Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1913-06-27
VETERANS OF BLUE AND
GRAY AT GETTYSBURG

Gettysburg, June 24.-With the
opening here Thursday Of the annual
encampment of the Pennsylvania G..
A. r. will begin the influx of veterans
of the civil war for the grand reunion
celebrating the 50th anniversary Of
one of the greatest conflicts of mod
ern times-the decisive battle of Get
tysburg. The Pennsylvania veterans
will find all arrangements for the
great gathering completed and every
detail perfected both as to the care
of the union and confederate yeter-
ans and the general public. The cele-
bration Of the anniversary of the bat
tie 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
expected to be here, the federal gov
ernment individual states, the COM
lmonwealth Of Pennsylvania in par
ticular the G. A. r. and the United
Confederate Veterans have worked
Increasingly for nearly year and the
presence of the old soldiers them
selves only remains to make the cele-
bration one Of the most unique events
in history.
Many Of the veterans will use the
tents thrown up by the government
for the use of the reunion partici-
pants. For some distance around the
border of the town the fields are COW
cred with numberless large brown
canvas tents. Each is provided with
cots for five men, ample bed furnish
ings and contain eating utensils,
which, after being used at the camp,
become the property of the man who
uses them. The camps are laid out in
regulation army fashion with avenues
OF large electric lights indicating the
streets and state sections. Water
mains, sewerage pipes and electric
lighting systems today are in opera
tion throughout the tented villages
and transportation facilities from the
nearby towns thoroughly mapped out
and ready A great tent, seating be-
tween 10000 and $1,000 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 arrangements for the
reunion has urged that all veterans,
north and south, wear army corps or
division badges as a means of iden-
tiiication The commission has made
no recommendation in the matter of
wearing of uniforms, but each old
soldier, whether rebel" or "yank"
win be welcomed heartily in their
old wartime costumes.
The entire state constabulary to-
day is establishing headquarters here
to police the crowds, which are ex-
pected to run up into the hundreds Of
thousands. The encampment grounds,
inside and out, will be guarded con-
stantly by regular army troops. The
camp is located near the famous bat
tleground at the southwest edge Of
the town and adjoining historic
Seminary Ridge and the scene of Pic
ketts charge
According TO the latest plans of the
reunion commission, the first day,
July |, will bs Veterans Day." with
exercises under the direction of the
Pennsylvania commission, the G. A.
r. and the United Confederate Veter-
ans. July will be Military Day"
when there Will be exercises conduct
ed by the United States army. On
July 8, Civic Day" Governor Tener
will be in charge and the governors
OF other states will participate. On
July 4, National Day" there win be
an Grafton by President Wilson and
ceremonies attending the laying OF
the Peace Memorial cornerstone. The
celebration will be terminated with a
gorgeous display of fireworks in the
evening.
GATHER FOR BIG