The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-08-16

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almost as hospitable as York. S. c.
At $50 o'clock Sunday morning Ye
were at our final lap to Gettysburg
We walked eight miles Git being Sun
day, we did not care to break the Sab
bath too much), and rode on into
Gettysburg, arriving on the old bat
tlefield at noon. We encamped right
on the ground over which Pickett
made his famous charge on July ),
1863. Some Of the boys claimed to
have had nocturnal communications
with the spirits of their dear depart
ed ancestors. but we generally
credit it as nightmares caused by
too much hiking.
On arriving at Gettysburg we were
given as much freedom as soldiers
not on furloughs can possibly have
We were allowed to come and go at
any time between a. m. and @ p. m.
answering only the roll call for
setting up exercises in the morning.
Such treatment usually calls for the
best that is in a man, and most Of the
boys remembered it on the return
trip.
| Monday morning the men of Sec
tion 26 were allowed the use of four
of the ambulances in which to make a
tour of the historic battlefield. Our
only expense was the cost of the
gasoline and obtaining a guide. We
then proceeded to cover the battle
| ground in the chronological order OF
the three day battle. Our guide was
an old Union soldier, so naturally
we had to discount some of the things
he said. In conversation with Lieu
tenant Hamilton he made the remark
that the particular spot where we
stood, on the night after the first
days battle, Union dead were robbed
| of all their valuables by Confederate
soldiers, laying particular stress on
the brutality of such. On being re-
minded by our lieutenant of the use
less robberies and depredations made
by his famous general, Sherman, in
the South, he Immediately changed
the entire trend of his story. {.
A Highwater Mark.
1t is simply impossible in write
up of this kind to tell of the Won
derful and intensely interesting sights
we viewed that day. We covered the
whole battlefield from the place
where the first shot was fired by the
Union soldiers under Reynolds, to the
High Water Mark near Meade's S
Headquarters.
One of the most beautiful monu-
ments, and naturally to the South
erner's eye the most beautiful, is that
of Gen. Robt. E. Lee, standing on
| Confederate Avenue 1t was erected
by the State of Virginia to the mem
ory of her sons in the war. Lee is
shown on his faithful horse Traveller
facing his old enemy, General Meade
| who is mounted directly across the
field from Lee. Be it said to the
credit of the South that it is through
no fault of her own that Confederate
Avenue is not lined with hundreds
of other monuments to the memory
of her lost sons, for it was only in
the last year that congress passed a
law allowing the placing of such deco,
rations.
On Tuesday few of us made a
trip to the top of Blue Ridge noun
tain. On this mountain is located
tower, from the top of which is vlsl-
BILE the beautiful hill country FOL
miles around. Our view was con
siderably obstructed by the hazy
weather, but even then it was by fal
| the Qr0CIlSSI FlSW VI IAO Wa
We left Gettysburg on Wednesda!
morning, July 26, and came back the
exact route over which we went. Oul
most conspicuous reception was al
York. The good ladies here gave Us
an abundance of delicious ice cream
and cake, and the city turned out al
least 5000 strong to welcome US.
We arrived back at Allentown Sat
urday morning tired and dusty, bu'
wonderfully improved physically anc
in quite number of other ways
Other 'hikers" have left here before
and since then, but we are all OF the
opinion that we had the most enjoy
able and by the far the most educa
tional trip of any of them. Men VINO
can not be inspired to nobler thlnss
by the sights as shown on such a pat
tlefeld are not worthy to bear arms
for their country. Our final satlsfac