The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-08-15
The Gettysburg Reunion.
By Capt J. w, Wo.ford

ed his advance line, in conversa-
ton with a very intelligent Federal
solder who had fought there, he
was asked this question. ''This seems
to be a good line, why did you leave
it?"
Gust simply to keep from being an
initiated. They got about two thirds
Jof US anyway" he replied, with
grim smile.
The next day we visited the more
important points of the field, such as
High Water Mark, National Cemetery,
Pennsylvania Monument that cost
$15O,OO0, the headquarters of Lee and
Mead and many others. The third day
was spent very much like the other
two in the meantime visiting other
camps, hunting up old comrades, some
of whom we had not seen since the
close of the war The fourth was Will
son Day, and of course, we all who
could, went, and at night the great
fire works on top of little Round Top
was witnessed by thousands and thou
sands who came by railroad, auto and
carriage.
met two who fought Kershaw's
line of battle on the second, when the
following conversation took place:
"Comrade, did you fight here?"
eyes"
'tWhere"
J Gust where we are standing. BY
jingo, we fought right here" pointing
to monument about thirty yards dis
tant. Another gripping of hands and
on we 60. Such scenes as these were
taking place constantly. l verify be-
lieve this reunion will clinch the SEN
/ timent that has been prevailing to
! to more or less extent for some time,
to give from the National treasury a
pension to Confederate soldiers. When.
sounded, 1 believe that 49 out Of so
of the old federal soldiers would en-
dorse it.
i By the way, Judge Clark, whom
many of us wanted to go to the Unit
ed States senate on this platform in
! the last election, visited our tent twice
while in camp and stated that he was
still fgAti'g for the measure and that
he would stop off in Washington and
shake them up a little, 1 think in a.
short time the matter will be tested
and pensions granted, some wiseacres
to the contrary Notwithstanding.
There are some among us we'll to do,
who are too proud to accept it, and
it hurts our cause forgetting the many
poor old fellows and their wives who
would be glad to get it.
Not a word was said in all the
speeches or conversations that was in
the least offensive or Earring to the
most sensitive persons. Surely har-
mony prevailed
It is useless for me to attempt to-
describe this great battlefield. Suffice
it to say, it is ground beyond concep-
ton, the beauty of it's natural scenery,
enhanced now by upward Of 500 taste
full and elegant monuments marking
the positions occupied by troops.
There is no spot in the world connect
ed with more memorable events than
the thirty-five square miles of ground
which witnessed the terrible conflict
between the Federal and Confederate
troops on the first, second and third
of July, 1863 There is but one Gettys-
burg and it is without doubt the most
picturesque and interesting point in
America for either the soldier or citi-
zen to visit Thousands from the old
world visit it annually. Quite num-
Der of hotels and boarding houses
have sprung up to entertain them.
Gettysburg, during the battle, con-
tanned about 1900 inhabitants. Now it
numbers upward Of 5000. The lines
; of battle are marked by fine macadam
roads and where battery of artillery
stood during the battle, there now
stands two cannon pointing as they
did then. All the woods and open
fields are kept as they were then.
what I have written contains but a
brief outline of a description of the
present camp and battlefield. What
good results are to follow this great
gathering of the Blue and Gray, as
see tit wipes out the last vestige
Of sectionalism and cements the
North and South as nothing else could
do. If you could have heard their
great bands amid the Confederate
| camDs n1av Dixie and other old war