The Washington herald., 1911-07-17
BLUE AND GRAY VETERANS
AWAIT PEACE JUBILEE
ON SCENE OF CONFLICT
Ceremony at Manassas and Bull Run to Commemo
rate Harmony Between North and South
Fifty Years After Battle

Fifty years ago, on a July morning,
two armies met and the first great battle
Of the civil war was fought
Men Of the same blood were the SOL
diers, those OF one army wearing blue.
and of the other, gray; but they clashed
in mortal combat until a Virginia valley
was torn for miles with shot and shell
and historic Bull Run flowed crimson.
Thousands gave their lives for the cause
they believed to be right, and the ma
tions, marveiing, looked on.
AS the first battle of Manassas, or Bull
Run, as it is generally known in the
North, was unique, so will be the cele-
bration of its fftieth anniversary. for on
next Friday veterans of the Blue and
the Gray will meet again on the battle
field-this time to hold a great jubilee
of peace and to clasp in brotherhood the
hands of former enemies. From North,
South, East, and West they will come.
TO bury the past and to testify to the
wisdom OF a reconciliation which has
made possible the greatness Of the re-
united States.
President VIII Speak.
President Taft will address the veter-
ans at Manassas, which is a few miles
from the battlefield, at o'clock IN the
afternoon. He will arrive shortly before
that hour from Washington, and will re-
turn to the Capital about 6 o'clock. Gov.
Mann, of Virginia, will also be present
at this gathering and will make an ad-
dress. The audience will assemble in
the open air, at the intersection of Lee
and Grant avenues, where thick rows of
maple trees cast a grateful shade, and
will hear the President give his sanction
to the most remarkable reunion ever
held in America.
The days programme Will begin at
o'clock in the morning, when the old
soldiers will meet at the famous Henry
= house, which was the very center of the
battle. The original dwelling was prac-
ticaIly torn TO pieces by shells during
the engagement, and Mrs Judith Henry
was killed in her chamber by a cannon
ball new structure was erected upon
the old foundation soon after the war.
and this is occupied by another repre-
sentative of the Henry family. In the
old-fashioned front yard is a monument
OF native brownstone, surrounded at the
base by cannon balls picked up near the
house. This rude shaf' is the work of
HSApSEI HdLOSp was 0SAlSdlCu
ing tile war to the memory of Union
soldiers who fell in the two battles.
Col. Berkeley to Welcome.
Col. Edmund Berkeley, now past four
score years of age, who was Of the
valiant Eighth Virginia, will welcome
the visiting veterans on behalf OF Manas-
sas and of Prince William County, in
which he lives. Senator Thomas s: Mar
tin, of Virginia, will follow Col Berkeley
and will greet the old soldiers in the
name OF the Old Dominion. Responses
will be made by Gen. John e. Gillian,
commander-in-chief Of the Grand Army
Of the Republic. and by Gen. George w.
Gordon, grand commander Of the United
Confederate Veterans.
The audience will include visitors from
many sections Of the country, as well az
veterans, their sons and grandchildren.
Members of Congress who served In the
war have been issued special invitations
to be present, and among those who are
expected sare Senators Henry A Du
Pont' Francis A. Warren. and Joseph A.
Johnston. and Representatives Thomas
w Bradley Julian 8. Carr and D. r.
Lowell THESE have been requested to
represent the organization known a. the
Blue and the Gray and Their Sons.
Col. Robert NJ. Thompson. of New Yorh
has signified his intention OF presentina
every veteran q souvenir badge. He also
10 counted upon as one OF the speakers.
Then there win follow five-mlnute talks
from volunteers. In which the time win
be consumed until 70 o'clock.
Veterans 90 Shake Haads,
A. noon win como ceremony which
psrhaps II without precedent. The vstsrs