The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-07-22
FIFTY YEARS AFTER THE FIGHT

Manassas, Va, yesterday, which was
the scene Of the first great battle of
the civil war, and thousands of men
wearing the blue and the gray filled
the old town.
Manassas was beautifully and pro-
fusely decorated in honor of the vet
Grams and of President Taft and other
notables who came to participate in
the semi centennial celebration.
There was no regular program
mapped out for the forenoon. 1t was
go as you please" with the visitors,
and they took in the sights with Wig
or that was remarkable, considering
the age of the veterans and the fact
that many had come from great dis
tance.
At daybreak almost the crowd be
gan to move toward the battlefield.
Motor cars and all varieties of We
hieIes were pressed into service. The
battle memorials We're inspected and
every bit of rising ground was climbed
10 get a clear view of the field where
the sons of the nations best men went
out for their country's cause, and
where the Confederate troops fought
yaliantly for what they thought right
The great majority of the veterans had
on IL.
II is remarkable how long and well
the soldiers remembered every spot,
every move, every order. every Incl
dent OF the great conflict. They gath
cred in groups and pointed out to the
wives. daughters and sons who accom-
panied them the places where this or
that commander held the enemy back
lapD >They talked If reserve cOrpS
ana attacks on their right: of cavalry
charges and defense by the left. AS
they wandered around they would see
monument or a marker on which the
Inscription would particularly attract
their attention. Then they would figure
out among themselves, throwing sta
tistics to the winds, how many men
were left of each brigade, regiment OF
company when the battle was over.
In the afternoon the veterans and
their friends returned to town for the
formal exercises of the day. The eX-
erefses were of simple but very i'm
pressive character. The speakers stanj
was located at the junction of Lee av-
enue and Grant avenue. Here Presi-
dent Taft, Governor Mann of Virginia
Congressman Carlin and other speak.
ers of the day addressed large ant
attentive audience. The speakers
stand was decorated with the red
white and blue of the star spanglet
banner. entwined with the Confederate
battlefiags. showing the peace and har
mony existing between the two. AS
sembled about the stand We're hun
dreds Of men who had fought for tn,
Confederacy.
President Taft and the other speak
Wi.
plause. The applause reached it
height when various Well known lead
ers of the blue and the gray were re
cognized in the assemblage and givel
seats OF honor on the platform. Il
voices tremulous with emotions natura
10 the occasion the several speaker
delivered orations that were listened t
throughout with the deepest attention
Veterans of the blue and gray vie
with one another in paying tribute t
the other side. Deafening cheer
greeted the names of Johnston, Nc
Dowell, Beauregard, Jackson, Lee
Pope and other commanders who's
names will ever be associated wit
Manassas and Bull Run.
The addresses were followed by
pretty spectacle emblematic of the re
united nation. 1t consisted of forty
eight maidens, each representing
state in the order they We're admitte
to the Union. each clad in the ret
white and blue. and bearing the nam
of the state across her breast. AS tn
maidens sang the national airs ther
were few in the vast assemble g
whose eyes did not fill with tears. 4
one old soldier remarked as he clasl
ed hands with another veteran again
whom he had fought, there was an il
spiration in the occasion such as on
come 10 one a few times in a lifetim
The Manassas National Anther
adopted by the committee, was wri
ten by Mrs. Mary Speed Mercer. OF Ell
City, N c. This is the chorus:
America, all hail to thee.
Thanks be to God who made US FIRE
North, South, East. West, hand claspt
in hand,
United we, thy children stand.
1t was on July 81. 1861. just fit
years ago, that Bull Run or the fir
battle of Manassas, was fought. tt
Confederates, under Jackson, We're a
credited with a decisive victory oy,
the Union forces under Mcdowell.
has been the general belief in II
South that had the Confederate arm
followed up its victory il could ha'
captured Washington and ended Il
war. and President Davis and the Coz