The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-09-13
Historic Gettysburg in 1903

BY w. R. H oUGHToN.

Ever since those fateful days in July, 1863, have wondered, not that Hoods division did not take Little Round Top, but that we succeeding in going as far as we did go. I spent three days of last week on the ground and it Is still mys- tery to me that we wrested cannon and precipitous heights from even a skirmish line.
 I went this time in palace car, and with an accident policy, but the travel is more wearisome with people who ride in cars where even the tots are offish in their demeanor, and the grown folks seem to expect deference because they occupy seats obtainable by extra cash. In the smoker the flavor of conversation is apt to be coarse, and no one but the brakeman could point out Kings mountain, where was fought the battle which Is said to have been the turning point of the revo- lutionary war. If you want to remain ignorant of the country through which you travel, ride in Pullman. Passing south and west of Appomattox we came to Lynchburg, of which Slut Lovengood said that when Providence finished and painted 1t, It was turned on its side to dry and left in that position. There in the early days of the war from every par Tor window fioated the strains of Mary land, My Maryland" delighting the ears of the wounded soldiers, but the town has grown far to the south now.
 Charlottesville.
 The people in the car could only talk but my friend, the rear brakeman, could A-I EA r.1- |, .1ras T miles with him on the rear platform. and in the waning daylight and soft moon- light he pointed out Charlottesville, the cupola of the university Orange Rapidan. Culpepper, Brandy, Rappahan- mock, Catletts, Bristow, Manassas. Bull Run and Fairfax, names familiar to the survivore of Lees veterans What throng of crowding recollections rushed on me as I recalled the tramps through mud and snow or under the blazing sun past these places in the happy days long gone, with the gay and gallant spirits, the brave and jolly comrades whose fa- miliar faces rose before me, and whose souls communed with mine till the brake man wondered at my silence.
 Those marches were less tiresome than the car journey, and the simple meal of bacon and hard tack cross legged on the ground were more enjoyable than the feast off silver, china and cut glass in the dining car, for did we then not have youth and hope and freedom?
 Taking the first train out of Washington we crossed the Monocacy, where Early wrestled with Lew Wallace for the bridge, then Keedysville. the nearest railroad point to Sharpsburg. We crossed the An tietam three miles above the battle-ground and came to Hagerstown. where the col ored driver who transferred me to the other depot had served through the war as servant to one of Rosser's cavalry off, cers, and the only occupant of the carriage besides myself was very old lady who on being informed that I was a rebel, snapped out vigorously 'I am a rebel to the bone. I saw fighting here in front of my house." The dinner at the hotel was good except the beef which reminded me of some of the camp beef we used to have. I saw no corn bread on the trip until on the return I reached Mount Airy, Ga. Our southern negroes must be failure in the north, since they have not learned their friends the value of hoecake.
 A Goodly Sight.
 It is a goodly sight to see that land