La Junta tribune., 1909-06-12
HISTORIC BATTLE-GROUND.
Former u JuntAite Writes Interest.
ing Story Of Decoration Day Visit
TO Gettysbur0.

! We left Lebanon atsS.l0 O'Clock
on the morning of Decoration Day
The day was pleasant and cars not
crowded. as we were afraid they
would be- We left our boys at home
1 with friends and started out hoping
to see all there was to see on the
famous battle ground ere our return.
Our train was late. however, and we
did not arrive until 1880 o'clock.
We were landed near the Hancock
monument and we're soon In the
midst OF Interesting scenes.
Gettysburg has teen called the
the arena In which It was fought
was truly one well adapted to lend
3 II scenic grandeur. We found 1t
beautiful, as well as interesting. The
country around Gettysburg has many
striking and attractive features, well
worthy to be associated with some
great historic event Its wide
reaches OF luxnriant and variegated
landscape, bounded by blue lines OF
distan, mountains. are well adapted
TO kindle an artists inspiration, or
soldiers heroism. The topography
OF the battle field is too familiar TO
most all TO need extended descrip-
ton. The town. or borough. rather
from which the battle field takes its
name. lies within the boundaries OF
the historic whirlpool Of conflict. AT
first the national troops held 1t. then
the confederates gained possession OF
1t, stretched their line OF battle
through It's streets. and General Lee
at one time established his headuqar-
ters in its public suqare. Many OF Its
buildings still bear traces OF the bat
tie
We visited the famous place where
Jennie Wade was killed by the sharp.
shooters. The building Is small.
brick cottage. She WAS in the kitchen
baking at the time and did not flee
10 the cellar as most of the inhab.
itants did who could not get away.
because she was nursing sick sis
ter. The house still bears many
traces OF the battle. The shot which
was fatal to Miss Wade penetrated
the door and she was killed instant
ly.
Two outlying ridges extend In the
same general dire ction. one less than
a mile west of town. and the
other Just east and south. . One OF
these heights is known as Semi
nary Ridge. and the other Cemetery
Ridge. These two eminenees stand
about one mile asunder. Following
Cemetery Ridge south there is a
small oak forest. Beyond the grove
We have very fine view OF the
south mountain range. a little far
ther on. the Ridge descends to the
marshy basin of Plum Run be-
yond which II reappears and termi-
mates In two steep granite peaks. sep
arated from each other by narrow
rayine. and are. as you well know.
Round Top and Little Round Top
East OF Cemetery Hill the ridge ter.
inmates In perc lpitous forest GOV
cred height known as "Cuip's Hill ."
This was the battle ground-now the
National Cemetery" We were tread.
ing on sacred. as well as historic.
ground One OF the most pathetic
sights is the section set apart for
the unknown" Here lie 979 total
ly unknown ns 10 name. state or or.
ganlzarion. Small markers Of mar.
lie stand at each grave and are sim
ply numbered They stand In a
beautiful place. aud thought OF the
words OF the poet:
Angels have heard your story
And God knows all your names.
Over one hundred beautiful memor-
ials have been erected. marking the
positions occupied by different organ.
xatlons. The National" monument
marks the place where President Lin.
coin delivered his famous speech st
the consecration, OF the cemetery
grounds: Gen. Meade's statue. near
tAs center Of the iine OF battle. b
sail 70 b oae OF the finest works
Of the kind In America: the monu.
nent Of High Water Mark. In bloody
aagie. where Longstreet's attack Wa
rspuised. anl the UniteA States Reg
uAlrs' ooaunsat. dedicated On thia
/ Dscoeattpn day By Prsstdent Taft.
Theno nfu 4 few a The many In