Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-07-03
Impressive Exercises on the
Gettysburg Battlefield.
A PLATFORM GIVES WAY,
preciritating Five Hundred People to the
Ground, but Fortunately All Escape
without Injurs--First Army
Corps Day.

thousands here. Saturdays crowd vas
fully doubled Sunday and the streets of
the town, the yarioas camps and the bat
tle-field are thronged with people. The
9Th New York regiment, Col. w. Seward
oopmanding, came in at an early hour
and marched to camp in front of the
springs in fine style. Prominent among
the commands of veterans getting here
this morning are those of the Excelsior
brigade and the 9th regiment During
the morning the 10Th, the 47th, the 97th,
the 54th and 119th New York regiments,
the 15lst Pennsylvania and; 1st New
Jersey cavalry monuments were dedi-
Gated by veterans of the various COM
hlands. More than 1000 Pennsylvania
veterans reported at camp. "a Wilson
Norris Sunday morning; also the Union
Veteran corps, of Washington, who have
quarters on the southern edge of the
camp Religious services were held in
the morning at the National cemetery
rostrum, Chaplain Sayres delivering the
sermon. In the evening there was dress
parade in the presence of 10, GOO people,
followed by sacred concert by the
Frankfort band.
Reynolds grove was a throng of hui
manity for an hour before the memorial
exercises of the First Army corps were
called to order During the gathering
of the audience Gen. Longstreet was es-
corted TO the stand, and hundreds of vet
eraas of the blue shook hands with him.
|; The over crowded stand gave way with
out y moments notice, and suddenly let
500 occupants down several feet without
any one being hurt. Gov. Beaver and his
staff, and q number of Confederate sur
vivors occupied seats. Gems. Beaver. and
14ongstgeet were received with cheers
Promptly at p. m. Gen. q. p Halsted,
president of the First Army Corps asso-
citation, opened the exercises, and intro
duoed Bishop Newman of Washington,
who, in fervid invocation, gave thanks
for the bravery and heroism displayed
here in the maintenance of constitutional
liberty.
GOV. Beaver was enthusiastically re-
ceiyed especially by the veterans
Gen. John G. Robinson, orator of the
| occasion, thanked Governor Beaver for
his cordial welcome extended the First
Army corps veterans, and complimented
the Keystone state on her constant and
substantial testimonials of appreciation
of the soldiers He considered this &
great day for the First Army corps, to
meet after d quarter of q century on the
field made historic by their valor, and
assested With emphasis that not half has
baen told Of the deeds of this command
ip this, ehe of the most Important of en-
gagements during the entire battle. Civ
ing full credit to what others had done
here, he thought IL should be remembered
that here the First corps held in check
for six hours, two-thirds of the Confeder-
ate army. IL those troops had gained
here, the battle of Gettysburg would not
have been fought Gen. Reynolds being
dead, the speaker thought, was one rea-
SON for want Of justice in giving
the corps history, as he would
Have done his home troops full
measure OF praise. In speaking of the
corps participating during the rest of
the battle, he said no other corps was in
action all three of the days In his opin-
ion it was time that the First corps re-
ceiyed some measure of credit for the
I important part they took. The address
wSs rather brief, the statements clear,
and devoid Of all useless yerbiage.
| !, George Frederick Smith, the war gov
eraor Of New Hampshire, on being in
| troduced, counted il one of the most inn
| porfant events Of his life to be present.
Pennsy lvania noted war governor, A.
G. Curtih, was loudly called for, but was
not present
| Governor r.. J. ormsbee, present gov
4 ernor of Vermont, said he did not come
| here as a WAR governor, but as one who
had taken part in the batrle, having held
| a command in Standard IS brigade Of Yer.
/ mont troops.
| Gen. J.. A. Grant, in this battle colonel
of the 4th Vermont regiment OF
Stannard's brigade, considered Pickett's
charge the graGdest ever made in the
world. at VIZ (
Tbs Confederate general, James Long
| strees, was pe1t introduced and receiYed
hearty cheers He said he was not On
| the fsld in time to witness Si,e engage
| ment between the First corps and the
| troops Of the South. He Was glad to be
| present and participate In these exer-
tises, for he saw in them the development
/ OF sympathy such as was born III the
hearts Of all who know how to appre-
osRts that feeling, and he thought none
kpew better how to manifest
these feelings than the troops OF
Il the First corps. After speaking
Of the ad vantages of the federal position,
he said that here the southern army met
i its tate, but not for want of valor, forth
tNde or faith. In paying tftbute to chat
ealor he said aPickett's charge has not
a payallsl in the annals of war; and
touchIngiy alluding to the dead, said,
"Speh is the sacrifice sometimes de.
WSnded by the usages Of war; In clos.
iHs hs said: .sIHe ladies are present,
Gpd bless then, and may they dispel ali
DIVISIONS that may come between the
| psSp,en
The band played "Dixien before Long.
STREETS speech and Yankee Doodle,
after, when Gen. Fair6hiia was intro
dqced and started out with the sentence
Twenty FIVE years have made ii possible
to sandwich Confederate and Yankee
between Dixie and Yankee Doodle. 4
| He did not know a better object lessor
for the young than these fraternal gath
esaugs of those two once hostile armies
He sgreed with Governor Beavers open
ing remarks concerning the use OF TIL,
Sabbath Tor this purpose, and thought NJ
! day none to holy to visit these scenes anc
hold memorial services over the dead
Ip times of war it was not too holy Il
1 9ght op Sunday and With proper motire
IN the keert this was net too holy q da,
TO pss Nell n efited tFlhute to the dead
Rpof Williams 81 Providence, r. /.
Prof. J. r. Slime, historian of the Tirs
cerpa, and several others spoke briefly.
The ,Pttrtridgs as Drumrher.