been there
since the war closed Those who had made
visits to the place in recent years. settled back
| calmly in their seats, content to await the mo-
ton of the iron horse. | could see on all sides
necks cranea, and eyes eager to catch the first
| glimpse of the world-renowncd battlefield.
''IIaycn't been here for % years. "Thcrc's
where the 1lth corps wcrc.' ''Ovcr there is
where old Lee had his hcadquartcr>.' ''See
that red barn over thcrc2 That's where the
rebel >harp>hootcrs >ad and picked off our
men, such expressions as these greeted our
ears on all sides, and a> we nearcd the town the
excitement increased, and venture to say that
many cray headed veteran retired late that
| night and rose early the next morning. Such
sleepy Old town, and good share of the in
| habitantS looked like vertabc Rip Van Win
Ilcs. Just awakened from sleep of a quarter
| of Il century.
My first thought, as | explored the town Il
little the first evening with my pleasant travel
| ling companions, was what an experience that
battle must have been for that sleepy old burgh.
| You see no Northern activity there, and the
| principal thing the inhabitants seem to live for
now is the Northern tourist. They think Mas
SachuSctts Il long way off and look with admir-
alton on any one who halls from that state.
We reached Gettysburg Tuesday night. hay
ing been about - hours on the trip. Wedncs
| day morning we took an informal stroll through
the town and up to Cemetery Ridge, passing
the house where poor Jennie Wade met her
death from the bullets of rebel >harpshooter.
The door is still there through which two bull
lets passed, also through another door, killing
| her while kncadng bread for the Union sol
diers. Her grave is visited by thousands YEAR
ly, and | have now Il withered daisy picked
from her grave and handed to me by one of the
Springfield party. One can stand on the para
pet on Cemetery Hill, thrown up by the llth
corps, and look overa vast eXpanSc of country,
made dear and sacred by the blood spilled
there. 1t is hard to realize that our gallant de-
Tenders once stood there and defended their
| guns with stones from the wall. The breast
works are grassy, and the red clover and the
| white daisy bloom in serene Inconsistencies of
the black mounted cannon which loom up above
them From there we walked to CulpS Hill,
pall>ing on our way to drink from the famous
SpanglcrS spring, where through those long
and terrible nights the soldiers of the opposing
armies mingled freely together in their mcrci-
| full errands for their wounded and dying com
rades. Such Il beautiful and peaceful autumn
scene. The birds twittered in their native
| bowers. The soft breeze gently stirred the
rustiing leaves, while through the thick bullet
SCARED trees the sky cleaned blue like the bill
| lows of the sea.
No whistling bullets chilled our blood,
No wild eXultant cry
Rang on the crispy autumn air
Or sank in vale to die.
| Sweet peace broods over dale and hill
And angels guard the dead.
While sweetest flowers bloom around
Where pilgrimt footsteps tread.
In the afternoon we took the ears for Little
Round Top Park, and visited the monuments
recently erected beyond, by the 7th, 10th and
| Jun -h"9Nd'iuSCttH IHcN ai0 houSiS
of beauty, as are nearly all the others erected
there. We also witnessed the dedication of the
monument of the 139th Pennsylvania near the
same place.
Now Il few words in regard to the Gettys-
burg Battle Field Memorial Association. Prob
ably comparatively few people understand why
certain regiments should erect monuments
there. Shortly after the battle this association
was formed, and with liberal charter from
the State of Pennsylvania and appropriations
from various states they are doing grand
work. and the map indicates that they own and
control upward of $50 acres. They have care
fully preserved the line of intrenchments from
Cup's hill south, some half mile, and stopped
the cutting of trees. Good roads are laid out
on the line Of battle of the third day so that
visitors can aght from their carriages on any
part of the ground where the terrible charge
met with such terrible resistance Where bat
teries We're placed during the battle, the associ-
alton has placed cannon loaned by the govern
ment to indicate the positions. OF the eastern
States, Massachusetts has appropriated $4,000,
Connecticut $4,000, and New Hampshire 81 ;
600. Nearly $4,000 have so far been donated
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