Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1913-06-05
Biz Reunion of Survivors of Civil
War at Gettysburg on
July I.
10000 EXPECTED TO ATTEND
Men Who Wore the Blue and Gray
to Again Gather on Ground
Made Memorable by His
toric Conflict.
BY EDWn I'D 3. CLARK.

meeting or the Blue and the |
Gray but this time they will meet in
amity and affection. A halfcentury will
have passed since last these men OF two |
great American armies met on this |
northern field. Then they were face |
20 face in deadly conflict. for the issue |
II was we'll understood TO both con- |
tending forces, was the success of the |
southern cause. or the beginning OF its
defeat, to be followed by the restora-
ton OF the Union as It had been before
the first shot was fired at Fort Sum
ter.
The United States government and
the government OF nearly every state
in the Union have combined to make
the Gettysburg reunion of the soldiers
of the north and south one OF the great
peace events OF the century. The state
OF Pennsylvania some time ago APP
pointed a "Fiftieth Anniversary of the
Battle OF Gettysburg commission" to
make preparations for the four days
reunion, at which Pennsylvania u
state was to act host to the vet
Grams OF the war between the states
and to the thousands OF visitors who
would follow their march to the field
OF battle. and appropriated $4,000 for
the purpose OF entertaining the vet
Grams.
10000 Veterans Expected.
II is expected that 10000 veterans
Of the war. not all OF them. however
survivors OF the Gettysburg battle. will
be found encamped upon the field
when reveille sounds on the morning
OF July /. 1t will be u different re-
veille than that which the fife and
drum corps of the two great armies
sounded fifty years ago. The call to
awakening will be a call TO a peaceful
celebration while the call to the awak-
ening in July. 1868. was a call of
armies to conflict and. to thousands OF
men. a call to death.
For years the veterans have been
looking forward to this reunion. II is
probable that there will be present
many thousands of survivors o: the
battle. The United States government
under an act OF congress has appro
priated money for the preparation OF
the camps and for the messing OF the
soldier visitors The average age OF
the men engaged in the Civil war was
only eighteen years. but fifty years
have passed since these soldier boys
fought at Gettysburg. and 80 If Tho
computation of age was true one thu
average years of the veterans who vii
meet In Pennsylvania in July will b'
about sixty-eight years. Many OF them
OF course, VIII be much older and
good many OF them. men who entered
at ages ranging from fourteen to sew
enteen years. will be younger. but al
will be old men as the world view
age.
Many of the states OF the Union
north az we'll as south. have made az
propriations to send their veterans Z
the Gettysburg reunion and to pay a.
other expenses The battle OF Gettys
burg ia recognized as the turning pom
OF tho war between the states. II ha
been called time ard again one of tn
decisive battles OF the world. Gene
ally It is recognized that Gettysbur
decided the great conflict, helped /
the decision probably by the fall {
vicksburg on the Mississippi. whic
took place virtually at the momer
that the conflict on the Pennsylvani
field was decided In favor OF the mort
ern arms.
The preparations which the COVER
ment is making to care for the vete
ans at Gettysburg are interestin
They have been under the charge
James b. Aleshire. .quartermaster &c
eral of the United States army. ar
Henry G. Sharpe, commissary gener
of the United States army. Two yea
ago last March $4,000 regular trool
were gathered in camp at Texas. II
health OF the soldiers throughout q
Texas encampment was almost p'
feet. made so by the plans which HI
been carefully laid to see that perfe
sanitation was maintained. The I'm
ed States army was taught less
by the Spanish war. when lack
proper sanitary precautions and unpi
paredness In other ways cost the &c
eminent the lives of more men tn
were sacrificed to the bullets OF I
Spaniard
The estimates OF the commissa
and Quartermaster authorities a
based upon an attendance OF 10000 v
Grams. 1t probably will cost the q
eminent about 3360,000 to act in p'
as host to the survivors of the bat
and other veterans who attend
Gettysburg reunion.
Big Task to Feed Men.
The survivors OF the war from
north and south who will be prese
being old men. must be cared for
way which would not have been n
essary fifty years ago. The messing
the veterans will require 400 ar
ranges. 1 great field bakery. 40,'
mess kits. 800 cooks, 800 kitchen he
ers and 100 bakers. This helping 2
sonnet will be required to be In ca
for at least seven days. and many