The evening times., 1896-02-14
GAVE UP TIVE BATTLEFIELD
Gettysburg Association Turns
Over Its Ho'diags.
WHAT 1T HAS ACCOMPLISHED
For Thirty ore Years 1t Fought to
Keep the Site Sacred and Now
ment-The History of the Patriotic
Plan and 1t, FnifilImcnt

The Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial AS
sociatioD, alter an existence OF over thirty
one years, is practically dead. IL has trans
ferred 10 the United States ali OF its large
holdings. and now simply awaits the formal
decree OF dissolution by the court.
TIE association WAS incorporated by the
general assembly OF ennsyly1nia on April
30, 1864. and was empowered by its char
ter Ito hold aud preserve the battlefield
OF Gettysburg. ON which Were fought the
actions of the LIST, 2d and Sd days OF July,
1868, and th. nSiGrJI and artificial de-
fenses, as they were dJ the time Of said bat
tie: and thus, by sIch preservation and me-
mortal structures 1S Il generous and pa
triotic people might aid to erect to COM
mcmorate the heroic deeds and struggles
and triumphs of their brave defenders
Organized less ,Ban year after the great
battle aud whi!. the cannon still ttuIdarcd
along the James, the result of its efforts ap-
ycared sufficiently urcert.i:n; ard. indeed.
it was not until about twelve year ago that
unqualified success became ev dent.
The association, from its inception, was
purely benevolent. The battlefield was
its sole beneficiary. II had no money
except what was derived, from time to
time, by legislative appropriation or by
the sale or stock. ami those who pur-
chased this stock-either private indi-
viduals or G.. a. K. pOsts-did II with
the full knowledge that they were sim
ply making a gift 20 the association. No
dividends were III the Question II was
all expenditure ana no earnings. The
officers and directors. with a few ex-
ceptions, served without any remunera-
tion, ndfrecly devoted both time and money
to further the interests Of the battlefield.
THE OFFICERS.
BY the charter, the governor of Penn
sylvania was ex-officio president of the
association, but the vice president and
executive head has always been a citi-
Zen OF Gettysburg. There have been but
four OF these-HOn. David McCOnaughy,
who was one OF the chief originators of
the corporation; Robert &. MCCreary, esq,
Davii i. BGehleT. esq. and Col. c. H.
Buehler. the present official.
The association being so extraordinary
and unique in its object, was always
accorded the deepest con sidera ton by
those in authority IN the government OF the
nation. Never before in history had an
effort been made - preserve one OF the dis
tinctly crucial battlefieds of the world
With all the glorious ones that lie within
her borders, Europe could point to none.
The Old World has been caIlous to both
patriotism and fealty except in their di-
rect results.
1t remained for a little town OF less than
3 600 inhabitants TO originate a new express
sion of honor to patriotism And. remark
able as il may seem. this memorial assccia-
ton was the second of such departures, for
shortly after the battle itself. Gettysburg
had brought forth the idea of a Soldiers
National Cemetery. and President Lincoln
made his wonderful address Of dedication
Upun Cemetery Hill.
From the Gettysburg National Cemetery
came the system which has covered the
South, from Antietam TO ViCksburg. with |
the white headstones that mark the graves
Of the men who are TINS sleeping under the
Stars and Stripes. awaiting the awakening
of the last grand reveIle. From the Gettys-
burg Battlefield Memorial Association has
come the National Military Park at Chicka-
mauSa. OF Shiloh, OF Antietam and OF Get
tysbure itself.