The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-06
THE ONLY REPUBLICAN DAILY in LAcxAwANNA couN

Meade greatly distinguished himself at
the head or his division by assaulting
and penetrating the enemy's lines. unsup-
ported; his brilliant exploit was barren of
results. At Charlottesville he skilfully
covered the retreat of the Union army to
the north side of the Rappahannock. ON
June 2s the Army of the Potomac was
concentrated at Frederick, Md, and on
that DAY, in his tent, General Meade had
placed in his hands an order assigning
him to its command. 1t is impossible to
measure in any degree the weight of the
responsibility that must have pressed
upon Genral Meade at this time. Had ne
been previously consulted he would m
doubtedly have declined the appointment,
but the opportunity was not given him.
The sword of command was placed in his
hand. and good soldier that he was, he
firmly grasped It, and at once set about
the work before him.
THE GREAT BATTLE.
The story of the battle Of Gettysburg,
that was fought three days after General
Meade had assumed command. is too fam
iliar to be repeated in this presence. The
greatest of all the battles of the war and
one of the greatest In the worlds history.
ii was fought on field admirably adapted
FOR the tactical manoeuNering of the two
great armies. 1t was great because OF the
numbers engaged, those of the two armies
aggresatins about 10000 men, because OF
the desperate lighting and fearful carnage,
the aggregate loss III kllleu ana WOunIttl
having been about 5000, and because of
the momentous consequences that hung
on its issue
The victory at Gettysburg sealed the
fate of the rebellion. The Army Of North
ern Virginia. broken and dispirited, r.,
crossed the Potomac and sought for two
years longer, on the wasted fields Of Nir-
ginia, to prolong hopeless struggle. In
its subsequent campaigns. extending over
well-nigh two years, General Meade re-
aftN..1 tn "A thA 80 h.
Potomac. secure in the confidence of
its oldiery. AT the side of the great sol
dier, General Grant. who had been placed
in command of all the armies of the
United States General Meade led his old
army through the Wilderness at the siege
of Petersburg, and at the surrender of
AppomatoN. In recognition Of his dis
tingushed services, great honors were
conferred on him by the national govern
ment, the state Of Pennsylvania. and the
city of Philadelphia. General Meade was
an ardent patriot, and was every inch a
soldier. His person was tall and grace
ful, his manners courteous and digniiied.
In his intercourse with those whom he
knew but slightly he was reserved; with
his intimates he was pleasantly famili-
ar AS q husband, he was tender and low.
ing: as a father, kind and affectiohate as
u friend, true as steel. He had strong
and positive convictions, and these, when
necessary. he asserted, unrestrained by
rights of others he had the highest regard,
and would not brook interference with his
own. He was truly Christian soldier and
a gentleman.
meet the arch-enemy. before whom all
yield The victory was barren one. for
death, as 1t only resulted in releasing from
it's tenement of clay soul fully pre-
pared TO enter the Paradise of the Blessed.
The exercises were held at the site
of the monument just in the rear of the
Bloody Angle.
On the stand were seated Governor
Hastings and Mrs. Hastings, Adjutart
General Stewart and the entire COVER
nor's staff. Major General Nelson A.
Miles, United States army; Brigadier
General John r. Brooke, United States
army; Major General David McGregg,
Colonel George G. Meade, the son of tine
general; Attorney General Mccormick,
Auditor General Mylin, State Treasurer
Haywood, General Latta, Private Sec
retary Better, Colonel John p. Nichol-
son, Hon. Henry H. Bingham, Major
William Fl. Robbins and Major Charles
H. Richardson, Of the Gettysburg Ma
tional Park commission. and Gen. John
p. Taylor. Major w. H. Hartshorn and
Colonel r. Bruce Ricketts,, of the Penn
sylvania Monument commission; II. X.
Bush Brown. the sculptor Of the Meade
statue. and w. Edwin Elwell, the sculp-
tor Of the Hancock monument. Chap
lain Stevens, of Meade post, No. /,
Grand Army of the Republic, made the
invocation. When the flags fell from
the statue a great shout went up from
the crowd that ceased only with the
roar Of the cannon in salute. At the
conclusion of General Gregg's grafton,
Major General Miles. Brigadier General
Brooke and Sculptor Bush Brown made
short addresses.