Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-04

cf men Tn gray re- enacted today the charge of Pickett across the field c< Gettysburg. Up the slope of Cemetery Ridge. where death kept step with them in 'sS. 150 veterans of the Vir- ssinia regiments of that immortal brigade made their slow parade Un- der the brow of the ridge in the Bloody Angle where the Philadelphia brigade stood that day, was a handful of blue, sc2rcely larger. waiting to meet the onslaught of peace There were nc flashing sabres. no guns roaring with shcl only eyes that dimmed fast and kindly faces behind teh stone wall that marks the angle. At the end, in place of wounds or prison or death. were handshakes. speeches and mingling cheers
 A Tattered Confederate Flag.
 The veterans in gray marched for a quarter of R mile over the ground that they traversed during the charge. They came up the slope in column of fours, irregular, but responsive to the com manos Of Major W. W. Bentley of the 2sth Virginia. one of the few officers of either F'fcketts or the Philadelphia brigade who was present. Ahead If them marched a band. and down the column was a faded Confederate flag, its red field pierced with many holes. its crossbars dim and it's shaft colored with the sweat of many a man who had died that it might fly high in that last desperate effort to pierce the Un- 1on lines Its progress was slow and painful for the timothy in the field vas high and its plowed surface was not easy for the world weary feet. Up fo the very edge of the stone wall. cov- cred now with tangled vines, shaded by trees ard peaceful as a summer lane. they marched in the hot sun zrhffe ha bond r1nrrE eaTlf-rie 70 Thor they stood for half an hour while their comrades i'm blue peered across at them
 Flags Crossed in Amity.
 The blue line formed behind the walls. Over their heads fioated fad cd standard of the Second army corps. Behind them were the statues of the Philadelphia brigade and the Fourth U. & A. battery. where General Armstead died in the midst of the guns, killed, tho history says. by a shot fired by his dy- ing commander. Lieut. Cushing.
 As the men in gray formed in long line facing the wall the Stars and Bars and tho flag of the Second corps were crossed in arnity; the Stars and Stripes was uEfuried and the crowd that came to watch burst into n cheer Repre- sentative ]. Hampton Moore of Penn Rylvania made a speech and Major Bentley answered him on behalf of the south The veterans in gray were giv- eu a medal provided by John Wana- maker They crowded over the stone wall shook hands and the charge was over. There was many a picturesque nrure in the line that came up the Biopa-
 Slaughter of Fifty Years Ago.
 W. n. Turpin of the 53d Virginia ap- pcsred in the uniform he wore on the day of tho charge. His feet were bound in cloth He had an army blanket strapped 10 his back and he calmly smoked a long stemmed corn cob pipe.
 There were fifteen regiments in Pick etrs division that day in '63. and the histories say that 5000 men charged across the field. Every field officer was killed or wounded. except one lieuten- ant colonel. and two-thirds of the line officers met the same fate. Of tha 5000 who charged only about 2.O00 re- turned to the Confederate position. The Philadelphia brigade numbered about 1900 men, and lost 543 in killed and wounded
 A Home for Confederate Veterans.
 Governors day" in the big tent was e great success. The enclosure was crowded with thousands of cheering retcrans- Patriotism and love of coun- dry was the keynote of the speeches. Interest was added to the occasion by the presence of a congressional com unistce of 21 representatives and nine senators who came here this afternoon from Washington. headed by Vice President Marshall and Speaker Champ Clark
 One practical Suggestion came from the meeting Governor Cox of Ohio in his address urged that the national sci- diers' nome at Johnson City. Tenn. be turned over to the CoEfederates for use as a home for tho veterans who fought
 
 voiced it's approval of the suggestion by tremendous applause
 Vice President Marshall Speaks.
 Vice President Marshall was the first Fpester His address was in the na- ture of a Fourth of July oration. He said in part.
 -'It would be vain 10 speak of right or wrong on this occasion. This cele- bration could only happen in America. Nowhere else in the world could men who fought as bitter foes fifty years aS0 meet and clasp hands m brotherly love. as they are doing here today. This occasion wipes out the last of the Mason and Dixon line As Bob Tay Tor once said There is now no differ ence between the north and the south except cold bread and hot biscuit '"
 Champ ciark's Address. Speaker Clark made his usual hit l W AMM NfAN nAu4EA1t when ne commenced 1 the sentiment of Mir. Marshall that only in Amerit. could there be wit messed the scene of once bitter foes claSpine hands in hrotherly love fifty 1 years after they had fought each other and hc recalled that fit took England l e11 years to get around to the point | cf erecting statue to Its great prince. | Oliver Cromwell" The valor displayed in the war" he ferventIy declared. was not north ! ern valor. It was not southern valor | but thank the Almighty God # was 1 American Talor- The greatest thine | of afi is t0 be an American citizen"
 Governor Baldwin Speaks.
 Governor McCreary of Kentucky fol- ! lowed Then came Governors Sulzer Of New i York. Mann of Virginia, a war vet ! er4n. who produced great enthusiasm | hv declaring ''tf we had known each |