Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-02-12
LINCOLN AT GETTYSBURG:
TOLD BY AN EYE WITNESS.
Former MIwaukeean Relates the Story of the Dedcatory
Ceremonies on the Historic Battlefield, When the
Immortal President Spoke

McClelland's hotel and were addressed
by Secretary Seward, Edward Nc
Pherson and others. At length Mr.. Lin
coin was serenaded and called upon for
Il speech. He replied by saying:
Il appear before you. fellow citizens.
merely to thank You for this cOmpll-
mpnt. The inference is very fair one
that you should hear me for little
while. at least. were | to commence to
make a speech. | do not appear before
you for the purpose of doing so: and
for several substantial reasons. The
most substantial of these is that | have
no speech to make. In my position it is
somewhat important that | should not
say any foolish things. \ voice: 1T
you can help it'll 1t very often hap
pens that the only way to help it is
10 say nothing at all. Believing that is
Of you to excuse me from addressing you
further
Later in the evening. Mr.. Lincoln.
accompanied by David Wills. went to
the house where Secretary Seward was
guest to show him the manuscript
Of the address that he intended to de
liver the next day. He shortly after re-
turned to Mr. Wills house. and the rest
Of the night was quietly passed
The morning Of the 10Th opened cloudy
and chilly. There were about fifty
thousand people in and around Gettys-
burg, including several thousand troops
in the commands of Gems. Schenck.
Stoneman and Stahel. the whole under
the command Of Gen. Couch. There was
some delay i'll forming the procession
and in getting it started to the cemetery.
1t was about 10 o'clock in the morning
when President Lincoln appeared at the
door of Mr. Wills house. Horses had
been provided for him and his party,
and for several other distinguished per-
'Iha nIpcpScipp Iall ye,i
for n time by people pressing forward to
shake hands with the President after
he was mounted on his horse, which con-
tiilued until stopped by the marshal-in-
chief and his aides. After those already
mentioned came the military and civic
organizations on foot, followed by the
I people at large.
On reaching the stand in the cemetery
on which seats had been reserved for the
President members of his cabinet. for
clgn ministers, governors Of states, com
missiOnerS and few invited guests, ali
were soon seated.
At the east end of the stand was a
tent. and from it, Il short time after
all were seated on the stand, came forth
Edward Everett, the orator of the day,
conducted to his seat Oh the stand by
Gov. Seymour Of New York and Mr..
David Wills.
The exercises We're opened with an in
vocation by the Rev. DR.. Stockton; after
which Mr.. Everett commenced his ora
ton. The stand was near the outline
of the semi-circle where the graves of
the soldiers were placed, and faced the
northwest. where the crowd in attend
ance listened to what took place. The
Grafton of Mr.. Everett was listened to
with close attention. He was nearly
two hours in delivering the address, and
but little applause was given.
After Mr.. Everett had finished, a
hymn composed by b. b. French of
Washington, ID. c., was sung, following