Delaware City press. (Delaware City, Del.) 1913-19??, 1913-07-04
old FOES MEET,
AT GETTYSBURG
Tent on Scene of Immortal
Struggle of Fifty Years Age
OVER 100000 VISIT FIELD
Blue and Gray Sheltered In 5000
Tents on Battlefield, But This Time
as Brethren Of a United Family,
They Celebrate Mighty Clash.

They Celebrate Mighty Clash.
Gettysburg, Pa.-Gettysburg stepped
backward for week into the halo OF
history and looked again on an army
OF blue and gray, meeting to join In
the semi-centennial celebration of the
greatest battle of the war between
the States
On the field of Gettysburg the men
who wore the blue and the men who
wore the gray met again to observe
the completion of the half century
since the struggle which marked the
turning point in the war between the
States. The hands which fifty years
ago were raised against each other
now clasp in friendship, the stars and
bars mingle with the stars and stripes.
Every possible arrangement for the
comfort Of the united armies was
made the camp being under the direo-
ton OF officers Of the regular army and
the streets of Gettysburg being pa
trolled by the Pennsylvania constabu.
iary For the care of the sick the
army, the State and the Red Cross
made extensive preparations.
The site selected for the camp of
5000 tents accommodating 5000 vet
Grams, lies about midway between the
line Of the armies as they existed on
the morning of the final day of fight
ing.
To the rear of the camp one has q
glimpse of the ridge and to the left
is Spanglers Woods, in which Pick
ett's men formed their line for the
final charge which brought the Con-
federacy to its high-water mark and
then dashed to earth the hopes OF
those who dreamed of founding q
new empire on American soil.
Up and down the streets of the
immense camp old-time songs echoed
in thin and cracked voices. Bugles
held in the trembling hands of those
who sounded the call to arms half a
century ago blared old cavalry calls;
flutes and drums were busy, and
volleys of cheers occasionally rose
above the din.
The ''old boys" took to camp life
like school lads let loose upon a va
cation.
The Confederates encamped, as
near as may be to the point from
which fifty years ago, Lee poured his
men on the Union lines.
The formal exercises each. day held.
in big tent near the Emmitsburg
R., we're brief, lasting only two hours
each day, Q d the rest of the time the
veterans spent ss they pleased.
in the village thousands of sight
seers quartered. Every barn became
garage. Every room that is avail
able WIS taken, and the veteran with.
out credentials and the civilian who
had not enough foresight to make ar
engagements slept In any bed they
could find in the hustle of the day.
The frat formal ceremony in the big
tent on the battlefield was held when
survivors of Bufords Union cavalry
and Wheelers Confederate cavalry
rendered reception to the citizens
of Gettysburg. This was designed as
a return Of the courtesy extended to
the cavalrymen when they rode into
town fifty years ago. !,
The United States and the State OF
Pennsylvania had arranged each to
pay half the expehses of entertaining
10000 veterans. But $4,000 came.
How to take care of the additional
number worried Colonel Better and
Major Normoyle for many days.
They went ahead and provided tent
room for the extra number in the bat
tleground camp. But 1t take more than
tents to make the veterans comfort
able.
Detachments of regulars as well as
the Boy Scouts were on hand to meet
every arrival. AS quickly as an old SOL
der made known his identity chart
was consulted and he was told just
where his tent was located. Then his
baggage was taken in charge and he
was escorted to the spot which was
to be his home for the week. 1t was
explained that not one of the visitors
would be expected to do a stroke OF
work during the time he was in the
camp.
The tents fall westward with the
slope OF the ground from the Emmits-
burg road to the point on Seminary
Ridge where the charge of Pickett
started Oh the third day of the fight.
They cover the Peach Orchard" and
the Wheat Field" where thousands
Of men were lost, and part of of the
ground over which Pickett charged,
but they do not reach to the Bloody
Angie" or the base of Cemetery Ridge.
from whose heights Meade's artillery
cut to pieces the legions of Pickett