The state herald., 1913-07-11

Fifty years to the houf from the
time when the first shot preceding the
battle was fred reunion meeting Of
the blue and the gray was held in tho
big tent. The gray cavalry men who
fought the 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 nght was over for all time.
There were several women from the
village in the tent and six one-tims
schoolgirls. sray-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 song were among those who
thronged the streets Of Gettysburg
after the advance guard Of the south
ern army left 1t 80 years ago. On the
night when Buford's men came nd.
ing into the village on the heels Of
Wheelers men in gray. maidens strsw-
cd 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 well
coined the vanguard Of Meade. only q
half dozen could be found, and they
stood, whitehaired with tears In their
eyes on q platform 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 ma
tronly woman who acted as leader a.
she led the way up the steps to the
platform.
I'VE don't care: Just sing again."
shouted the veterans. AS the first
notes Of the wartime melody came
from them In quavering tones. the vet
erans 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 the old mep
wept openly.
Aside from the old soldiers them.
selves. an interesting figure is Mrs.
Longstreet, widow Of the commander
at the front OF the Confederate lines
In the third days battle. Mrs. Long
street walked mile through the
broiling sun out to the old Rogers
house to interview General Sickles.
Some time ago Mrs. Longstreet sent
long telegram as representing the
southern veterans In protest against
the old Union veteran being thrown In
jail in New York because Of some
financial affairs. 1t was said that
Sickles misunderstood the spirit and
his pride was SO hurt that their meet
ing today would not be cordial.
General, have written an article
about you for publication" said Mrs.
Longstreet at the meeting. and she
read several pages Of the highest trib-
ute to the old corps leader, whom she
characterized as having come back
and being once again In the saddle.
Half hundred old sickles' men gath
cred on the lawn and the reading be'
came dramatic. General Sickles lean
ed back In his big chair. closed his
eyes, and looked back to meeting with
Longstreet.
Here his widow was praising to ths
world the valor which she claimed had
gone unrecognized by the government
Tears flowed down the Sickles cheeks
now tanned by his ninety-third sum
mer, and his old followers doffed their
hats and mingled their tears with
those Of their old leader. wetting the
ground upon which long ago had been
soaked by their blood. F-~i
James II. Lansberry Of st. Louis
Mo. who enlisted In the Third Indians
cavalry from Madison. Ind. recited "a
his comrades the details OF his cap
ture in the town OF Gettysburg BY
Confederates so years ago. Following
the skirmish Just outside Of town
which marked the opening Of what
was to be q worid-famed engagement
he had been detailed to assist In car
ryinE q wounded ofiicer to the old
seminary in Gettysburg. While In
town frantic women hocked about him
and begged that he tell OF the battle
He remained to tell the story. with the
result that he had TO spend several
days In following the confederats
army a. n prisoner After trAmpins
so miles over rough country without
| shoes hN eucceeded in escapiuR And