The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-31
MISUNDERSTANDING RICHMOND 1913.

CT Gettysburg and all the country south
CT IL. On that day he was driven out
OF the town and nearly mile south
ward. On the next day lie was attack
cd from the west and nearly another
mile taken from him. On the third
day, with the exception OF q small force
on Big and Little Round Top. his whole
army was concentrated on small
area. and no simply withstood the at
tack He never regained an inch of
ground. and on the morning OF July
Lee marched away southwark with his
banners dying over his depleted ranks
as quietly as though he had been re-
turning to camp from dress parade.
not even n shot being fired after his
rear guard and no challenge OF his
south going columns. But not in all
the Southland was there q single man
to stand In the shoes of any or all the
hardened and trained soldiers left on
the bloody fields of Gettysburg, whilst
within month the -anks OF his adver-
sary had been recruited to even beyond
their virgin strength and then there
was more hghting and bloody contest
and waste of human life. the South
losing constantly what 1t could not re-
gain or replace. until, one day, April
10. 1865. Lee. after n treaty with Grant.
issued an order disbanding his army
forever Each regiment was formed.
Its arms stacked and it's adjutant read
THIS order. There was deathly silence
and bowed heads and close attention.
until the last word was said. then the
shock was greater than that of the
iiercest and bloodiest battle. Men who
had braved unfalteringly and unhesi-
iatingiy all the trials and perils and
exposures of war. found themselves alb
:olutcly unnervcd; tears binding,
scaiding tears. streamed over their
hronzed checks, they threw their ARMS
around each other. ,ctuated by emo
lions they could not understand or con
troll.
Were they rejoiced that the conflict
was over. We're they fun Of regret that
the glory of n soldiers life was gone
TO thcr forever or did their hearts over
flow with the thought OF going back
TO the loved ones. who had watched
and worked and waited and cheercd
and prayed during all the four long.
weary years, without murmur or COM
plant?
The End OF the yynr.
Whatever may have been the emo
ZION, II was too sacred TO put in cold
words. rs no word WAS uttered the
tears brought relief; they were soon
dashed away and not another tear has
ever been shed. The men who had
made this grand, herois army were sol
dicrs no longer; they broke into little
squads and set out for their homes,
and in all the half century that has in
tervened the men who made this last
thin line have not recanted nor fall
tered in their duty to their loved ones.
their country or themselves.
The half century that has driftcd be-
mind us since this contest has vested
the battle OF Gettysburg with large
degree OF Importance. because IL was
measure OF strength and valor and
endurance between two splendid armies
hn F1 10 ,aA md
because Lee suffered losses here from
which there was no recovery and thus
this fight became the beginning of the
ending Of the war. \ realization OF
these conditions brought to the gov
eminent at Washington the conception
OF plan TO bring together on this
same battle-ground the survivors of the
men on both sides who had so val
iantly faced each other, and on the
exact half century anniversary dates.
and see what was tho sentiment and
feeling and impulse that would actuate
them when again they looked into each
others eyes after fifty years of o,,;ct
and mature elaboration.
Fifty Years After.
The plan was happily conceived ana
faithfully executed. The government
Treasury furnished the money and tn.
organized forces OF the engineering and
commissary and medical departments
inielligently performed the work. A
2Oo-acre tract OF the government resor-
Hation was laid out with streets and
boulcvards. on these streets men erect
ed nearly 1000 tents. These tents were
All new and clean, about fifteen feet
square, supported by Il centre pole and
with curtain or wall three feet wide
which could be raised for air in the
daytime and lowered for warmth at
night. Each tent was equipped with
n htr
wash basins and lantern with a can
die In II. 1t was intended that eight
men should occupy each tent. and each
man was given one blanket and another
If he wished The days were hot and
the nights cold and very damp, but no
one took cold or suffered any incon-
vcnience. Tents were assigned to each
State In accordance with the number
or men reported TO be In attendance
eight men TO tent. The streets were
named or numbered and each tent num-
bered and the name OF the State con-
spicuously displayed ct the head of the
street.
A Model Camp.
Water was supplied from deep ar
tesian wells. from which the water was
forced into pipes laid in every street
of the camp. hydrants were every
where, and about every third hydrant
was bubble drinking fountain. at
the pase or which was box in which
was coil OF pipe, and the box was
kept packed with ice, so that there
was always ice-cold drinking water
but the water was good even without
ice. The toilet arrangements were
most excellent. deep pits, which were
we'll sheltered and aired and deodoriLed
with Il combustible fluid, by means of
which they We're burned out and fumi-
gated every morning.
The food was superintendent. fresh
clean. wholesome and well prepared
and varied enough with each meal that
there could be no safety. and most
men ate heartily and with evident
relish; each man was given cup,
plate, knife. fork and two spoons
Everything was scrupulously clean
Ali refuse was thrown into fires, which
were kept constantly burning. and
every scrap of paper or litter was
promptly picked up, anG there was not
:, fly or 2 mosquito IN the camp.
All officials, all soldiers on duty, all
guards. AL employees and all persons