Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-07-28
CLASP HANDS OVER
THE FIGHTING LINE
Blue and Gray Meet Fifty
Years AfterWard on Battle
field of Bull Run
PRESIDENT TAFT THERE
Governor Mann Also Among Big
Men Who Deliver Addresses
at Great Peace Jubilee

Manassas, Va, July 21.-Veterans
of the Civil War today clasped hands
on the battlefield of Bull Run. Thou-
sands of the men who wore the blue
and the gray thronged the historic
fields where General Jackson was
named "Stonewalp' by General Bee,
and where the Confederates, in the
first hattie of the war, shattered and
flung the Union army across the Po-
tomac.
The observance of the fftieth an
niversary of the first great land en-
gagement of the war was impressive.
This morning the veterans marched
from Manassas to Henry Hill, there
miles away, which was in the center
of the battle, and heard patriotic
speeches by Colonel Edmond Berkley,
Senator Martin, General George W..
Gordon, Grand Commander of the
confederate States; General James E.
Gilman, Commander of the Grand
Army of the Republic, and others.
Following the speeches Colonel
| Robert Thompson, of New York, pre-
lsented each veteran with a decoration
especially made for the occasion.
Veterans Clasp Hands
! After the ceremonies the Union and
| Confederate veterans formed in bat
tie array and marched up Henry Hill
| towards one another, repeating the
| movements of the battle of fifty years
/ ago. When the two long lines met
they halted and clasped hands. A
mighty cheer went up, and many OF
the grizzled old soldiers wept.
This was the most impressive part
of the days program. A luncheon
followed, after which the veterans
returned to Manassas.
This afternoon a chorus of 100 Vir-
ginia girls sang the Manassas nation
al jubilee anthem, after which there
were speeches by President Taft and
Governor William Hodges Mann, Of
Virginia, which brought forth the
greatest applause from the assemb
;lage and which were of nature tc
drive away forever the last vestige
of the scars OF the war and cemen
J more frmly than ever before the
Friendship between the North ant
s6nth.
Il Following the addresses there wal
a wartime tableaux, a peace pageant
|, a love FEAST" and a grand review
of the blue and gray, in which thous
ands of veterans took part.
Bull Run
4 1t was July 21, 1861, just fift,
Years ago today, that Bull Run, O
! the first battle of Manassas, wa
fought. The Confederates unde
Johnson were accredited with a dec
cisive victory over the Union force
under Mcdowell, the retreat of tn
FedeTals leaving practically ciea
road to Washington for the Con
crates, it is said, had they chosen t
continue their advance on the capi
tai. This was the first real battle @
north for the first time to a realiza
> ton of what the secession of tn
southern states meant. 1t was her
5 that "Stonewall" Jackson gained tn
name which will lbe associated wit
. his memory for all time.
In August, 1862, Manassas wa
t again the scene of a bloody battle
: Lee and Longstreet and Sykes, an
Reynolds fought to a draw, th
J battle lines being exactly the revers
of what they were the year befor.
Plan of Jubilee Reunion
The jubilee reunion was planne
D by committees of the Grand Army
the Republic and the United Confet
crate Veterans. Interesting event
: have taken place each day this weel
D sessions of the national organizatio
of the Blue and Gray and their sor
: being held today.
The Manassas National Anthem
t adopted by the committee was wri
n ten by Mrs. Mary Speed Mercer {
:, Elm City, N. G. This is the chorus
| America, all hail to thee.
: Thanks be to God, who made us fre
o North, south, east, west, hand clas
ed in hand,
e United we, thy children stand"