The National tribune., 1889-09-19
GETTYSBURG
Thousands Of Soldiers Reune and I'm
vail Monuments on the Battlefield.

Notwithstanding the Indictment weather of
the past week, thousands of veterans assembled
on the famous battlefield of Gettysburg to hold
Reunions of regiments, brigades. divisions and
corps, and the Pennsylvania soldiers, who had
been furnished free transportation by the State,
were there for the purpose of defeating monu-
ments on the spot where their different regi-
ments fought on those hot July days 20 years
ago. Old soldiers in GA. X. uniforms began to
assemble in the town on Friday and Saturday,
Sept and z and by Sunday the town was full
of the old veterans.
Camps were established in eligible localities,
tents were erected, and once more the historic
spot took on the appearance OF war times. On
Sunday religious services were held in the
cemetery. at which thousands of veterans and
their families and friends were present. The
meeting was called to order by Department.
Commander Stewart, of Philadelphia, and De-
partment Chaplain Sayers delivered an elo-
quent and patriotic sermon.
At $50 o'clock in the evening dress-parade
of the Grand Army took place. Post after
Post of Veterans took their places in the line,
and when all were in position n bugle sounded
the Assembly, at the conclusion of which, from
behind one Of the lunets near the Observatory,
there was puff of smoke q crash, and the
wooded slopes of Culp's Hill flung back the
echo of the evening gun.
Among the tattered war-worn flags dis
played were those of the GOTH list, I'D and
106th Pa. which formed Webb's Brigade, which
so calamity held the stone wall at the Bloody
Angle These flags were the object OF tender
interest to everybody.
On Monday the crowd of veterans had swelled
considerably and the little town was put to its
utmost capacity 10 entertain those who were
not in camp. There were 1900 GAR. men of
Pennsylvania in attendance upon the regular
Encampment of the Department. The State
issued II 600 orders for free transportation, and
at least this number of Pennsy lvania soldiers
were present. Besides these veterans there
were soldiers from almost every State in the
Union.
Among the prominent people present were
Gov Beaver and staff in full uniform; Gen.
Taylor, Gen. Goblin. Col. Ricketts, and Col. Mich
olson the members of the State Monument
Commission; Gen. ID. M. Gregg. Chief Marshal;
Gen. Sickles, Gen. Carr, and Mai. Richardson.
of the New York Monument Commission; Col.
George g. Meade, son of the dead General;
Ex Gov Curtin; Bishop Vincent of Chicago.
and the widow of Gen. Strong Vincent, who
was killed in the battle: Mrs. Harper, the
widow of Maj Samuel Harper, Of the Pennsyl-
vania Commission; Congressman Bingham,
Gen. Langham Wistar and Gen. Francis Wis
ter, of Philadelphia; Col. Theodore w. Bean,
of Horfstown; Col. Coe Durland, 18th Pm. Cav
Gen. James G. Lynch of Philadelphia and
many others.
The State Monument Commission went over
the field and formally accepted the monuments
and approved of the sites selected for them.
An array Of 66 regiments of infantry, seven
batteries aud nine cavalry regiments OF Penn
sylvania troops. who were actual fighters in
the battle, were represented on the field dur
ing the ceremonies. These troops belonged to
the First. Second. Third, Fifth, Sixth, Elev-
enth, Twelfth and Cavalry Corps.
Wednesday Sept. II, was the day SGT apart
for the dedication of the monuments of the
Pennsylvania regiments and it raincd almost
the entire day. Still the ardor Of the veter-
ans could not be quenehed by little rain, and
| although some of the regiments postponed their
ceremonies most OF the services were held at
the designated hours and the old soldiers gath
cred around the monuments and joined in the
ceremony, their families aud friends being
spectators 70 the solemn and impressive scene.
One Of the most interesting meetings on the
field was that of the Pennsylvania Reserves,
which WAS held on Little Round Top on We'd
nesiay afternoon. When Gov. Curtin, the
venerable War Governor Of Pennsylvania, ap-
pearcd upon the platform, the hat OF every man
! in tho audience was dotted and the Governor
was chceCed to the echo. He made q rousing
speech OF considerable length saying that he
believed this would be the last time he would
ever meet the gallant Reserves; spoke of their
heroism aud courage, and praised them as they
| I5,s0O of these men, who oyerran the streets Of
| Washington. and thus prevented the rebels
| from capturing the Capital There Mere only
| loo OF these men came back from the front,
| but they brought every flag back with them
/ which had been given them by the State.
| At night a reception was given Gov. Beaver
| at the Sprngs~Hot and hop followed the
reception. The annual Reunion of the 2d Pa.
| III. A. was also held on Wednesday. Col. B. +.
| Winger and Adj't +. w. Grugsn, of Philadel-
| phia, were the only regimental officers present,
| but there was a large attendance of company
| officers aud priVates.
| The regiment was one of the largest in serv
/ ice, having ~ one time :, 800 men. and u second
! provisional regiment was organized out of it
/ The men were mainly from Phladelph Allie
| gheny aud Franklin Counties.
The bad weather of Thursday somewhat
married the proceedings. There was no parade
| in the morning and the exercises of the after
noon were necessarily held in the Rink in tht
| town.
Early in the forenoon, before the rain fell
! heavily, the survivors Of the I'D Pa held then
| postponed exercises about their monument il
| the Bloody Angle About 125 of them escorted
by detail Of Post 81, marched cut Hancock
| avenue 10 the monument. After dirge by thu
| band Capt. John Reed made a brief speech, re
| marking that owing TO the legal dispute as &
| the location OF the monument they could to
| day delicate only - bronze figure OF % Zouav(
| on temporary wooden pedestal. He said
| however that they had retained this position
| 70 years ago and they meant To retain il now
| Rev. DIR. w. IL. Clark, oil Philadelphia, offered
prayer, aud w. w. Ker delivered an eloquent
address. Then Post 81 fired Il salute the banC
played "Auld Lang Syue," and the veterans
marched away from the spot whore so many o
their comrades had fallen.
| Dedieatory exercises were also held at the
| monument of the l0Gth. Prayer WAS offered by
/ Rev. !. Newton Ritner. of Philadel pha; Jas
| Thompson, the President of the Association
| delivered an address and Gen. James &. Lynch
an Grafton poem was read by j. X. c. Ward, o
| Philadelphia, and the monument was unvaileC
| by Capt. William b. Rose, of Philadelphia.
| The survivors of the LIST Pa. Cav. also hello
n Reunion. Gen. Taylor presiding. A history
of tho regiments part in the battle was reaC
by Col. William p. Lloyd and poem by Surg
| q. Is. Hotchkin.
Addresses were made by Capt. John Hamil
| ton and Assistant Surgeon Louis f. Atkinson
| The infant daughter of Lieut.. Col. David Gard.
| ner, of Warren who is not yet old enough Il
bear name, but who was present, was adopted
rs the daughter of the regiment
Al the Rink, where tho exercises in dedica
ton of other Pennsylvania monuments were
| held Gov. Beaver aud the members of his stat
and other distinguished guests occupied the
platform. Gen. Sickles was present, and alsC
| occupied n seat on the platform. Gov. Beaver
accepted the monuments on the part of the
| State in splendid speech. He was followed by
| q a =. l.