Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-07-04
AT GETTYSBURG.
George William Curtis Delivers an
Address
Before Veterans OF the Armies OF Poto-
mac and Northern Virginia.
GETTYSBURG, july 8.

tuiitary cobulalids as yesterday entereu tht
national Cemetery. Gen. Robinson of New
York, leaning heavily on his erutehes, re-
quested Rev. DIR. Twitehell, of Hartford
10 open the second days reunion Exercise,
with prayer. When concluding he began
the Lords prayer aud the crowd joined in.
The poet, George Parsons of Lathrop. was
unable TO be present. A part of his poem
was read by Gen. Horatio c. King. secretary
of the society of the army of the Potomac,
which ~as received by the audience with
much applause.
When Orator Geo. William Curtis was
presented three cheers were called for by
Gen. Sharpe and Mr.. Curtis was greeted
his oraiioH.
Mr. Curtis said
+ Upon this field consecrated by American
valor we meet 10 consecrate ourselves To
American Union. In this hallowed ground
lie buried, nut only brave soldiers of the blue
and the gray, but the passions of war, the
jealouses of sections, and the bitter root of
all our national differences, human slavery.
Here long and angry controversies
of political dogma, of material inter
est, and of local pride and tradition,
came to their decisive struggle. As the ia te
OF Christendom was determined at Tours,
that of American Independence at Saratoga,
and that OF modern Europe at Waterloo, the
destiny OF the American Union was decided
at Getty sburg. A hundred other famous
fields there are of the same American BRAY
cry in the same tremendous strife; fields
hose proud aud terrible tale history and
song will never tire of telling. But
1t is here that the struggle touched its
highest point. Here broke the tiery
crest of that invading wave of war. From
this field the civil contest, through re-
howI ed campaigns of courageous endurance,
Qt fearful carnage, and of accumulaung
heart-break for northern and southern
LJmes, slowly receded toward It's end. Ihls,
thereiOre, is one OF the historic fields of the
world. aud 10 us Americans no other has
Ihlerest 50 profound. Marathon and Arbea,
Worcester and Nalmy, even our own Bun
ker Hill, and Saratoga, and yorktown,
hesls OF undying fame, have not tor us a
significance So vital aud So beneicient this
ted OF Getty sburg. =
Fellow citizens, can we wrest from the angel
OF his hour any blessing so PRICELESS as the
common resolution that we shall not have
C me to h s cUnsecrated spot only to declare
our by Bnd gratitude, nor only to cherish
proud and tender memories, but also TO
pledge ourselves To the Unon ia It's sublim-
est significance! Here at last is It's saciei
secra revealed. 1t lies i'll the patriotic III
stinct which has brought TO this field
the army of Northern Virginia and the
armyOt the Potomac. 1t lies IN the manly
eniotnn with which the generous soldier sees
oily TIE SINCERITY and the courage of his all
ci.nt he, and scorrs suspicion of a huger-
ihg ehAlty. /, lies Ill the perfect freedom
OF speech and perfect fraternity of spirit
which how tor three days have glowed in
these hearts and echoed in this enchanted
air. T@se are the forces that assure the
fu ure Of our beloved country. May they
90 before US ON our mighty march, pillar
ui cloud BY day, of tire by mgut. II tppy
tor us, happy t,T mankind. if we and oar
children snail comprehend that they are the
fundamental condiuons of the life of
the republic. Then, long hereafter,
when III country whose vast popula-
ton covering the continent with a glory of
CIVILIZATION winch the IInagn ton cannot
forecast, the completed century of the great
battle shall be celebrated, the generation
winch shall gather here i'll our places will
rise up ana call us blessed. Then, indeed,
the neetlug angel of this hour will have
yleided his most precious benedction; and
III the field OF Getty sburg, as We now behold
it, the blue and the gray blending in happy
harmony like the mingllng hues of the sum
mer landscaP, we may see the radiant SYM
Dol OF the triumphant America of our pride,
our hope and our Joy.
The number in tendance today was not
near as large as yesterday and the enthusiasm
much less pieratul. Tonight banquet was
held at Spring, Hotel. The following mon
a.. 4 L.. -,
cavalry, near Round Top, Gen. Hammond,
Col } \. Penheld, Maj. S. b. Ryder and
Col A. X. Whit taking part the l46th n. |
l. infantry, "Gsrnard's Tigers on Little |
Round Top; 64hN Y, known as Beecher's |
regiment, ON ttPs Hill, Rev. Thomas X.
Beecher OF Elmira, n. Y, orator; 81 n Y, |
Independent battery, near Bloody Angle,
Maj Gen. w.. Rosecrans, orator. battery
b., N. Y. ARTILLERY. Rev. w. NJ. Beauchamp |
orator; l3ih n. Y. independent battery
lhe slghal cops association of The Army |
of the Potomac held crowded meeting here
today and determined to erect beautiful |
tablet On Litule Round Top. short distance |
to the right of thepace where the bronze |
statue of Gen. e. X Warren is to be un-
veiled in October, commemorative or the |
work done by this important branch of the |
army in battle.
Gov. j. b. Gordon of Georgia was com
PEELED by official dttts to leave for Atlanta
this afternoon. Befre going he said
This meeting was a great success. If |
these reunions between soldiers could occur |
yearly it would serve to cement the Friendly !
feelings OF the blue add gray more closely |
and bind the north and south so firmly that |
there would be no norb, no south, but one |
country linked together by chains of inLis. |
soluble friendship
No exercises are scheduled for tomorrow
The day will probabiyse quiet as far as the |
Army of the Potomac il concerned. Ata
business meetiug todas it was decided 10
hold the next summer eaaampment at this |
place, the time to be deerhined at the In
ter session The First oabs is taking steps
to erect a monument TO Gen Wadswortk.