The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-07-25
PRESIDENT At MANASSAS
Delivered Address To Old Soldiers,
Blue and Gray Conclude Brother
hood Pact.

North and South joined hands Fri
day in a pact OF eternal peace up
on the battlefield of Manassas,
where, so years ago. they met in
first great conflict of the Civil war.
The Blue and the Gray greeted
each other in brotherhood upon soil
once red with the blood of their
comrades.
President Taft addressed the old
soldiers at Manassas. six miles from
the battlefield. and in a strong, brief
speech placed his endorsement and
that of the nation upon the reunion
declaring that n looked to the vet
Grams OF real war to support the
administration in its effort to Sc
cure peace the world over.
The president declared that gen.
eral arbitration treaty both with
Great Britain and with France prob
ably would be signed within the next
10 days.
Gen. John f. Gilman. of Boston.
cOmmander-in-chief of Grand Army
of the Republic. declared that the
nation no longer knew any sectional
division and his assertion was reit-
terated by GOV. Mann. OF Viz
ginia. and by speakers from other
parts of the United States
The trip OF the president TO Ma
nassas was strenuous and he and
party returned to the capital by
train.
Il brought some Senators and
Representatives down with me from
Washington. he said. land be-
cause OF the eXigencies OF the road
and the storm and strife of the Gle
monts.we came far more slowly than
some Senators and Representatives
who came down here a half century
ago went back
The presidents car from wash
ington to Manassas left trail OF
stranded automobiles in its wake.
The car containing the secret
Service men held TO the race until
within a few miles OF the battlefield
and then stopped in midstream. This
stream had daunted the courage OF
the presidents chauffeur. So the
Secret Service car was sent ahead
and died in the attempt to make the
crossing. BY a detOur the pres
ident negotiated the stream at a
more shallow point.
When the Presidential party start
ed from Washington the sun was
shining. lie had not gone far.
however. when the storm clouds be
gan 10 gather. Before the deluge
came he had time to stop at Fair
fax c II. 10 take a look at George
Washington $ last will and testament
and TO get luncheon.
Five miles out of Fairfax the
presidents car discovered big
touring ear stalled in the middle OF
the stream. which was brOadened in
ed into 100 feet OF yellow. swirl
ing water
Seated in il were three Senator's
and SolicitOr-Cenera Lehman. Sen
ator Brandegee had gone to secure
horse to pull them out
Mai. Butt. tha presidents personal
aide. waded across and back again
Two miles farther south was
another stream. one of the three
presidential cars was sent ahead.
manned By Secret Service men. II
died in the channel and the Secret
Service men waded hack 10 shore.
Major Butt. wet to the armpits,
came back disc1asolatc
Back over the same road the
White House car travel d Behind
il came a second car loaded
with Senators and Secret Service
men
representative Carlin. of Virginia.
who started with the president.
alternated with the major in calm
/ ing horses.
When the president finally
chugged into Manassas Senators Mar
Tin and Nelson. Representative Car
lin. Secretary Hilles and Maj Butt
were the only survivors. The rest
were somewhere in the disastrous
rear.
The president was introduced by
Gov Mann. lie glanced down at
his despatched dress and said:
1T is great pleasure for me to
be here. We ordinarily do not en-
joy those things we get without a.
fort-and il has been some effort
for me to get here today"
The president referred with fell
ing 10 the loss of life and suffering
during the Civil war. and declared
he deplOred armed strife and wished
il could be abolished
Virginia is a bOspitable State. Its
soil and its streams gather about
You and cling TO you
Here shouts OF laughter drowned
the presidents voice
Il didn't come down here TO make
speech he continued. Il merely
came down to say hOwdy do
The president concluded with
tribute 10 the sentiment which in
spired the reunion.
The presidents visit TO Manassas
was at the close of the Manassas ju-
bilee reunion. which began Monday.
AT the battlefield shortly after
noon. after the speaking at the
Henry House. the old soldiers. about
500. formed in two lines 1t was on
the site where the thick of the bat
tie had ragged.
Al signal the veterans advanced
with outstretched hands Above the
Southern line waved a small Viz
GINA flag, the only standard Meet
ing the veterans clasped hands. stood
for five minutes vowing eternal
friendship.
An hour later the address of vel
come was delivered by Col. Edmund
Berkeley. who was introduced by Lit.
George c. Round. of Manassas.