Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-27
HUNDREDS Of VETERANS
TO RETURN TO MANASSAS
Bronze Tablet to Be Dedicated Com.
memorating Unique Histori-
cal Event.
Will Recall First Instance When
Former Hostile Armies Met on
Field Where They Fought.

Hundreds Of the veterans are to at
tend the dedication Thursday at Manas-
sas of a tablet concentrating the flrst
instance in history OF a meeting in
friendship Of former hostile armies on
other.
The event commemorated by the
bronze tablet is the meeting Of the
Blue and the Gray, held at Manassas,
July 81, 1911, at ceremonies in which
President Taft participated. That oc-
casion is now known as ''the Manassas
national jubilee of peace" and brought
together Federal and Confederate SOL
diers who had fought against one an
other either on the occasion Of the first
battle of Manassas, July 81. 1861, or in
the second battle, August 20, 20 and 80.
1862.
President Wilson Forced to Decline.
President Wilson was expected and
had hoped to deliver the address at the
unwilling of this tablet, but was re-
Gently forced to decline when deleSa-
ton waited upon him at the White
House, saying that his liberty was
mortgaged beyond recall to affairs OF
International Importance.
MY experience here day by day." he
continued, 'is that questions turn up
SO suddenly. and have to be handled SO
promptly and sometimes with SO much
thoughtful discretion, that really dare
not let my thoughts out to other mat
ters.
IT could not come to Manassas with
out having something to say. 1t would
not be worthy of the occasion If did
l lro In, hat yntYv6 70
worth while. and that is out of the
question. My thoughts are mortgaged
beyond recall for the present.
I'VE are all hoping and praying that
the skies may clear. But we have no
control over that on this side of the
water. and it Is impossible to predict
any part of the course OF affairs.
II feel very much attracted by this
invitation. 1t has a poetic value. as
your representative has just pointed
of these two armies coming together in
the most fraternal relations which once
met each other in strife on that battle
field. 1t will be an occasion of inspira-
ton.
But 1 simply feel that I have forfeit-
ed my liberty for the present and that
my nearest duty is the most obvious
and imperative duty. I have been
obliged to say this to all atoms,
however tempting in character.
And ! would not be worthy of your
trust IL / did not come to such con-
clusion, because I know that you want
these international matters taken care
of as best we know how and I ought
not to send my thoughts afield."
Significance of the Tablet.
The bronze tablet to be dedicated is
placed on the courthouse lawn at Grant
and Lee avenues, Manassas-not on the
battlefield, but in the heart of the COM
munity-on the spot where former
President Taft and former Gov. Mann.
with a thousand veterans of the blue
and the gray, Joined forty-eight Man
assas maidens in the "Tableau Of the
Re-United States" in the presence of
a huge crowd of American citizens.
The tablet ia the center of a monu-
mental group formed by two bronze
cannon of the pattern Of 1852, donated
by the War Department In accordance
with an act of Congress-, and two an
chors contributed by the Navy Depart
ment.
A general invitation has been extend
ed to all members Of the Grand Army
of the Republic and to all Confederate
Veterans also.
Special invitations have been sent to
the Secretaries of War and Navy and
to Gov. Stuart Of Virginia.