The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-01
Blue and Gray Clasp Hands
on Famous Battle
Field
NO RANCOR MARS
PEACEFUL SCENE
Veteran Heroes From All Parts of
Union Crowd Tented City TO
Attend Big Celebration.
Reception Held

Gettysburg, June so--Over the field
of Gettysburg where the Blue and
Gray fought so years ago the soldiers
of peace from the north and south, the
east and the west trooped today TO the
tented city of brown where they Will
live in the four days of semi-centen-
nial celebration. 1t was an army united
in sentiment and united in fact--for the
Blue linked arms with the Gray. They
marched the dusty road together from
the viilage-they sat down at the same
mess tables and they talked over the
war tonight. II there was any raneor
in any heart, any feeling of bitterness,
1t did not come to the surface and over
the broad expanse of the city re-
unions of those who won and those who
tried went on hour after hour
Officials OF the regular army in
charge of the camp tonight estimated
that nearly $4,000 veterans came In dur
ing the day bringing the total close 10
10000, probably the greatest army that
ever assembled on Gettysburg field
after Lee and Meade left it to glory and
to history. The sun blazed i.lst as fierce
~ but down from the Blueridge tum-
bled lively little breeze that curled
the open tent flaps and carried vigor
to the tired veterans. In consequence
of this relief there We're fewer pros
trations.
Reception Held
Although the programme of the eele-
bration will not be taken up until to-
morrow there was reception today by
survivors of Buford's division OF
Meade's army and Wheeler's division OF
Lees The meeting was held in the big
tent set aside for speech making and
began so years to the hour from the
| time when the FIRST shot preceding the
battle was fired. The Gray cavalrymen
who fought in skirmisles nat led mp to
the three do s. ga pydged themselves
I in The shadows OF thu stars ana stripcs
to forget" and their brothers in Blue
swore by the stars and bars that the
| fight was over for all time
There were several women from the
village In the tent and six one time
school girls, grey 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 southern
army left it so years ago. On that night
when Burford's men came riding into
the village the heels of Wheeler S
men in Gray, maidens strewed 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
welcomed the vanguard of Meade, only
a half dozen could be found and they
stood, white haired with tears in their
eyes on platform in the big tent and
sang to the weeping soldiers Ia the
seats below.
Cant Sing as Then"
I'm afraid we can't sing like we sang
so years ago." said the woman, who acted
as leader, as she led the way up the steps
to the platform.
I'VE don't care; just sing again" shout
ed the veterans AS the first notes of the
wartime melody came from the women )
quavering tones. the veterans 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
old men wept openly.
One bearded veteran of an Illinois regi-
ment rose to tell of an incident that
happened on that other July night.
'As we rode through Gettysburg that
last time he said, II remember a lit
tie girl stopped my horse and said she
wanted to give me bouquet. / got
down and she pinned ribbon--a little
purple ribbon to my coat Wear that in
the next battle you get into, she said.
We are not going to have any more bat
ties around here. | told her.
"'Yes, YOU are she insisted. Those
hills back there are fun of rebels
II wore that purple ribbon through the
battle. | never saw the girl afterwards.
but I've kept that ribbon and it's bacI;
at home today
No Answer Given
The veteran looked slowly toward the
platform to see if any of the women there
had been the donor of that faded bit of
ribbon. but not one nodded in answer ane.
he sank into his seat with sigh.
Il guess she's with the army above.' he
said
Four governors came into camp today.
Governor McGovern of Wisconsin was the
first arrival: Governor Tener of Penn
sylvania was close on his heels, and Gov
ernors Mann Of Virginia and McCreary OF
Kentucky arrived later
As Governor Mann passed down the
dusty streak in the plain of Gettysburg
field that the war department calls Con
federate avenue" rs veterans In gray from
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