The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1913-07-01
BLUE And GRAY LINK ARMS
SING OLD WARTIME MELODIES.
Soldiers OF Peace Troop Into the
Tented City On Gettysburg
Battlefield.

the held or Gettysburg where the
Blue and Gray fought SO years ago,
the soldiers of peace from the North
and South, East and West trooped
today to the tented city of brown
where they will live in the four days
of semi-centennial celebration.
1t was an army united in senti-
ment and united in fact, for the
Blue linked arms with the Gray.
They marched the dusty road to-
gether from the village, they sat
down at the same mess tables and
they talked over the war tonight.
II there was any rancor in any heart
any feeling Of bitterness, it did not
come to the surface and over the
broad expanse of the tented city"
reunions of those who won and those
who tried to win went on hour after
hour.
officials OF the regular army in
charge of the camp tonight estimat-
ed that nearly $4,000 veterans
came in during the day, bringing the
total close to 10000. The sun blaz-
ed just as fiercely as ever but down
from the Blue Ridge tumbled a live
Iy little breeze that curled the open
tent flaps and carried vigor to the
tired veterans. In consequence of
this relief there were fewer prostra-
tions.
RECEPTION BY SURVIVORS.
Although the program OF the cele-
bration will not be taken up until
tomorrow there was a reception to-
day by survivors Of Buford's division
OF Meade's army and Wheeler divi-
sion of Lees. The meeting was
held in the big tent set aside for
speech-making and began so years
to the hour from the time when the
first shot preceding the battle was
fired. The Gray cavalrymen who
fought in skirmishes that led up to
the three days fight pledged them
selves in the shadows of the Stars
and Stripes to forget" and their
brothers in Blue swore by the Stars
and Bars that the fight was over for
all time.
oNE-TIME SCHOOL GIRLS SING.
There were several women from
the village in the tent and six one
time school girls, gray haired and
aged now, sang "Rally Round the
Flag, Boys" while the veterans wept
like boys, but with pride. The six
women who sang the battle songs
were among those who thronged the
streets of Gettysburg after the ad-
vance guard of the Southern army
left 1t so years ago. On that night
when Buford's men came riding in
to the village on the heels of Wheel
er's men In Gray, maidens strewed
flowers along the streets and bells
In the churches pealed out the news
OF the coming of the Blue and the
town went wild. OF all the scores
of girls who welcomed the vanguard
of Meade, only a helf-dozen could be
found and they stood white haired,
wi In hot
form in the big tent and sang to the
weeping soldiers in the seats below.
I'm afraid we can't sing like we
sang so years ago." said the woman
who acted as leader as she led the
way up the steps to the platform.
1--WE don't care; just sing again."
shouted the veterans.
AS the first notes of the wartime
melody came from them in quaver-
Ing tones the veterans both of the
North and of the South sat quiet
with eyes fixed upon the singers
The hum OF the chorus came from
every side and old men wept openly.
A FADED RIBBON.
One bearded veteran of an Illinois
regiment rose to tell of an incident
that occurred on that other July
night
"As we rode through Gettysburg
that last time" he said. 81 re-
member a little girl stopped my
horse and said she wanted to give
me bouquet. / got down and she
pinned ribbon, little purple rib
bon to my coat.
Wear that in the next battle you
get into" she said.
We're not going to have any more
battles around here" ] told her
Yes you are she INSISTED
These hills back there are full of
Rebels
"I wore that purple ribbon
through the battle. never saw the
girl afterward, but I've kept that
ribbon and its back at home TODAY"
The veteran looked slowly toward
the platform to see IL any of the wo-
men there had been the donor OF
that faded bit OF ribbon but not one
nodded In answer and he sank into
his seat with a sigh
guess she's with the army
above" he said.
Four governors came into camn
today, Governor McGovern Of wis
consin was the first to arrive: Gov
erDor Tener OF Pennsylvania was
close on HIS heels and Governor
Mann OF Virginia. and McCreary of
Kentucky arrived later.
As Governor Mann passed down
the dusty streak in the plain OF
Gettysburg field that the war depart
ment calls Confederate avenue /"
70 veterans In Gray from Richmond
lined up to salute, lifted their hats
and gave the Rebel yell while a near
bv hand hnraf into stratn, %