The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-07-05
Judge A. B. Beers Praises Regulars Who Managed Great Bivouac on
 Historical Field
BRIDGEPORT VETERANS STOOD THE ORDEAL
Celebration Without Historical Analogy Can Never Occur Again-Most Useful Hap- pening Since Declaration of
 independence Was Signed

Back from the big reunion of the Blue and Gray at Gettysburg affable as ever and brimful of pleasant mem ories cf his experiences during his visit to the historic battle-ground Cap tain Alfred B. Beers, commander-in- chief of the Grand Army of the Re public, said today:
 "No such celebration has ever taken place before and none like it can ever take place again. Its power and influence for patriotism and for the good of the country cannot be esti- mated. It will go down in history as an event fraught with more pow CT for good than any gathering since the signing of the Declaration of In dependence.
 ..In some respects the camp was the most remarkable ever held in the world. It was not unusual during the war for 100, GOO or more men to be in one camp, but thoseacRmps GOV cred very large area and only parts of the camp and the men in it were visible at once.
 Here at Gettysburg was a camp ac- coznuaodating more than 0,000 veter- ans and in time of war capable of ac- Lcornmoda ting 65.0O0 soldiers all in a. space of two miles square. so that the entire camp was visible by day and by right, to a single glance of the ht1- man eye This camp was erected and cared for by soldiers of the regu- lar army under the direction of Major B. E Norrnoy1e and Major W. R. Grove and toe much credit and praise cannot be given these officers for the efficient. manner in which all the ar rang ements were carried out.
 Major Normoy1e has been the of ficer in Charge of government relief during the floods in Mississippi Ohio, and Indiana and a man better fitted for the work could not have been se- lected Major Grove is a. veteran of the Spanish war. The camp was laid out like a city with avenues and streets, but no city ever was as, elab- orately lighted at night as was that camp.
 "An abundant supply of pure water was furnished from artesian wells driven for the occasion. Every 800 feet were modern bubble drinking fountain where the veterans elaked their thirst with ice cooled water.
 t'The tents with the exception of a. very few which were erected late, were supplied with cots and with mats so that the veterans in getting out of bed did not have to step upon the bare ground Each veteran was furnished a tin plate, cup and knife, fork and spoon, which he was per mitted to take away with him as a souvenir when he left the camp There was abundance of blankets so that the veteran who might be cold in the night had plenty of covering. The streets were policed every day. The sinks were sufficient in number and located at a distance from the camp to prevent infection from them.
 'aThe food was supplied by 1,50o cooks, it was abundant in quantity, well cooked and of great variety. One day 10000 IoaEes of bread were bak- ed. Soldiers of the regular army were in charge of all the streets of the camp and assisted the veterans in ev- cry way. There were no harsh meas ures, no unlxind words and officers and men of the regulars assisted the veterans in every way and paid no attention to those who were inclined to be little testy or disagreeable. It was to be expected that there would be some disagreeable ones in an army of more than 50,OO0.
 1.-The result was there was but little complaint by any of the veterans about the accommodations or the food. In individual cases where complaints were made the causes were much less than would have occasioned complaint in active service.
 'I personally took occasion to make extensive inquiries without disclosing my identity as mmander-in-ch chief. I questioned the veterans regarding the camp and their treatment and the gen eraI expression of opinion was: It's InaSnlI1CSuL cd1Ips our QucA IO4S e1A everything we could expect, the food is first class and our treatment could not. be excelled.'
 "So I think you may safely set 1t down that 99 per cent of the veter- ans were perfectly satisfied.
 .The access to the camp was fine. Every railroad except one delivered the veterans in the center of the camp over tracks laid expressly for this pur pose. The only railroad which did not do this, ran its trains on a shut tie schedule from the main station at Gettysburg to one mile of the camp. The train service left nothing to be desired.
 t'AH the details of the camp preced- ing it's direct establis hment were ar ranged by the Pennsylvania, Gettys- burg commission, of which Col. J. M. Schoclmaker of Pittsburg was presi- d mt and Col. Louis Beitler of Harris burg was secretary. All the details were worked out by this commission and it was a herculean task A large