The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-06-24
ON THE FIELDS
OF GETTYSBURG
Forty Thousand Veterans Of the Blue
and Gray viii be on His
toric Old Battlefield.
limited Press Special. /


GETTYSBURG, Pa June. 24.--With
the opening here Thursday OF the an
nual encampemn. of the Pennsylvania
G. A. R.. will begin the influx of vet
Grams of the civil war for the grand
reunion celebrating the 50th anniver-
sary of one Of the greatest conflicts
OF modern times-the decisive battle
of Gettysburg. The Pennsylvania vet
Grams will find all arrangements for
the great gathering completed and sey-
cry detail perfected both as to the
care of the union and confederate vet
Grams and the general public. The cele-
bration of the anniversary of the battle
of Gettysburg will begin on July first
and end on Independence day with the
address of President Wilson.
For the comfort and entertainment
of the 10000 veterans of both the blue
and the gray uniform who are expect.
ed to be here, the federal government,
individual states, the commonwealth
| of Pennsylvania in particular; the G..
A. r., and the United Confederate Vet
Grams have worked increasingly for
/ nearly year and the presence of the
old soldiers themselves only remains
to make the celebration one of the
most unique events in history.
Many OF the veterans will use the
tents thrown up by the government for
use of the reunion participants. For
some distance around the border of
! tho tho Gn1lc NIT :,
numberless large brown canvas tents.
Each is provided with co.'s for five
men, ample bed furnishings and con-
I! tain eating utensils, which, after being
used at the camp, become the proper
ty of the man who uses them. The
A camps are laid out in regulation army
! fashion with avenues of large electric
4 lights indicating the streets and state
4 sections. Water mains, sewerage
pipes and electric lighting systems to-
A day are in operation throughout the
!! tented villages and transportation IA.
oughly mapped out and ready great
tent, sealing between 10000 and 5000
4 persons has been erected adjoining
the main camp In which all exercises
and reunions of the veterans will be
held The Pennsylvania Gettysburg
/ Commission, In charge of the arrange
ments of the reunion has urged that
all veterans, north and south, wear
army corps OF division badges as a
means of Identification. The commits.
sion has made no recommendation in
the matter of wearing of uniforms, but
each old soldier, whether rebel or
J "yank" will be welcomed heartily in
their old wartime costumes.
4 In order to avoid as far as possible
congestion of the railroads at the sta.
tons here in bringing and taking
away the crowds, the camp Will be
: opened, in complete readiness, on Sun
day, the 10Th, Ind will continue open
until the following Sunday, July 9Th
This applies to the veterans only.
The entire state constabulary today
is establishing headquarters here to
: police the crowds, which are expected
to run up into the hundreds of thous-
ands. The encampment grounds, In
: side and out, will be guarded constant
u by regular army troops. The camr
; is located near the famous battle
: ground at the south west edge of the
town and adjoining historic Seminary
Ridge and the scene of Picketts
, charge.
According to tie latest plans of the
reunion commission, the first day
-tJuly I, will be Veterans Day. with
exercises under the direction of the
r Pennsylvania commission, the G. A. II