The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-09-20
Gettysburg Battlefield After Twenty,
Six Years.


AS many OF your readers are already
aware. the Legislature Of Pennsylvania at
Its last session passed a bill to furnish free
transportation to all Pennsylvania soldiers
within the State whose organizations took
part in the grest battle and who desired to
assist at the dedication of the Pennsylvania
monuments on September II and -. be-
ing one OF the fortunate ones. found my
self en- the way Monday the 9Th inst. ar
rived at Gettysburg the same evening after
eigat o'clock, and after securing lodging
started in company with a former comrade
10 visit the field by moonlight we struck
the position occupied by the 1lth corps
Gen. Howard :, just south of town on both
sides Of the Baltimore pike, but as we had
Fever been on this part of the field every
thing seemed turned around on Tuesday
morning went out again. the 18th corps
to which we belonged joined Howard on the
right, a narrow depression divides Cemetery
ridge from Cups hill, where our corps was
posted. 1t was here that Gen. Ewell
I fought US, and where his charging columns
were almost anihilated. The rocks and
| trees plainly show the marks OF the con-
i flict of twenty-siN years ago, an eXamina-
/ tiOn OF the trees showed that very few of
/ our guns were aimed too high. l stood be-
/ side a small tree and counted eleven marks
/ made Dy rife balls low enough TO hit a man.
/ One of our men from Gallitzin (LoW dead
/ got on high rock during the fight and paid
/ his compliments TO the enemy with telling
| effect, receiving in return three bullet
marks on his person. Our line of battle
/ was in the general form Of a fish hook.
Wit hot har rh
/ represen ting our position on the tight.
I The other end at round top, Meaoe's head
I quarters was on q line between Haucock's
4 position on the left centre and the 18th
D corps, so that when Lee opened his terrific
/ cannonsde on Hancock, July Sd the shot
/ and shells compelled Meade to abandon his
| headq uarters. 4 great number OF these
| missiles reached Us. having been aimed toe
high TO injure Hancock's men. The strang-
est part of the battle was developed at the
reunion OF July 1855, between the Blue and
I Gray, as the veterans OF both armies passed
along the line OF battle the rebels showed
/ our meu where they lay on the night Of July
2nd near Spangler's Spring, they were =
fac: within one hundred and fifty ya; o
Meade's headquaIters-nearert tbc, dn-
lon troops of course they ..Lorant of
| their advantage, for a they known il.
the union army was at their mercy. The
several States whose troops took part in
the battle. Lave erected monuments to mark
the exact spot where each regiment stood In
the line. on which is a full history of the
I regiment Macy of these monuments are
/ grand, almost beyond description, and
would well repay visit. Many Of them
I have bronze figures on top representing
I some officer who distinguished himself OF
( fell on this field. The chief point Of inter
I est seems to be at the Bloody angle. where
/ Gen. Picket. OF Longstreets corps, made hi:
famous charge July 3Ed, on Hancock's corp:
They came Up within thirty feet Of our bat