Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-07-05
Reply to Gov Tener's Wel-
come TO Gettysburg
THE CAMP is OvERCROWOEO
Many Veterans Return Home, While
Thousands Get Temporary Quarters
In Tents Used For Reunions.

IN the pillltSS kldie Ui sun lHAt
sent The mercury bubbling over the
1o0 mark. made clothes a burden and
Il bath only delusion, the armies ct
the north and the south began the log
NAL exercises to mark the semi-cen-
,ennlal ol Gettysburg.
Veterans to the number of $4,000,
the army officers estimated, filed into
the big tent set apart for the exer-
cises. sat in the haze Of heat for two
hours and shook the camp with their
cheers when the speakers made refer
encc to a reunited nation.
Every seat under the canvas was
taken long before Secretary of War
Garrison and Governor Tener. the ora
tors Of the day came chugging up in
their automobiles
Although the men In gray were far
outnumbered by those in blue, there
were possibly thousand southerners
through the amphitheater, and what
they lacked In numbers they made up
in lung power When Governor Tener
finished his speech General Bennett
H. Young, commandcrln.chiei ci the
United Confederate Veterans. rose
slowly and bowed 10 him.
Il can give you something that no
one else can give you. lie said. We
will now give you The rebel yell.
Nine famous Confederate generals
and thousand veterans Of the south
gave it so loudly that II was heard far
back in camp towards Gettysburg.
When General Young stepped for
ward To deliver his address he was
greeted with Wild enthusiasm, the
Union veterans. led BY Commander
in-ChIef Beers. giving him three lnsiy
cheers and a tiger.
He took as his keyn9te the eonvle.
tion OF each side in the great struggle
that il fought for a principle which it
believed was the truth One of his
opening statements was that the
northern soldiers deserved more
credit than the southerners for their
PRONUNCIATION and successful reallza.
tion OF the present great reunion.
which he characterized as the great.
est movement Of It's kind in the world.
He then discussed the question Of
government pensions for the soldiers
still alive who fought under the stars
and Bars.
Among the 200 guests on the plat
form were Governors Mann. OF Vir
ginia. McCreary. OF Kentucky. and
Eberhardt. Of Minnesota Senator
Penrose. OF Pennsylvania. and the fol-
lowing Confederate generals: Robin
son, Texas: West Georgia: Thomas
]. Shaffer louisiana a. y. Williams,
Florida. +. NJ. Law. Florida. and Carr
North Carolina.
The Invocation was delivered by
Rev George Edwards l.oycjoy. chap
lainin-chiei Of the Grand Army of the
Republic. The benediction was TO have
been delivered by Rev II. VI. Elamill
chaplain general OF the Confederate
Veterans. who didn't show up.
The veterans poured into camp. took
graciously what small blessings fate
passed ont 10 them for few hours
and found permanent quarters when
the hard pressed regular army officers
could get them ready Major Nor.
der General l4iggett. estimated that
more than 10000 men are quartered in
camp intended 20 hold only 10000
men.
Through persistent effort. however.
every man has been cared for as well
as possible Thousands have been
given quarters In the big tent and
hundreds OF others In smaller tents.
used In the daytime for speechmaking
and reunions. No officer cared TO esti.
mate the number OF snntherners, 1t Is
probable one-quarter OF the total mum.
ber is represented by the men from
Dixie
Many veterans got no further than
one meal in camp and one look at the
crowded tents, and then started back
for home as quickly as they could 20.
/ The real exodus. however, viii not
begin until Thursday or Friday. Tor
thousands Who might have left sooner
expect 10 stay over the Fourth to see
President Wilson.
| Before the exercises began and at.
/ ter the veterans quarered there had
made their slim toilets. the reunions
OF regiments and companies and
squadrons began confederates who
were In picbett's charge took keen
delight in marching with file and drum
/ to Spangler's woods. where the col
umns of Pickett formed on July 3,
1868. 70 begin the charge that marked
the high tide 81 the Lost Cause
on the eiss of the hnion side Of
the camp the veterans of Mcredit :
Iron brigade and OF PettIgrew's brl.
gade OF North Carolina got together
to 20 over the story OF the fight OF the
! Let nf July. The strnggle between the