Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1913-07-17
W WoFFoRD

WUVUL TITTLT- TdTU0 UTS-
tant, Another gripping of hands and
on we go. Such Genes as these were
taking place constantly. ISverfly be-
ileYe this Reunion will clinch the SEN
t,ment that has been prevailing to a
more or less extent for some time, to
give from the National Treasury a
pension to Confederate soldiers. When
sounded, / believe that 49 out of so
81 the old Federal soldiers would en-
dorse 1t.
BY the way, Judge Clark, whom
many Of us wanted to 60 to the United
States Senate on this platform, IN the
last election, visited our tent twice
while in camp and stated that he was
still fighting for the measure and that
he would stop OF In washington and
shake them up a little. I think In d
short time the matter will be tested
and pensions granted, some wiseacres
to the contrary Notwithstanding There
are some among us well to do, who are
TOO proud to accept it. and it hurts
our cause forgetting the many poor
old fellows and their wives who would
be glad to get it.
Not a word was said in all the
speeches or conversations that was in
the least offensive or Earring to the
most sensitive persons. Surely har-
mony prevailed.
It lis useless for me to attempt to
describe this great battlefield. Suffice
it to say, it Is ground beyond concep-
ton, the beauty Of its natural scenery,
enhanced now by upward of 500 taste
full and elegant monuments marking
the positions occupied by troops. There
is no spot in the world connected with
more memorable events than the
hirty-iye square miles of ground
which witnessed the terrible conflict
between the Federal and Confederate
troops on the first, second and third
of July, 1868. There is but one Gettys-
burg and it is without doubt the most
picturesque and interesting point in
America for either the soldier or citi-
zen to visit. Thousands from the old
world visit it annually. Quite a num-
Der of hotels and boarding houses have
Strung up to entertain them.
Gettysburg, during the battle, con-
tanned about 1900 inhabitants. Now it
numbers upward of 5000. The lines
OF battle are marked by fine macadam
roads and where a battery or artillery
stood during the battle, there now
stands two cannon pointing as they
did then. All the woods and open
fields are kept as they were then.
What / have written contains but q
brief outline of a description of the
present camp and battlefield. What
good results are t o follow this great
gathering of the Blue and Gray, as /
see tit wipes out the last vestige
of sectfonalism and cements the
North and South as nothing else could
If you could have heard their
great bands amid the Confederate
camps play Dixie and other old war
time pieces and listen to ome of their
hest orators and feel the vise-like
grip of their hands, and listen to their
hearty greetings, How are you, old
comrade, so glad to see you, so glad
accepted our invitation to come up
here so we could see you. Ybu
thought you were right and like true
Americans as you are, you fought and
valiantly for that right, and
gave US enough. We wanted no more.
God bless you, old comrade."
All of this endorsing the sentiment
expressed by President Lincoln, Gas
he stood upon the rock wall when he
went to Gettysburg on the occasion OF
laying the corne rstone at the Fed
eral cemetery, There were no
slouches out there. (pointing towards
the Confederate position,) and ] am
glad to be the countryman of those
soldiers who assailed these heights"
Wherever you went upon the field
YOU were met by old Federal soldiers
and upon seeing your Gross of Hon
you had to stop and talk with
hem. Close to $4,000 soldiers we're
killed and wounded in this battle.
more than the combined losses n the
American Revolution and Mexican
var.
Almost all writer's on Gettysburg
a v something to say about who was
o blame on our side. I have always
1eld to this that Longstreet was the
,ause of Lees failure on the third day
" not coming to time on the second
If you believe Fitz Lee, Pendle-
Early, Wilcox or Gen. Long, then
longstreet was ordered to open the
,attIe very early in the day. This he
lid not do until about the middle of
he afternoon and then as Hoods bat
allions of gray are moving down upon
little Round Top, Gen. Warren craps
he situation and rushes troops on the
summit in sufficient numbers to hold
How easy was it to take it in our
possession n time in the forenoon
md with it in our possession all the
trongholds of Meade's lines would
ave been destroyed and he would
been forced to have Waged the
Ight somewhere else, where positions
gould have been more favorable to
side. Any n standing upon
found Top can see this for himself.
Warren's statue is standing on
arge boulder on top Of little Round
visible for a long distance. Many
aonuments are yet to be erected on
he field Arrangements are being
cade t oerect an equestrian statue OF
4en. Lee just across the road on Gem
tery Ridge in front Of where stands
hat Of Gen. Meade.
Well. the war was finally ended. We
id not win. I am glad we didn't
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