The National tribune., 1886-07-08
AT GETTYSBURG.
Encanpment Of The GAR. Of Penn
sylvania.
GEN. srcKLEs's SPEECH.
Reunion Of the Third Corps-Gen. Berdan's
Address.
MONUMENTS DEDICATED.
An Immense Throng Visits the Historic
Field.

E4OGC De&nIllul lbal Oh AnuTcaay last. TIC
opening day Of the great Reunion. The long
Vet spell had preserved freshness in the WOODS
aud lelds quite unusual at this time OF the
year, and for Jaly day the weather was oX-
ceedingly cool. Although thesun shone brightly
al day, its rays were tempered by most de-
lightiul breezes, and even 10 the groups Of vet
Grams who moved hastily around the heat was
not at all oppressive
All day Wednesday special trains brought in
crowds Of men from almost every state in the
Union. Men OF al ranks, from General 10
private, who had fought in the DEVILS Den, on
Culp's Hill, along Cemetery Ridge, in the IA
nous Peach Orchard and in the equally famous
NheatEeld, poured into the sleepy little town,
which only seems to rub its ewes and wake up
on occasions like this. The early arrivals were
lucky in the matter Of comfortable sleeping
arrangements, for nearly every possible place
in which a sleepy mortal could lie slowed vas
taken up. Three in a bed Was not at all un-
usual, and the possessor Of q mattress on the
floor esteemed himself happy. The scenes at
the hotel were indeed animated, but in many
instances sad. The corridors were crowded
with those who had coatended for the Union,
and here and there little groups were surround
ing some battle-scarred veteran who was de-
scribng what he saw of tie battle, and what
be did aud how be received his wounds Tie
majority of the veterans looked hearty and
stalwart, but there was a sad sprinkling Of
enaciated and bent forms, and crutch-supported
lguTes were by no means rare.
While, Of course, the great majority Of the
visitors wore civilian clothes uniforms were
by no means rare. The neat Grand army dress
WAS OF course TO DO seen everywhere. but
the most conspicuous among the groups that
tbronged the corridors of the hotels aud the
streets were the bright colors Of the New York
Fire Z0uayes. The white caps with red braid
the blue jackets, and the huge scarlet pants
with the white lcggins attracted a great deal
OF attention. The drum corps brought by this
regiment also called forth great deal Of COM
mont by the neatBoss OF its appearance and the
excellence Of ITS music. They were boys rang
ing from IL 70 l6 years of age. The diamond
badge Of the Third Corps was most conspicuous
bat the clover leaf OF the Second and the globe
Of the First were 10 be seen IN large numbers
The bronze star Of the Grand Army was Of
course, everywhere.
On Cemetery Hill the Pennsylvania Depart
naent of the GAR. was eneamped, and the
scores Of white tents that dotted the sacred
slope put one in mind OF the thrilling scenes
which were enacted there % years ago. The
touts were placed in rows leaving streets be-
tween them, as in regular military camp
Leading out 10 Cemetery HILL were booths OF
every description. Peep shows, where for Eve
cents the visitors could see everything won
derlul that happened in the great battle and q
great many things that did not happen, were
numerous. There were stalls where various
indigestble edibles were yended, the health
destroying pie being conspicuous. Many Of
these stands were kept by old soldiers. the
name Of their company and regiment being
ooasIdcuonsy displayed in front. The roads
aud fields were dotted with groups Of men
searching out the places they stood on those
bloody July days 25 years ago.
THE MONUMENTS.
The Emmittsburg road, a scene of the fierce
and varying second days fighting was the
place Of pilgrimage FOR the Massachusetts vet
Grams. Gray granite shafts and others. the
monuments which that State has erected In
honor Of its dead, almost line The road for a
mile or more. The proofs are abundant that
the Bay State sent her share. New York and
Pennsylvania, New jersey and Wisconsin and
many Others Of the loyal States now have their
monuments on the famous battlefield.
The monument Of the Is; Mass. was erected
on the EmmittsbuTg road near the monument OF
the llth Mass. on Thursday. The base is huge
rOugh block, IN which Is set an enormous dia-
mond- shaped piece Of granite, representing the
badge OF the Third Corps. The hight from the
base to the apex Of the diamond is IL feet, and
the entire weight is 50 tons. The diamond is
cut 50 as TO have the appearance Of being set ia
the rough rock. On the highly polished face il
carved the liio-size figure Of a soldier, with his
I musket az q ready standing alongside OF the
( disnanfIed p0st-and- rail fence which stood
I alongside Of the Emmittsburg road at the point
where the regiment went into action undei
4 sickies July 2 1863. This exquisite carving
+ stands out ia inches from the face Of the dia.
mOnd.
A monument was also dedicated to the Third
1 Brigade, Third Division. Eleventh Corps II
I Is located short distance from the National
Cemetery, north Of the Reynolds statue IL il
composed OF five pieces of granite, the die being
T polished aud bearing the following inscrip.
I tions;
"Seyenty-hfth Pennsylvania Volunteers"
ia Memory Of our Fallen Comrades"
July ], 2, 3, 1863"
The front win have the Eleventh Corp
badge
WHERE REYNOLDS FELL
on the first day Of the Reunion, in a LITTLE
oak grove out cn Seminary ii where Gen
Reynolds fell, a large concourse Of veteran
I assembled % dedicate a monument 10 that lido
Of the First Corps. IL is Of solid granite Upol
one side Of IL, cut in the stone, are the words
Maj Gen. John i. Reynolds, commander o
the left wing, First. Third and Eleventh Corps
July ]. 1863. The State Of Pennsylvania. Jul,
], 1856" On the opposite side are the words
Here Reynolds fell" The cold stone told
simple but sad story. The crowd that clusterc,
about the granite shaft recalled the fatal da,
when this hero died VI the hands Of a C0nfed
crate sharT1h00ter.
Col Norris, who led the First Corps at Get
tysbUrg, was the orator OF the day, and hi
criticisms on Gen. Sckles caused considerabl
feeling among the veterans Of the Third Corp.
Col. Norris after describing how the battl
came 10 be fought and how Reynolds opene
the first days fight and fell, began his attac
upon Gems. Slck.es and Howard, in which b
said:
Ia an address delivered 81 Boston on April ,
this year Gen. SicEles usCd these words. Mar
you, the battle Of Gettysburg Wa fought on you
iruut that 81 the Third Corps on the "a u Jul
yhHt was Gettysburg. Gettysburg was not the IA
cideutnl collision Of two corps on The right faux q
July ]. where Reynolds 20 galiantly aud usli0ruf
ateig fell. That was not the battle Of Getiyslur,
Thai par accidental combat without siguii
uanue. The battle Of Gettysburg was not the De
perac bui fOI OFn aud hopeless assault of pirkss
Ou center. The battle Of Gettysburg was louai
Z ou your front on July ? The battle of Gcitysbur
wac decided by you and the supports that came
aid you"
u is demonstrates as we have shown to-day IA,
The battle on The hrsi day not nn accident
collision of two corps, but was deliberately sougi
2 and provoked by Reynolds. aEd Ia the disposition
{ which he made Tor - both Gems. Howard and scl
? els were assigned lmporiant places. which Meth,
/ Df them occupied at tAc time they were ordered
i do so, and the disaster which overlook the Fir
Corps aud almost annihiiated its brave division
wA-. la u large measure, due 10 the failure of Gen
Howard and siekels 80 reach Gciiyshurg will the
: respective corps at the time they were ordered
be llere IL Gen. Howard had moved lis cor
promptly within supporting distance Of The Fir
Corps, and taken position with two divisions on Il
I right 81 the firEt Corps, with the Third Divisio
(. held iu reserve on Cemetery Ilill a. he had be-
directed 10 do instead Of coming up al ! q 'clos
9 when the Firsi Corps had been engaged for os.
q have been different And when the Eleventh Cor
came 70 ihe 'front.' y did not join the right Of the liza