The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1888-06-20
n. j. WEDNESDAY. JUNE 20. 1888.


THE BATTEEFiBLD or GETTYsBURo.
Twenfy-nintF Annlyersary OF the Great
Battle and the Reunion Of the North
ern and Southern Armies.
The battle of Gettysburg was tho larg-
est as well as the most momentons contest
of tho civil war. 1t was here that the
flower of Southern chivalry was checked
in its march of invasion and driven back
broken within the confines of the Confed-
eracy. Never afterward Ia the course OF
the struggle did the two armies meet in
deadly conflict on distinctly Northern soil,
nor was the ground lost by the reverse at
Gettysburg ever regained The battle it.
self did not occur in the town, but the
general title is given to the mighty strug-
gle, continuing through three days and
covering an area of some twenty-five
miles, of which the town is the centre.
Much of this fighting, however, was con-
fined to cavalry skirmishes and desultory
engagements the battlefield proper
where the largest number engaged and
the fiereest onsets we're made, was that
which is now held sacred as such, and so
preserved by the Battlefield Memorial
Association. This association owns and
controls the entire line of battle. With
in this territory nearly two hundred
thousand soldiers were engaged, forty
thousand of whom laid down their lives
on the blood soaked ground. No battle-
field in the world is better marked, nor
better preserved; nor is there any on
which memorials Of valor are more album
dant. The memory of heroes and the per-
petuation of noble actions are kept alive
by shaft and tablet, aud the entire course
Of the contest can be traced by these
monumental stones. Not only by these
are the lines of the great duel preserved,
but the marks of the conflict itself,
trenches, rifle.pits, breastworks and walls,
still remain, while cannon, guns, shells,
bullets and other relics may be found on
the field. Shattered trees, broken walls,
and mutilated houses tell the tale Of the
terrific storm of shot and shell which
swept over these fair fields twenty-five
years ago.
Many OF the dead were buried on the
ground which had drunk their life's
blood; and the National Cemetery, dedi-
Gated by Lincoln In his famous twenty
line speech, is one of the most interesting
features OF the field. The names of Semi
nary and Cemetery Ridges, Big and Little
Round Top, CHIPS Hill, Devils Den,
the Peach Orchard and Wheat-field, were
christened in rivers of blood, and are as
we'll known as notable points In the great
field as is Waterloo, OF Marathon, or
Thermopyle.
The glories Of the great battle are i'm
mortalized In history; fame rests upon il;
and among the decisive contests Of the
world the name Of Gettysburg is promi-
nent.
1t Is the Mecca of American Valor.
With every recurring year hosts Of battle-
Scared veterans gather on Its sacred soil
to renew the memories of the great strug-
gle aud erect memorials to those who laid
down their lives. The last anniversary
was memorable as the first on which or
ganized bodies of the two armies had met
in fraternal union on the fateful field.
Resolutions were formed then to meet
again this season, and renew the assur-
ances of reconciliation by reunion of
Army of the Potomac and the Army of
Northern Virginia. The meeting will be
the most notable one ever held on any
field, and the ceremonies will not only be
of absorbing interest to every veteran,
but to every American citizen. It will,
in fact, be tho pre-eminent event of the
occasion, and ii Is expected that large
majority of the survivors Of the battle,
both from the Northern and Southern
forces, will be present and participate in
the ffaternal ceremonies. The ceremo-
MES will extend over the three days COW
cred by the battle.
The proceedings Of the twenty-iifth an-
niyersary will add another and prouder
title to the field-the Mecca of American
Reconciliation.
Some of the attractions are enumerated
as follows:
Encampment of the Grand Army of the
Republic, June Both to July 9th. Five
thousand men in camp.
Reunion of the Society Of the Army Of
the Potomac F StB$
Reunion Of the Army Of Northern vir-
gina.
dwelling and dedication Of monuments
the positions Of the COM
mands during tho battle. W
The presence and participation OF the
during the battle.
The presence and participation of the
prominent general officers OF both armies. |
Dress parade of veterans every evening,
by military concert.
The camp to be Illuminated by electric
light, sslt
Special religious services Ia National
Cemetery on Sunday morning.
A number Especial features for Inde-
pendence Day, concluded with grand
display of fireworks in the evening.
In order to accommodate the large |
number Of visitors, the Pennsylvania
Company, in addition to It's
regular trains, will run number OF
special trains, information of which may
be procured of ticket agents at tho offices. |
Excursion tickets will be sold June
28th, Goth and Both, July LIST, Cd and Sd,
good to return until July 9th, 1888, inclur
sve, from all principal stations on the
Railroad system east of
and Erie, at a single faro for
tho round trip.
Excursion rates from Trenton $4.S5.