The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-22
GEN. G0RD0N'S ADDRESS
UNION AND CONFEDERATE VETER-
ANS HEAR HIM AT ACTON.
His Lecture on ''The Last Days of the
Confederacy" Wen Received-New
Arrivals at the Park.

Patriotic Day at Acton Park this year
will be remembered as a red letter day. not
only in the assembly of 1902, but in the his
tory of the association. The exercises yes
terday were the most enjoyable and enter
tanning thus far in this years meetings.
A large number of war veterans of both the
Union and Confederate armies went down
to hear the lectures of General John B.
Gordon yesterday afternoon. and spent a
delightful day relating experiences when
they were fighting each other.
The tabernacle was well filled when the
big bell called the campers to hear the lee
ture of General Gordon on The Last Days
of the Confederacy." After the singing of
Marching Through Georgia" in which the
survivors of both armies joined enthusiast
tically, Mr.. Benjamin Starr, commander Of
the G. a. r. of Indiana, introduced the
speaker in fitting speech, in which he
alluded to the part that General Gordon
had taken in the civil war. 1t was GER
talnly an impressive occasion TO see the
gray haired men who had so CALAMITY
fought against each other thirty-five years
ago cheer the names of different leaders
on both sides and applaud the recital of
brave deeds done by the wearers of the
gray as well as blue
General Gordon has a forcible delivery
de-
scribing humorous situations. His recital
OF many bloody battles and of the several
pathetic incidents during his campaigns
were very interesting. He spoke for two
hours, having the rapt attention OF the au-
dience all of that time. At one minute his
hearers would be the point of crying.
while the next they would be roaring with
laughter over some peculiar incident that
the General had witnessed.
The speaker made Gettysburg the diVid-
ing line between the aspiring and expiring
Confederate States of America. He made
playful allusion to the reasons for Lee
crossing the Patomac in 1868 into Pennsyl-
vania and of his sudden retreat from that
State. General Gordon traced the history
of the events from Gettysburg to the close
of the war, paying glowing tributes to the
Northern and Southern women. He also
paid glowing tributes to the leaders of both
armies and described the great depletion
of the Southern forces. relieving the sad
ness of the story with anecdotes and Incl
dents of the most amusing character as
they transpired in camp, on the march, or
in battle. His climax came when he de-
scribed the meeting of Lee and Grant in the
little brick house at Appotomatox, and
the last scenes just prior to the surrender.
He closed with a tribute to the American
flag and the destiny of the Republic. Cen
eral Gordon a prominent figure in the
war, and so well and wildly did he picture
the transpiring events of the awful strug-
gle when some of the most bloody battles
took place that one could almost see the
action of which the speaker told as on a
panorama.
Mrs Frame preached yesterday morning.
and also talked last night. She will hold a
social service and preach again this morn
ing, and o'clock Mrs. j. L. +. Steeg Will
conduct children's service. AT $3.50 this
afternoon the Rev. c.. w. Lewis, of Moore s
HILL was to have had charge of the meet
ing, but he could not be present, and some
one else will speak. Tomorrow chill
dren's meeting, preaching by Mrs. Frame
and the Rev. j. w. Turner will comprise
the services.