Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1913-07-26

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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 south
ern army left it so years ago. On the
night when Buford's men came rid
ing into the village on the heels of
Wheeler's men in gray, maidens strew-
ed flowers along the streets and bells
in the churches pealed out the news or
the coming of the blue and the town
went wild
OF all the scores of girls who well
coined the vanguard of Meade, only a
half dozen could be found, and they
stood, white-haired with tears in their
eyes on a platform in the big tent and
sang to the weeping soldiers in the
seats below.
I'm afraid we can't sing like we
sang so years ago. said the ma
tronly woman who acted as leader as
she led the way up the steps to the
platform.
I'VE don't care; just sing again."
shouted the veterans. AS the first
notes of the wartime melody came
from them in quavering tones, the vet
Grams 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 the old men
wept openly.
Aside from the old soldiers them
selves. an interesting figure is Mrs.
Longstreet, widow of the commander
at the front of the Confederate lines
in the third days battle. Mrs. Long
street walked a mile through the
broiling sun out to the old Rogers
house to interview General Sickles.
Some time ago Mrs Longstreet sent
a long telegram as representing the
southern veterans in protest against
the old Union veteran being thrown in
Jail in New York because of some
financial affairs. 1t was said that
Sickles misunderstood the spirit and
his pride was SO hurt that their meet
ing today would not be cordial.
General, 1 have written an article
about you for publication" said Mrs.
Longstreet at the meeting, and she
| read several pages of the highest trib-
ute to the old corps leader, whom she
| characterized as having come back
and being once again in the saddle.
Half a hundred old Sickles' men gath
/ cred on the lawn and the reading be-
/ came dramatic. General Sickles lean
| ed back in his big chair, closed his
| eyes, and looked back to meeting with
Longstreet
Here his widow was praising to the
| world the valor which she claimed had
| gone unrecognized by the government.
| Tears flowed down the Sickles cheeks
now tanned by his ninety-third sum-
mer, and his old followers dotted their
hats and mingled their tears with
those of their old leader, wetting the
ground upon which long ago had been
soaked by their blood.
James H. Lansberry of ST. Louis,
Mo-, who enlisted in the Third Indiana
cavalry from Madison, Ind, recited to
his comrades the details of his cap
| ture in the town of Gettysburg by
Confederates so years ago. Following
the skirmish just outside of town
which marked the opening of what
was to be a world-famed engagement.
he had been detailed to assist in car
rying a wounded officer to the old
seminary in Gettysburg. While in
| town frantic women f1ocked about him
and begged that he tell of the battle
| He remained to tell the story, with the
result that he had to spend several
] days in following the Confederate
| army as a prisoner. After tramping
! so miles over rough country without
shoes he succeeded in escaping and
finally made his way back to Gettys-
| burg, where he remained till August
in assisting in the care of the wound
ed, which were housed in the semin-
nary, churches, barns and public build
| ings.
One of the unadvertised reunions OF
! the celebration occurred in the con-
federate section of the camp. A fife
| and drum corps of men in blue tramp
| ed up and down the streets of the con-
federate part of the city Of tents.
They stopped before the tents, play
/ ed such a fanfare as only drums and
| flies can make, summoned forth the
| occupants and shook hands, threw
their arms about the gray shoulders
and in a dozen other ways showed
| their feelings of friendship.
| They kept it up for hours and Wis
tied practically every 'reb" tent.
| Their reception was as warm as their
greeting
| One of the most interesting places
in camp was the lost and found bu-
reau, located under the benches in the
| big tent Everything found on the
grounds was brought there and thou
sands applied every day for missing