The Sunday globe., 1901-07-07

Tardy recognition of unique fame is
about to be given in enduring form by
the erection of monuments on the bat
tlefeld Of Gettysburg to the memory Of
Jennie Wade and John Burns. Neither
Jennie Wade nor John Burns was con-
nected with the army in any recog-
nized capacity, but the former lost her
life and the latter was wounded while
engaged in a line Of duty voluntarily
undertaken, and each evinced a Spar
tan heroism worthy to be cOmmemor-
ated in monumental stone or time de-
flying bronze.
The credit for the Jennie Wade mon.
ument belongs to the Womans Relief
corps Of Iowa, which has given an or
der for the immediate erection Of a
monument at Gettysburg. 1t is ex.
pected that the monument will be
ready for unyeiling in September. 1t
was hoped that the unveling Ceremo.
nies could be held in July, on the ami
versary Of Jennie Wade's death, but
unavoidable delays disappointed the
hope.
The story Of Jennie Wade is short
and simple, but it has a tragic pathos
which gives immortality to her name.
Jennie was young woman who
chanced to be visiting at the home Of
her sister in Gettysburg when the bat
tie commenced. The marshaling Of the
hosts, the explosion Of shells, and the
whistle of bullets terrified nearly all
ne ha Y a.
MIA town, and the engagement Of the
first day had hardly commenced when
the inhabitants fed en- masse to places
Of safety. A few intrepid souls re-
NAMED Among them were jennie
Wade and her sister. The two women
were in a large brick house almost
within the Union lines, and as the tide
Of fortune shifted during the three
awful days Of the decisive battle Of
the war, the house was frequently
brought within musket range of the
firing lines, Fer two days the women
remained quietly in the house, undis.
mayed by the hell that ragged around
them; but on the third day, when the
battle ragged with unexampled fury,
and both sides put forth supreme et'
fort for the mastery, word came to the
house that many soldiers were suffer
ing for want Of food. For two days
the women had been inactive in the
midst of scenes which were shaping
the destiny OF nations. Here was a
chance TO do something, and with the
calm fortitude which characterizes
American women in the midst Of peril
Jennie and her sister cooly set about
baking biscuits for the soldiers. Bull
a a
the ground shook under the roaring
artillery; but the sisters went about
their selfimpOsed task with unblanch.
ed faces and steady nerves.
Jennies fance had been fighting in
the Union ranks, but his body lay stin
and stark on the slope where the tide
of war had mounted highest This cir
eumstanCe gives an air of romantic
fatality TO the story. We do not know
whether or not Jennie was coguizant
of the death of her fiance, but We may
assume that the knowledge that he was
with the embattled hosts strengthened
her fortitude and made her heart in
staRtly responsive to the cry Of need
from the suffering heroes. But wheth-
er fate was responsible for one Of
those strange caprices which produce
power ordered events, the lovers who
had plighted their trOth in life were
speedily united in death upon the his
toric battlefield for as Jennie was en-
gagged in her Samaritan task a mus
ket ball came through the kitchen and
killed her.
II is meet that at this season, when
a united country celebrates the ami.
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story of Jennie Wade who was killed
on July 3. 1868, should be retold, in
order that the courage Of American
women may be exalted.
Bret Harte has immortalized old
Jobn Burns, of Gettysburg in = poem,
of which the following Is an extract
from the first stanza
Brief is rne glory that hero earns
Rriefer the story Of poor John Burns,
LIa was the fellow who won renoWn-