The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-07-01
Veterans Of Two
Armies Meet on
the Battlefield

da. Generals Lee and Picket, who
gained undying fame by their work
for the Confederacy have long been
dead The leaders are gone and many
comrades in the ranks who came out
Of the awful conflict alive have died in
passing years. But 1t was the spirit OF
the entire armies, the flower of the
manhood OF the sixties that met on the
field today. The battle was fought
over thousand times, and with the
forming Of the force in battle line for
] the chief parade Of the day, a scene
such as practically never before was
enacted in the world was witnessed
today by the thousands attracted to
the reunion.
Over the field now marked by mar.
Bile shafts commemorating the deeds
OF yalor Of the armies, the two forces
moved to the positions they occupied
on the last day Of the fight. The thin
gray line advanced and as the Union
veterans awaited them at the "High
Water Mark" and other points reach
ed by the different divisions, every
face showed the emotion stirring in
the breast Of each veteran. Tearss
hand-clasps, snd embraces awaited the
advancing gray army instead Of solid
shot and Double Canister at ten
yards such as Major Cowan's battery
poured into the ranks Of Picketts gal
liant column 50 years ago as it march.
ed steadily onward in the face Of a fire
that moved men down by hundreds.
For years the veterans have been
planning this reunion arranged By
the state Of Pennsylvania And today
there were revealed possibly for the
first time hundreds Of answers to the
veteran north and south, as to why
his brigade did such and such a thing
At a time when the enemy expected
them to do something else. There
were points TO visit where a comrade
had fallen, or where entire brigades
were wiped out And the reunions Of
men who had met in personal hand to
hand conflicts on the field were count.
less. Col. Charles II. Mcconnell. now
denfhy druggist in Chicago, was an
enlisted men in the twenty.fourth
Michigan during the encounter and
shot and severely wounded Lieut.. Col
John r. Lane OF the North Carolina
regiment. Lane was attempting to
save his colors when wounded. Today
Mcconnell had a large tent erected
on the field where the reunion Of the
first brigade, comprising the 18th In
diana. Path Michigan and 7th Wiscon-
sin, wac held One Of his callers dur
ing the day was Col. Lane. Many Of
the veterans present today did not take
part in the Battle Of Gettysburg, but all
took part in the general ceremonies
and celebration following the meeting
Of the two armies. The state Of Penn
sylyania brought to the field today %.
600 Pennsylvania regiments. The gov.
ernment furnished $4,000 tents. and
working with the Gettysburg commits
sion arranged for the model camp in
which the veterans are quartered. Ra-
tions and railroad fare are furnished
te the veterans by the ste;es from
which they have come.
Tomorrow viii be Military Day. Maj.
Gen Leonard NJ, Wood, chief OF stair,
viii be in command and government
troops viii participate. Thursday, July
8, win be Civic Day. Governors Of
many states are expected to be pres
ent and will be received by Gov. John
X Tener Of Pennsylvania. National
Day, July 1, will be marked by the lay
ing Of the cornerstone Of the great
peace memorial Former President
Taft and President Wilson will be
speakers. Chief Justice White and other
notables will participate. Cen Alfred
3 Beers OF Bridgeport, Conn. com
mander in chief Of the Grand Army
Of the Republic and Gen. Bennett II
Young Of Louisville. Ky. who heads
the United Confederate Veterans were
in command Of the two armies OF
peace. The veterans wore badges with
the likeness of Gen. u s Grant and
Cen Robert f. Lee on opposite sides;
many wore scars Of the terrible three
days conflict. Today's celebration
was a worthy one to be held at the
resting place Of those who here gave
their lives that the nation might live.
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