Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-06


multi and the shouting died for the
second time on Gettysburg. and the
battlefield again has figured in world
history. For no less memorable than
the hostile conflict of the armies of
Lee and Meade in '63 was the friend
~ meeting between the meager rem
nants of the same armies which, last
ing four days, is at an end to-day.
Voices have been raised in the
name of peace and reconciliation dur
ing all the half century since Apo
mattox, but they have always remain
ed merely unrealized appeals-until
this last week, the semi-centennial of
the greatest battle of the greatest war
ever fought between brothers.
And now peace reigns. love reigns
at last over the broad, rolling
stretches of Gettysburg, where for
fifty years has lowered a recollec-
ton Of crashing terror Of sectional
hatred, of thirst for blood.
Affection of Veterans Sincere.
The reunion Of the veterans Of the
Union and Of the Confederacy has
been the sincerest and most effective
step ever taken for the reconciliation
OF the North and the South-this is SO
by common consent of the veterans
themselves, of younger representa-
tives of the two sections, and of eX-
presstOns which have come from over
the nation.
Yesterday It was proved so, when
pathetic but brave spectacle was
staged. The white-haired men of the
Union army were deployed. as nearly
a could be calculated. in the posi-
tons they occupied the great third
day of the battle of Bloody Angle
They stood there, proud in the for
getfulness of their years, obliViOus of
the terrific heat. oblivious of every
thing around them, with eyes seeing
only the brave, strong day fifty years
before, when they waited on the same
spot for the enemy.
The feeble gray army, also, was
placed in battle order. They, too.
were exultant, eager, powerless to
sti1e the rebel yell that dubbed out
of their souls.
The command was given to charge
The rebel yell came sharp and clear
The gray army started toward the
blre line. Its charge did not have the
force and nerve that impelled 1t so
years ago. Instead, many of the vet
Grams stumbled in their course, some
of them fell. The advancing line be-
came ragged, where the younger vet
Grams, eager, outdistanced more feeble
comrades. But the spirit of '63 was
there.
Clasp Hands at Bloody Angle.
Years rolled back, and the echoes
of cannonade, the sight of the all
pervading smoke film, the choking
scent of that smoke, the thrill of bat
tie and of youth-all were revived.
The gray army advanced to the
Bloody Angle. The blue army braced
itself for the shock as they well knew
how to do. The two lines came to-
gether.
AS they met, the rebel yell became
a laugh, the tense faces of the blue
veterans melted. Blue and gray
clasped hands and were friends The
old men were not ashamed of their
frank arms that went out and around
the shoulders of their enemies of so
years ago-comrades now-nor Of the
tears. Nor were any. of the thou
sands of spectators ashamed Of the
demonstration in which they Joined
impulsively.
All that was spectacular Yet It
was not exceptional in revealing the
spirit that prompted the entire re-
union Since last Tuesday every
where has been exhibited friendliness
and reconciliation. More than $4,000
veterans were present, sleeping to-
gether, tenting together on the old
camp ground, telling endless stories,
pointing out spots here and there
where they saw men debut always
smiling, always shaking hands, al
ways jolly.
G. A. r. Outnumbers U. c. v.
OF those who attended the reunion
of the two armies, little more than
one-fourth were soldiers of the Con-
federaCy. The others were G. A. R
men, who, with less distance to trav-
ell, naturally were present in greater
numbers.
The trip was trying, with the heat
and with little inevitable discomforts
that the old men would not have no
ticed so years ago, but which now
were fraught with danger There was
tragedy in the sight of the feeble vet
Grams fighting vainly against heat and
exhaustion. There was real tragedy
when dozen or more succumbed and
died on the same field where they es-
capped shot and shell.
The first two days of the
reunion We're almost unbearable
with their heat, and the suffering
was great. But cooling storm blew
up the third day. rendering pleasant
enough the reunion weather
Conversation Never Lays.
Within the tents there was al
ways conversation. Not even in the
dead of the night did it cease The
tax was of charges and of retreats,