The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-06-19
Pennsylvania RESERVES.
Little Difficulty Over Their Gettysburg Battle
Monuments

Monuments
The Board of Commissioners of Gettysburg
Monuments met last week at Harrisburg, for
conference with representatives Of the Penn
sylvania Reserve regiments upon the subject of
having Pennsylvania Reserve Day" at Get
tysburg, on the occasion of the dedication OF
monuments in honor of the Reserve regiments
which took part in the battle. On tho part of
the Commission, Gen. John z. Taylor, Presi-
dent, and Gen. J. Z. s. Goblin were present,
and the Reserves were represented by ex-
Gov. Curtin, Mai. J. r. r. Coates. Mayor of
Chester, Pa; Capt. John Taylor, Tax Receiver
Of Philadelphia; Capt James Mccormick and
Col. John II. Taggart, of Philadelphia, and
MAJ. Hayes Grier, Of Lancaster.
The Commission was organized June I, 1887,
aud the act creating it provided that 1921 500
should be expended by the State for the cree
ton of a monument on the battlefield to mark
the position of each regiment, battery or COM
mand that took part in the battle, or 81 500 for
each monument. All, or nearly all, the regi-
ments entitled to participate in this fund have
erected monuments on the field, except the
Pennsylvania Reserves. They wished to con-
sOlidate their appropriations and build Me-
mortal Hall on Little Round Top, where they
fought. Tho law did not warrant this. Appli-
cation was made to the last Legislature to allow
the money to be used for this purpose, but
Gov Beaver vetoed the BILL and the Legisla-
ture adjourned without making any change in
the law
The law creating the Commission provided
that if any regiment or command failed within
IL months after the passage of the act to erect
a monument, the Commission was directed to
erect one for such regiment because Of its
failure to cooperate with the Commission.
The majority of the Reserve regiments
having failed to accept the terms Of the act for
more than two years. the Commission awarded
the contracts for the erection Of six monuments,
one for the Bucktals and one each for the 1st,
| I'd, 9Th, 18th and 18th. The 9th, 9th and 10th
and lst Cav. selected their own designs and
their monuments were built under the super
vision of the Commission.
The meeting on last Thursday was called to
| invite tho survivors of the Reserves to unite
In demonstration OH the battlefield after the
monuments are all erected, when the dedica-
ton will take place. 1t was proposed to fix
the date during the Grand Army Reunion
which will last from August 30 to September
D, and - Pennsylvania Reserve Day" has been
suggested to take place on September 2 in the
rostrum of the National Cemetery, where Presi-
dent Lincoln made his celebrated address
Gov. Curtin will be invited to preside, and the
Commission offer free transportation to all Re-
serves who will take part, and will pay all the
expenses OF the celebration out of the funds in
their hands.
Gov. Curtin is not pleased with the action of
the Commission in ordering the erection of
these monuments, as he desired to have Me-
mortal Hall, and all the survivors Of the Re-
serve Corps wanted the same thing. It is a
question now whether the Reserves will sulk
and keep away from the dedication to show
their dissatisfaction, or take part in it heartily
rs they should do.
The Commission has decided to hear repre-
sentatlyes from the several Reserve regiments
at Gettysburg on the 10th of July next, as to
the location Of the monuments contracted for
by the Commission, because it is considered
best 10 have the testimony Of those who fought
in the battle as to where the monuments shall
be placed, and avoid any disputes afterwards.
The Commissioners have the law on their
side, and they could not help contracting for
the monuments and putting them up when the
regiments would not cooperate with them. 1t
has been suggested. and will probably be car
ried out, that the State of Pennsylvania build
Memorial Hall on Round Top to commence
rate the noble deeds of her sons in defending
the State.