The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-06-05
On the Battlefield of Gettysburg
Today.
MILES THERE.
Other Distinguished Soldiers
and Citizens Present.
Ceremonies of the dwelling and
Presentation.

Gettysburg, Pa, June 5.-An i'm
mense crowd of veterans of the war
and others gathered on the battlefield
here today to witness the unveiling of
the splendid equestrian statues erected
by the state of Pennsylvania in honor
of the memory of Generals George G.
Meade OF Pennsylvania and Winfield
s. Hancock, two Pennsylvania soldiers,
the record of whose gallant participa-
ton in the battle of Gettysburg viii
forever live in American history.
The ceremonies began with the I'M
yelling of the Meade Memorial at 1870
o clock This duty was performed by
Master George Gordon Meade a grand
son of the dead hero As the drapery
fell from the beautiful statue a salute
was fired by light battery &C. u. S. A.
which came here from Washington
barracks, under command of Capt.
Lancaster. This was followed by the
ded1catOry services conducted by Geo.
G. Meade post No. /, Pennsylvania. c.
A. r. Gen Goblin of Lebanon. on be
half of the commission which super
vised the erection of the statues form
erly transferred the memorial to Gov.
Hastings who received it on behalf of
the state.
An grafton by Gen. David AcAIur-
commander Of the Second cavalry di-
vision in the battle OF Gettysburg con
Guided the Meade ceremonies.
At o'clock this afternoon the Han
cock statue was unveiled The cere-
monies were much the same as the
Meade unveiling in the morning Bat
terry B fired a salute, General Goblin
transferred the statue to the state and
Governor Hastings received it, TIe.
Grafton was delivered by Cen. Henry II
Bingham, congressman from Phila-
delDhia, who was on General FIancOck's
stan at Gettysburg Hundreds of
Grand Army men who attended the
annual meeting at Chambersburg
stopped here on their way home to par
ticjpate in the ceremonies.
Among the distinguished men pres
ent We're Gen. Nelson a. Miles, COM
handing the United States army;
Brig. Gen. Brooke U. S A. who com
mards the department of the Platte
Col. George G. Meade. the son of Gen
Meade, Lieut.. Col. VIM Brooke Rawle
and Major Carpenter Of Philadelphia,
and Col Finley Anderson of New York
who was on Gen. HancOck's staff.
General Daniel SiCkles of New York
who commanded the Union left in the
battle here was unable to come. He
sent a letter expressing his regret and
eulOgizing in patriotic language the
hero and whose memory was honored
today The statues unveiled today are
handsome They were erected at the
expense of the state and cost over 800
600 The work was begun about two
years ago under the direction of a
commission consisting OF Gen. G. T.
Taylor, president; Generals J. p S.
Goblin and VIM. r. HartshOrne and
Col John p. Nicholson and Col r
Bruce Ricketts,, all of whom were pres
ent today.
The foundations for the statues are
ten feet below the surface and are built
Of Gettysburg granite. Pedestals are Of
white Westerly granite. The Hancock
statue stands on East Cemetery hill.
nearly opposite National Cemetery gate
way.
The statue is ten feet high, resting on
a pedestal of blocks of granite, the
whole IL feet long, 10 feet wide and IL
feet high. The horse and rider face to
the southwest. Gen. Hancock as if di-
recting the movement of the troops on
that line.
The statue to Gen. Meade stands on
an elevation west of his headquarters
pedestal is composed of three massive
granite blocks Weighing 90 IS and 80
tons respectively. 1t is almost Is feet
long. s feet wide and 10 feet high. Both
statues are of the best quality OF bronze
OF heroic size. and are about 80 feet
from the ground at the highest point