The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-31
PRESIDENT SPEAKS
 AT GETTYSBURG Is Shown Over the Historic
 Battlefield MAJOR ROBBINS WAS THERE Men From Both Sides Who Took Part in Great Engagement Ex-
 plain the Field to Mir.
 Roosevelt.
MAJOR ROBBINS WAS THERE

Genttsburg, Pa, May SO.--As President and Mrs. Roosevelt alighted from their car today they were greeted by Cover TOT Pennypacker on behalf of the com monwealth of Pennsylvania and by a re- ception committee of G. A. R. men. A Presidents salute of H guns was fired. I he drive over the battlefield occupied three hours and quarter. Frequent stops were made to enable the President to study the historic field. He manifested familiarity with the details of the battle and expressed the deepest interest in va rious incidents recounted by Gen. o. O.. Howard and Gen. Daniel E. Sickles both of whom participated in the three days engagement on Little Round Top" Gen eral Howard and General sickles suc- cinctly described the battle, the Presi- dent. Mrs. Roosevelt and the entire party listening attentlve1y. At the Presldent's s request General Sickles pointed out where he received the wound which cost him his right leg
 In that connection he said he did not know precisely when he received the wound as he did not know he had been hit until he returned to his headquarters about 6;So p. m. only discovering the fact then by finding his right hand, which had been resting on his leg. covered with blood. While General Howard and Gen. 'eral Sickles were talking Major Robbins, who served as major in the Fourth Alabama in Laws brigade during the second and third days of the fighting, joined the party and greeted the Presi- dent. He was recognized instantly by General Sickles. who remarked eagerly:
 Here is the fellow who tried to take the hill but found it too high"
 Yes responded Major Robbins, I've charged up this hill, but you moved us down like grass. We could not stand it and had to get back"
 Cross Fire of Descriptions.
 The Major then ,recounted some inter- estlng parts of the contest in which he participated After hearing a cross fire of graphic descriptions from both the union and confederate participants Pres ident Roosevelt remarked:
 This country Is all right so long as we can have this kind of talk on Little Round Top.
 The president was introduced by Cover nor ftnnlTaCkGT ana a5 ne rose to Spedk e downpour of rain began and contin- ued throughout the time he addressed the great assemblage. He was accorded an enthusiastic reception notwithstanding the rain. and the crowd of 1000 people in the cemetery remained to hear the address despite the thorough drenching received. The president said:
 The place where we now are has won a double distinction. Here was fought one of the great battles of all time, and here was spoken one of the few speeches which shall last through the ages. As long as this republic endures or It's his- tory is known. so long shall the memory of the battle of Gettysburg likewise en- dure and be known; and as long as the English tongue Is understood so long shall Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg speech thrill the hearts of mankind.
 The civil war was a great war for righteousness; a war waged for the mo- blest ideals, but waged also in thorough going. practical fashion. It was one )f the few wars which mean. In thelr suc- cessfui outcome, lift toward better things for the nations mankind. Some wars have meant triumph of order over anarchy and licentiousness masquerad- ing as liberty some wars have meant the triumph of libertwy over tyranny mas querading as order; but this victorious war of ours meant the triumph of both liberty and order, the triumph of orderly liberty, the bestowal of civil rights upon the freed slaves, and at the same time the stern insistence on the supremacy of the national law throughout the length and breadth of the land. Moreover, this was one of those rare contests in which 1t was to the immeasurable interest of the vanquished that they should lose, while at the same time the victors &C., quired the precious privilege of transmit ting to those who came after them, as a heritage of honor forever not only the memory of stheir own valiant deeds, but the memory of the deeds of those who. no less vaiantly and with equal sincerity of purpose, fought against the stars in their courses The war left to us all, as fellow-countrymen, as brothers. the right to rejoice that the union has been restor- ed In indestructible shape in a country where slavery no longer mocks the boast of freedom. and also the right to rejoice with exultant pride in the courage. the self-sacrifce, and the devotion. alike of the men who wore the blue and the men who wore the gray
 Feels Deeper Reverence.
 He is but poor American who, look ing at this field, does not feel within him. self deeper reverence for the nations S past and higher purpose to make the nation s future T1Se leNel to ner past. Here fought the chosen sons of the north and the south. the east and the west. The armies which on this field contended for the mastery were veteran armies, hardened by long campaigning and des- perate fighting Into such instruments of war as no other nation then possessed The severity of the. fighting is attested by the proportionate loss-a loss unri- valed in any battle of similar size since the close of the Napoleonic struggles a loss which in certain regiments was from three-fourth to four-ffths of the men engaged. Every spot on this field has It's own associations of soidierly duty no- bly done, of supreme self-sacrifce freely rendered. The names of the chiefs who served in the two, armies form long honor roll and the enlisted men were worthy, and even more than worthy, of those who led them Every acre of this ground has its own associations. We see where the fight thundered through and around the village of Gettysburg; where the artillery formed on the ridges; where the cavalry fought; where the hills were attacked and defended; and where. finally the great charge surged up the slope only to break on the summit in the bloody spray of gallant failure
 The 1 eseone Thev Tauotx