Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1913-07-31
BACK FROM THE SOUTH
L. A. McGinnis Who Fought at Gettys.
burg so Years Ago Writes Of
The Biz Reunion

Leaving Audubon ON the early morn
ing train of June 9th we reached the
CITY of Chicago in the evening of the
81 fne day with the expectation of leay-
il Chicago about four clock on the
afternoon of the 2sth. The only Incl
dent until leaving Chicago worthy of
mention was the sweltering heat of the
2Sth in the city of Chicago which caus
ed everybody to keep in the shade as
much as possible and endeavor to keep
cool while we waited.
Leaving Chicago at the hour above
mentioned we were soon out of the city
and barring dust and cinders were
much relieved from the heat. We
awoke in time to have view of the
Ohio river as we wound along and
around the curves of its banks before
entering the city of Pittsburg in the
early morning. A'short wait was made
here and then we were off through the
mountains reaching Altoona around
the Hose Shoe" bend and Johnstown.
We reached Harrisburg on the Sasque-
hanna river little after ~ o'clock. A
short stop was made here and the last
run to the south was made which was
impeded by many trains to be passed.
AT last the monuments showing the
positions of the LIST and 18th, corps of
the Union army from to miles west
and north OF Gettysburg were cited.
Where the first days battle was fought
brought to my mind that l was APP
preaching the great battlefield from
the opposite direction from which APP
preached il so years before. And what
memories it brought to my mind as we
passed 20 the west of the town parallel
with Seminary Ridge on our right.
just beyond the town we came parallel
with Cemetery Ridge and on the very
ground over which Hills and Picketts
men charged the Bird day of the battle,
when one among the greatest issues of
human events trembled in the balance,
viz:-whether human slavery like can
cerous sores should stand out as lie TO
the declaration that "all men are Great
ed equal, or whether some men shall
not have freedom of opportunity for
the pursuit of happiness and the posses
sion of property or whether they shall
themselves be considered as property,
and whether this nation shall be a
nation or only loosely confederated
lot of states But the issue was decided
right on that day, every man of the
Union forces feeling as though the
issues of the battle depended on him,
resolved to win or die on the field.
And now as TO the battlefield and
changes which have have taken place
in 80 years. OF course many have been
the changes. LIST the National Gene
terry was laid out just west of the old
cemetery and just south of the city.
Many trees have been planted in this
cemetery which have grown to great
height and also quite number of
houses have been built just west of the
National cemetery and other trees
planted which obstruct the view from
the north end of the city cemetery on
which my regiment was stationed so
years ago, so no view can be had of
Seminary Ridge from whence Pickett
started on his charge as could be had
at the time of the battle.
The u s. Government has purchased
about 100 feet in width along where
each army occupied and has made a
macadam road along said purchase
and the various states have placed
monuments and markers showing the
positions of the organizations from said
states. find my regiment has monu-
ment northwest of the town on Howard
avenue where il fought on the first day
and it also has markers in the National
cemetery near the city which place it
occupied the second and third days Of
the battle.
But to myself the most enjoyable
part of the great reunion was to meet
nv own comrades who stood shoulder
10 shoulder and elbow to elbow with
myself when on the third day Of the bat