The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1913-04-17
The GREY AND THE BLUE
To Meet at Gettysburg to Com,
memorate Battle.

The first of next July there Will
be held at Gettysburg a series OF
ceremonies in commemoration of the
battle fought there fifty years ago.
The ceremonies will be rather to in
Gcate that the bitter feelings arous-
ed by the war are of the past, and
she veterans of both armies will par
.icipate.
In answer to some criticisms of an
invitation for the veterans to join IN
the celebration, carrying the old
flags that led them in the battle, ,ard
wearing uniforms or not, as they
choose, Colonel Andrew COwan of
Louisville, Ky, has written letter
to the Gettysburg Star and Gazette
from which the following paragraphs
ere quoted:
COL COWAN'S SENTIMENT.
The celebration of the fiftieth an
niversary of the battle of Gettys-
burg will be the greatest oprortuni-
ty our country has had since the
Civil war to strengthen the feelings
of friendship and good will between
the people of the Northern and
Southern States. Pennsylvania has
invited every State and Territory to
participate. Her splendid Governor
has assured US that generous well
come awaits us, wherever we hail
from, or whatever may be the color
of our coats.
Kentucky will be represented at
the celebration by the Governor, the
Hon James B McCreary; Gen Ben
nett H Young, Commander-in-Chief
of the U C V; Capt John H Leath-
ers, of the Stonewall brigade, who
was wounded the first day at Get
tysburg; Capt George G Norton, who
served with Longstreet's corps; Rear
Admiral John Crittendon Watson, U
SN,retired, bearing noble record,
and Andrew Cowan. who commanded
the first New York battery in the
bloody angle" at the "clump of
trees" on Cemetery Ridge.
have said TO my comrades of the
GA R and to my friends of U "
that this fiftieth anniversary of the
battle will be celebration of peace
and good will. We shall meet on
the greatest battlefield of the Civil
war, and we shall remember that it
is field of glory, where honor and
courage and patriotism inspired US,
whichever flag we followed there.
We should take part without subjec-
ton to any restraint which is not
proper, patriotic and lawful. We
should, therefore go there as indivld-
nals, as posts of the G A R and as
camps of the UCV, wearing any
dress we choose.
We shall go there as survivors OF
! war which no human power had
been able to avert. The victors in
blue will greet. with open arms, the
xanquished in gray who fought there
for cause they believed was right.
and they fought well. We are now
united in love for one country and
one flag, but neither we nor they
have ceased to love the flag that led
rs IN that fight, Bring them back
from every State! The Starry Ban
ner and the Southern Cross! Unfurl
them again at Gettysburg! The
celebration would be colorless with.
out them. The conquered banner"
vas furled at Appomattox-
yet 'tis wreathed around with glory,
And twill live in song and story,
Though its folds are in the dust.
Bring them back, unfurl them
again; and side-by-side with odd
Glory" the soldiers of Meade and
Grant, and the soldiers of Lee and
Longstreet, brave and loyal. will
march together, with peace and good
will at Gettysburg. Spread the mes
sage throughout the land:
Peace on earth, good will to