The National tribune., 1893-07-13
NEW YORK DAY.
The Dedication of the Shaft in Honor of the
Dead Heroes of the State.

The Dedication OF the Shaft in Honor of the
Dead Heroes of the State.
The crowds which invaded Gettysburg in
July reminded the inhabitants of the scenes
which occurred over 30 years ago. Over 5000
boys in blue who were on the field at that
time were then present. but this time On a
more peaceful errand. that of doing honor to
those whose lamp of life was extinguished
during the terrible three days fighting.
The whole of the first day was spent in re-
viewing the battlefield. Gen. Sickles and
Bishop Potter drove around the town and over
the feld.of battle without receiving any more
notice than countryman who was hauling a
load of hay. The boys wandered around in
groups and inspected the places where their
regiments were stationed during the eventful
fight and chatted over old-time "reminiscences
On Culps Hill a miniature battle was fought
over again, this time without the loss of human
life and with more effect. Just after dark tho
survivors lined up at General Green's Head
quarters, and preceded by nonogenarian Gen.
eral who rode in barouche, the march to the
hill was begun. A rocket illuminating the
threatening sky was signal for the commence
ment of the operations. A blaze of fireworks
appeared all along the line amid the shouting
and hurrahing of those present. The lombard
ment was continued until the supply Of mate
rial was exhausted, when the sham battle
ended.
The only other military exercise Of the day
was visit of the 10Th n. Y. in force to the
place where they opened the first days fight,
near Seminary Ridge and the 4th n Y.'s dedi-
cation of marker to denote their position in
the same neighborhood.
The second day, July 2, was the great day.
The first feature was the reception to Mai. Gen.
George s. Green by his brigade on Culp's Hill.
platform had been erected among the trees
where Green's men held the most important
point in right Of the line of the battle OF the
Sc Grhf
monuments erected to mark the places where
comrades fell, the survivors and their guests
gathered and saluted their brigade Commander,
who is in his 93d year, and is the oldest living
participant in the battle of Getty sburg
Gen. Robert Avery presided. On the plat
form were Gov. Flower, of New York, and
staff; Maj-Gen. Daniel E. Sickles, Maj-Gen
II. w. Slocum, Col. Slegman, who was wounded
not so yards away, aud the representatives of
the Goth, 18th, 1920, 18th and 149th N. y.
regiments. Standing about under the trees, or
seated in carriages, were nearly thousand
veterans of New York regiments and their
friends
At o'clock the veterans formed in line
and marched to the place where the New York
monument is located The dedicatory cxer-
cises took place at 3 o'clock p. M, with the fol-
lowing program Music, Star Spangled Ban
ner," hymn by Kinnicot quartet prayer by
Rev. DR.. w. b. Derrick, introductory remarks
by Gen. ID. II. Sickles, President of the Board
of Commissioners; dedication address by Bishop
r. p. Potter, introduction of Gov. Flower and
Gov. Pattison to veterans, response by Gov
Flower and Gov. Pattisen, poem by De Witt c.
Sprague, hymn by Kinnicot quartet, patriotic
song by Kinnicot quartet, benedction by Bish-
ops of Pennsylvania and Virginia, salute by
Battery A.
After the ceremonies at this monument
Sickles Excelsior Brigade marched to and
dedicated their new monument on Sickles ave-
sue, near the Peach Orchard Gen. Sickles
presided at the dedication. Col. John N. Coyne
of the 1st Excelsior, delivered the Grafton, and
Gems. Slocum and Tremaine made short ad-
dresses.
The third day was spent in the ompletion of
muster-rolls of honor and filing of returns for
medals at the Eagle House in compliance with
orders. The monuments of the 18th and 44th
N Y. were dedicated in the morning On Little
Round Top with appropriate ceremonies.