The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-05
AFFAIRS TO BRAVERY.
Colonel Cockerill Visits the
Field of Gettysburg.
MONUMENTS ON EVERY HAND.
Stories OF Bravery Told in Granite and
Bronxe-Green Hills That Once
Were Red With Blood.


Were Red With Blood.
A Journey to the battlefield Of Gettys-
burg is one that every patriotic American
should make The death grapple between
the armies of the Union and the Confeder-
acy, which took place in and around this
quiet, sleepy old town of Gettysburg
twenty-nine years ago, ranks as the one
great battle of modern times, and it is
bound to live in history with Marathon,
Blenheim and Waterloo. 1t was my pleas
ure to visit Gettysburg recently with
party of New York and Philadelphia news
paper workers. guests Of the Reading rail-
way, which, in addition to other great en-
terprises, is making speciality of its con-
nection with Gettysburg and its famous
field. There is no prettier spot on this
continent than Gettysburg and its sur
roundings. The beautiful, undulating
character Of the valley in which the town
lies, its swelling ridges covered with emer-
aid verdure and the whole set in by back
grounds of blue mountain ridges make it a
picture full of sweetness and repose. Here,
but for the lncursions from visitors from
the outer world, one might find the repose
of an Auburn or the happy valley of Ras-
selas.
Thanks to the patriotism Of the surviv-
ors of the battle and the munihcence Of
some of our Northern states, the Gettys-
burg battlefield today is a magnificent dis
play of monumental art. We have no such
heroic sculpture in this country, and the
stories which here are told in granite,
marble and bronze from one end of this
field to the other are such az TO inspire
the Hottest emotions. With its monu-
ments recounting the deeds OF brigades,
regiments and squadrons the story of the
great struggle IS told in language which
needs scarcely any addition, and the les
son promulgated Is one which every youth
in the land should enjoy. Some of these
monuments are exquisite, both in design
and execution, and the battlefield is now
really great outdoor exhibition Of art-a
veritable national museum.
had made hasty visit to Gettysburg's
field couple of years ago and, having
read pretty much everything that had
been written on the subject of the battle,
| was pretty familiar with the stories of
the guides. We had with US on this occa-
sion Colonel John b. Bachelor, the gov
eminent historian, who has been visiting
the field annually for more than twenty
years and who has enjoyed the society of
thousands of officers of both armies who
met on this spot. The old gentleman
means to write, one of these days, a history
of this battle, but he is suffering now from
an excess of information and is SO burdened
with caution that l am afraid the book,
like the mathematical work which the poor
schoolmaster on Longfellow's story of Kav-
anaugh contemplated writing for so many
years, will never be written. Every time he
visits Gettysburg the old colonel obtains
new bit of information which requires
the overhauling and revising of his
previous reports. In passing over the
field the other day with Minnigh, the
oratorical guide, the colonel felt called
upon several times to correct statements
which have long been historical through
constant repetition. Colonel Bachelor
has caused to be set up on Seminary ridge,
| near the point where Pickett's famous
and glorious charge ended in death anG
dismay, memorial which is to celebrate
the High Water Mark of the Rebellion"
1t is in the form of granite pedestal with
an enormous bronze book lying open upon
it, upon which, without adjectives, are
recorded the deeds performed there and
with them the names of the organizations
of both armies which contended there.
Every testimonial to the courage and
prowess of the Southerners is merely a
magnificent tribute to the indomitable
| courage and the noble sacrifices of the de-
| tenders of the Union who met them here
and sent them recoiling back to Apron at,
| tox. The Gettysburg Memorial Associa-
| ton has made and graded twenty miles Of
carriage road over the battlefield, and the
| monuments thus far set up represent an
| investment of over million dollars.
| When these roads are properly macada-
| mixed the battlefield will be a magnificent
| rark, and when the Confederates have
marked their positions the vast field will
| be a silent history speaking to the ages.
! Until this recent visit had, along with
| good many other people, fancied that
| the first days fighting around Gettysburg
| was little more than heavy skirnrishing,
mingled with considerable running and a
| complete rout in the end for the Federal
| forces. AS matter of fact, there was no
| better fighting done at Gettysburg than
| that of Buford's cavalry and the First
| corps, which encountered the advance OF
! General Lees army on the Chambersburg
| pike on the LIST of July. The prolongation
| of that days struggle made it possible fol
| General Meade to bring up his detached
! corps and place them where they could be
hammered into an impregnable position
on Seminary ridge with the tanks
! protected by the Round Top, Gene
| terry hill and Culp's hill. When
| General Buford, at the head of his two
! cavalry brigades came laundering into
| Gettysburg on the last day of June he
| learned of the eastward movement of Cen
| eral Lees forces from Chambersburg.
| General Early had passed through Getty s.
| burg, moving eastward some nights be-
| fore, and had taken up his position at
| York. Ewell with a large force was at
| Carlisle on the north, threatening Harris
| burg with several divisions. When, on
| the morning of tde 1st Buford's cavalry
! men met the advance of Lee on the Cash
| town pike, his theory must have been tn at
| he was only to meet an advancing di.
! vision or two, and it must have been his
/ belief that by holding them in check until
| Reynolds came up with his first corps the
! Confederates would pe defeated and turned
| back. Whatever his theory, he started in
| with q tremendous display of energy and
| pluck and for several hours he must
| have mystitied the fiery Confederates with
| the yigor of his defense. When Reynolds
| with his infantry, reached the field it was
| to meet a mighty onpouring Of the very
| flower of the Confederate army. 1t was
| little known then that Lee had issued an
| order TO his detached wings 20 concentrate
| at Gettysburg, and while Doubleday was
! making his heroic fight on the west of the
| town. and Towards Eleventh corps were
| fo~rnTDp the north down rama +he