New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-02
THE FIRST CORPS REUNION.
A TOUCHING SPEECH BY GENERAL LONG
STREET.
INTERESTING SERVICES IN REYNOLDS GRovE-TBE
SURVIVORS OF THE CORPS WELCOMED BY
GOVERNOR BEAVER.
lpr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIDUNE.J

1
SURVIVORS OF THE CORPS WELCOMED BY
GOVERNOR BEAVER.
Ipr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrDUNE.J
Gettysburg, July 1.-The actual reunion Of the
| veterans of the Army Of the Potomac and OF the
| Army of Northern Virginia began to-day with
memorial exercises, under the charge of the First
| Army Corps, the of the first days fight
| Probably 200 of Lees men are here now, camp
ing in the tents furnished by the Government, and
every train that came in from the South tonight
brought for the great Meet
ing Of Fraternization' tomorrow even
| ing. Thirty special trains, loaded with veterans,
| Grand Army men and National Guardsmen,
have arrived since this morning, and no crowd
| so vast has been seen in and about the town since
the last day of the battle
Fully 900 visitors have already found quar-
ters and the rush tomorrow and Tuesday will
raise the number of strangers in the town to
| 000O or 40, 000 This vast mob is almost with
out police of any sort, yet the utmost good order
| and good nature have prevailed far. The
weather. too after the heat and then the chilling
rain of last week. has turned rs
balmy and inspiriting as that of early
| June.
Some Of the New-Yorlx regiments which were on
| the ground took to-day instead OF the time set,
| tomorrow for the dedication Of their memorials.
| The beautiful granite shaft which marks the spot
where the 9th Militia, SD New-York Infantry,
| fought the first day was unveiled just before
sunset in the presence Of the active and veteran
| branches Of the organization and nearly all the
| Wcll-known military men the field. The
! IA 1th Ncw-l orx dedicated its monument IN the
morning and the 41st 45th 54th, 6Sth, 97th 9th,
and 134th, at various times through the day.
General Longstreet was the central figure at
the reunion of the First Army Corps lReynodss)
| in Reynolds Grove in the afternoon. After the
various speakers the list had spoken at length
for the corps and its various divisions and brigades
Lees famous lieutenant was called out. The Cen
eral is a tall, broad-shouldered man of sixty years
or over, with silvery hair and long English side
whisxcrs, almost dead white. His face Is
broad and full, his forehead dome-shaped,
and his lips twitch with genial
| SMILE the humor of which dances in his kindly
eyes. As he stood there on the platform before
the cheering crowd, his speech faltered little,
then grew clear and resonant as he drew brief
picture of the three days of battle, the valor and
| heroism of the assaults Oh both sides, Lees first
success on Seminary Ridge and his first decided
check at Little Round Top PiclSetts splendid
charge came next and as the stately C.; warrior
! touched upon the fatal rush across
| the valley $4,000 yards ir the
| hot fire of 1000 guns, his voice
| sank to "A whisper then died away altogether
| and left him face to face with his audience, but
| for full minute speechless When the words
| came again he finished his sentence, turned with
| native gallantry a compliment to the fair faces
| that had clouded in sympathy with his unspokcn
| feeling and sat hurriedly down Not spectator
| in the big crowd but was touched to the quick,
| and the veterans cheereI the Southern commander
| from the bottom of their lungs and hearts. The
! exercises were held in the grove where
| the Wisconsin monuments were dedicated
Yesterday in the shade of the tree under which
| REYNOLDS fell Five thousand people tried to get
near enough to hear the speaking, but most OF
them without success Governor Beaver, of Penn
| sylvania presided, and made the address OF well
| come. lie praised Reynolds the true hero OF
| Gettvsburg. and extolled the sterling virtues of
| the men who fought under him so CALAMITY
| General John c. Robinson of Bnghamton, Key
nolds's ranking division commander responded Tor
| the First Corps lie is a one-legged veteran, with
silvcry hair and beard, who speaks modestly and
| ,riefv Few of the war Governors who were 10 make
addresses. were able to come. Governor Smyth,
Of New-IIampshire spoke, however, and after him
came Governors Smith and Holbrook, of Vermont.
Governor Ormsbce, Of Vermont, was on the stand,
but did not speak. General IL. a Grant, OF the
| Vermont brigade, called out and dld well.
Then came General Longstreet. in whose honor
the band played Dixie Land" Here is what
he said:
Mr. Chairman. soldiers gentlemen, and friends:
was not I'm time TO witness any part Of the engagement
Of the first day OF Getysburs but am pleased 10 10
here Ir time TO witness the ceremony commemoratIng
The days of honor OF the Army of the Potomac ana 10
| express that sympathy that 'nOll 60 "d' i,,h aii
hearts TO those who know how to appreciate the con-
duct OF soldiers who offer their lives on the altar OF
| their country; and who may better ATTEST Oh mo
bravery of the defenders Of hsm hsn RTsi and Who
could more forcbly realize that 1t wa thcr heiosh m
f the pdvancIng aspirations of state sovereignty
with the frnness that justified by the strong
ground upon which fortune cast their lines, amidst amidst
these formidable surroundings these rock bound slopes
and heights reinforced by balls OF iesa Tha Ta cage
az efa rsi bse OF 'SSi Tas '"d thrown down and hsrs
tie ssst s Of the s,tos SOUTH oun& d@' Rsaiii Rssii
oVermatcHed arrested in IT'S march Of triumph. and
stand and to reco put nor ioG VAN ha eec6nd
day by McI.anc's and Hoods divisions and part OF OF
Andco9s va az spea S as before q the end It was
found be work to upheave The mountain r1h Idt ei
marching twelve hundred yards under Inc liq ol nd
hundred and ten thousand OF mlshetry, mas mo
Taac nor Is Likely Tay TO % naTS my IN mind ind with vivid force
The gallant Pickett at the head Of my own old dvl l4'
Sndlnr their men to their desperate work; The set
features Of the veteran brgaders. Armstead CAREER M
elastic stems Of the troops, whose hafconcealcd smiles
expressed pleasure in their Opportunity msrked
and well did they meet the promise of their parting
salutatlons with that confidence that commands sue,
cess wh,re it is possible. Their hammsrea aalnsi4a
| ranks moved steadily on, I'LL, ihalShlls
| mn face to face. they fell their noble heans
at the feet Of the foe who standing like their own hrae
bIs received with welcome the shock of this well M aa
| iuStcd battle such IS the sacrifice sometimes dc
mandcd by the panopy of armies arraHsd T,lo, iOr
| battIe iut times have changed. twenty
g%e wears have softened the usages Of war
Those frownIng heights have given over their savage
tones and our meetings for the exchange OF blows ana
| broken homes arc left for more congcnla days, for
friendly greetings and for covenants of tranquil leposr
Tho ladles are here grace the serene occasion and
| aniclen the sentiment that draws us nearer together
God bless them and help that they may dspel the DC
Iueions that come between the people and make tho
land as blthe a bride at the coming of the BRIDE
| groom.
General Fairchld. Of Wisconsin, followed Cen
eral Longstreet, and the band started in on
| Yankee Doodle