The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-05-31

NAH first four days of July the
battlefield of Gettysburg Pa.
will again be the scene OF a
meeting of the Blue and the
Gray, but this time they will meet in
amty and affection. A half-century will
have passed since last these men of two
great American armies met on this
northern field. Then they were face
TO face in deadly conflict, for the issue.
1t was well understood to both con
tending forces, was the success Of the
southern cause, or the beginning Of its
defeat, TO be followed by the restora-
ton OF the Union as it had been before
the first shot was fired at Fort Sum
ter
The United States government and
the government of nearly every state
in the Union have combined to make
the Gettysburg reunion OF the soldiers
OF the north and south one of the great
peace events of the century. The state
" or pennsylvania some time ago ap-
pointed 'Fiftieth Anniversary of the
Battle of Gettysburg commission" to
make preparations for the four days
reunion, at which Pennsylvania as a
state was to act as host to the vet
Grams of the war between the states
and to the thousands OF visitors who
would follow their march to the field
OF battle, and appropriated $50. 900 for
the purpose OF entertaining the vet
Grams.
10000 Veterans Expected.
1t is expected that 10000 veterans
OF the war, not all of them, however,
survivors of the Gettysburg battle. will
be found encamped upon the field
when reveille sounds on the morning
OF July /. Ii will be a different re-
Veille than that which the fife and |
drum corps of the two great armies |
sounded fifty years ago. The call to |
awakening will be call to a peaceful |
celebration while the call to the awak-
ening in July, 1863, was a call of
armies to conflict and, to thousands of
men, a call to death.
For years the veterans have been
looking forward to this reunion. 1t is
probable that there will be present
many thousands of survivors OF the
under an act OF congress has appro-
priated money for the preparation of
the camps and for the messing of the
soldier visitors. The average age OF
the men engaged In the Civil war was
only eighteen years, but fifty years
nave passed since these soldier boys
GSttssbeTs. ami so If the
nj h., |
average years OF the veterans who will
meet In Pennsylvania in July will be
about sixty-eight years. Many OF them.
OF course, will be much older and a
good many of them, men who entered
at ages ranging from fourteen to sew
enteen years. will be younger, but all
will be old men as the world views
age.
Many OF the states OF the Union,
north as well as south, have made ap-
preparations to send their veterans to
the Gettysburg reunion and to pay all
other expenses. The battle of Gettys- s
burg is recognized as the turning point
OF the war between the states. II has |
been called time and again one Of the
decisive battles of the world. Gener- {
ally 1t Is recognized that Gettysburg
decided the great conflict, helped in '
the decision probably by the fall Of ]
Vicksburg on the Mississippi, which E
took place virtually at the moment c
that the conflict on the Pennsylvania !
field was decided in favor Of the north 7
ern arms. I
The preparations which the govern q
ment is making to care for the veter- II
ans at Gettysburg are Interesting.
|They have been under the charge of i
James b. Aleshire. quartermaster gen a
|eral OF the United States army, and II
Henry G. Sharpe. commissary general Z
pr the United States army. Two years n
Pgo last Marc;- 1000 regular troops a
we're gathered in camp at Texas. The I,
health of the soldiers throughout the "
eexas encampment was almost per a
feet, made so by the plans which had I,
been carefully laid to see that perfect a
Plantation was maintained. The Unit. I,
ed States army was taught lesson I,
by the Spanish war, when lack OF
proper sanitary precautions and unpre- :,
paredness In other ways cost the gov 2
eminent the lives OF more men than :,
were sacrificed to the bullets Of the h
Spaniard. :
The estimates OF the commissary n
and quartermaster authorities are q
based upon an attendance OF 40, 900 vet q
Grams. 1t probably will cost the gov n
eminent about s36O.OOO to act In part ;,
as host to the survivors OF the battle q
and other veterans who attend the n
reunion. -
Big Task to Feed Men. $,
The survivors of the war from the n
north and south who will be present, !,
being old men, must be cared for in q,
way which would not have been nee X
essary fifty years ago. The messing OF
The veterans will require 400 army =,
ranges. / great field bakery, 10000 :,
mess kits, 500 cooks, 800 kitchen help h,
ers and 100 bakers. This helping per r
sonnet will be required to be In camp q,
'or at least seven days, and many OF ~
hem for a longer period. for the pur- o,
pose OF installing the field bakery. the .,
ield ranges and in dismantling, clean n,
ng, packing and storing material after n,
he encampment is over. .,
The old soldiers are to be supplied
Nth fresh meat directly from refrig.
rator cars drawn upon the field Thev