The Springfield herald., 1913-07-11

beiNtS III tle sluuOWS Vi lilt SluIo anu
stripes to forget" and their brothers
in blue swore by the stars and bars
that the fight was over for all time.
There were several women from the
village In the tent and six one-time
schoolgirls. gray-haired and aged now.
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 1t 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 OF
the coming of the blue and the town
went wild
OF all the scores OF girls who well
coined the vanguard Of Meade, only
half dozen could be found. and they
stood, whitehaired with tears in their
eyes on 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 30 years ago." said the ma
tronly woman who acted as leader as
ske 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
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
Sng today would not be cordial
General, l 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 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 doffed their
hats and mingled their tears with
those of their old leader. wetting the
soaked by their blood.
James II. 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
l1I o4 to fhn fN1H
seminary in Gettysburg. While in
town frantic women flocked 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 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 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
articles.
There were at least 100 crutches
piled up in the bureau. dozen or SO ap-
plicants having called for them. Those
who come to redeem their lost
crutches seldom can recognize them