The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-01-01
SURREY MAN WRITES GOOD
LETTER FROM GETTYSBURG, PA.
Tells Of Interesting Visit TO the Fla.
nous Battle Fields Where One of
the Worlds Greatest Decisive
Conflicts Was Decided.

Gettysburg, Pa, Dec. %, 1919
Editor of Independent:
Dear Friend:
Since / am back at my wife's folks
for the winter, which think pretty
wise thing on account of the shortage
of coal, want to write few lines
for your paper If you have room fol
it.
We have been here at Gettysburg
for about three weeks. The weather
has been very changable, rain about
three days week and then snow. The
thermometer stays around 10 degrees
above zero most of the time.
All the things we have to eat makes
me wish for some of the large bodies
from Minot and Surrey. The other
day wife and visited at place where
she worked when a girl. You should
have seen and eaten like what we did:
bread, potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn,
cabbage, two or three kinds of fruit
cake and pies. Then when we thought
we were thru with the job they brot
nearly quarter of watermelon apiece
We ate it and you can best Judge the
rest. You know it is not good man
ners to leave much on your plate, but
I'll promise you I'll never eat so much
again.
Yesterday we were taken over the
battlefield by my brother in law, Mr..
Lightner. He has lived here since the
battle and has at his command all
places of interest. There is 81 miles
of macadamized road. You are not
allowed to drive with chains when
driving on the field. There arc nearly
700 monuments on the field and more
are being placed each year, which
cost many millions of dollars.
Meade's headquarters were pointed
about 16x24 which has in the west
end five shell holes. Two entered
thru the old chimney, another passing
thru the wall taking leg off the
table where Meade and some of his ad-
visors were sitting. They then moved
away about half mile, returning
again at 2 p. IN. On the porch of this
building there is an old wood box just
as it was during the war. At the end
of the box is damaged board caused
by shell passing thru.
We passed on to the Pennsylvania
state monument, which is 100 #. in.
in height, l think the largest on the
field. Many winding steps lead to-
the top. A large bronze statue of
Lincoln and of three other high offic-
ials are placed on the four corners.
Names Of all the men that fought
from Pennsylvania are placed on
bronze tablets around the monument,
a star marking those that were killed.
1t was pointed out to US where the
first shot was fired and large bronze
statue of the man who fired the shot
is placed on the exact spot.
We also went over the small stream
that is said run red with blood from
the soldiers on the third day At the
fighting.
A very striking statue ef Geaeral
Lee and horse placed On . large mar
BILE base MARKS the place where he tel.
Sorl his kostler was here
on lle and said it is very per-
fets piece of work.
might tell you more but it may not
be as much of interest to the Indie;
pendent readers as it is to me.
We expect to be in Maryland for a
couple weeks now and hope no one
will suffer in North Dakota on &C.
count of the cold and shortage Of coal.
am ever yours,
D. 7. Dierdorff.