Year: 1869

| GEN. MeadeaS Address Mt Gettysburg.
/ The following is the address deliver


ed by General Meade, before unveling


the soldiers monument at Gettysburg,


Thuredayse It is modest and RpProprt-


ate -, ,1 y 70 :. a. - = lI p I,, IS,


MY FELLOW CITIz EMS; LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN: Six years ago stood


upon this ground under circumstances
| very different from these which now


surround MS. These beautiful hills and


valleys, now teeming with luxuriant


crops, these happy faces around me,


are Wildly different from the1umultu-
| ous roar of war and terrible scenes en-
acted at that time. -Four years ago 1


stood here byfinvitation OF some honor
able gentlemen who have brought me


here at this time, and laid this corner
stone of the monument which we are
brought together to-day to dedicate,


and now for the-t third lime. appear


before you at the request of the man
ayers of tMonument1 Association
to renderfmY assistance, humble as 1t


Isl in paying respect to the memory of


the brave men who, fell here, by dedt-


eating this monument to them, and at


the request of these gentlemen i am


about TO make to you a very Jew re.


marks, " l1ich are Incidental to the oc-


casion, and suggested by it. When I.
look around and see, as. 4 now seeI so


many brave mensWhOIwere by my side


in that memorable battle, among them
His Excellehcy, the present Governor


Of Pennsylvania, General Geary, and


others who were with me at that time;


when Hook back and think on the mo-


BILE spirits who then fought SO well and


now t'sleep the sleep chat knows no


waking;" gallant Reynolds; my. bosom


friend as we'll as my right hand officer,


brave Vincent, and Zook, and Weed,


and others far more In numbers than l


have time or words to mention, my


feelings, are those of mingled sadness


and j0y-sRdness, my friends, to think


there ever was an occasion when such
men should be arranged in battle as


they were here, that we should ever


have been called upon as we Were call


ed upon on, this field to- defend the
flag of our country and the Govern


ment which have been handed down to
US from our forefathers; sad to think Of
the mourning and desolation which


prostrated our whole land, North and


South; sad to contemplate the destruc-
ton OF life which we here wrought In
obedience to our highest duty. am
filled with sadness to think OF the hosts
of modrning widows and orphans left
throughout the land by that dreadful
struggle. Such thoughts naturally come


on us. At the same time l feel grati-



who directed the event, and who select


ed me as an humble instrument with
those then around me upon this field
to obtain that decisive victory which
turned the tide of that great war, and
settled forever, trust, in this country
the principles of personal liberty and
freedom. Applause.l l
feel gratitude that our fellow country


men have been moved to such respect


and honor as we are now paying to the
memory OF these men who, in the dis.


charge of their duty, laid down their
lives1 proving by the highest sacraice
man can render, their devotion to the
those present to-day, who by their pres
enCe contribute to render honor justly
due the fallen braves.


There is one subject, my friends,
which.I will mention now and on this
spot, where M y attention has been call !
ed to it, and in which trust my feeble !
voice will have some influence. When
1 contemplate this field, see here and
there marked with hastily dug trenches
the graves in which the dead with
whom we fought are gathered. They |
are the work of my brothers In arms
the day after the battle. Above them
bit Of plank indicated simply that these
remains of the fallen foe were hurriedly |
laid there by the soldiers who met them
in battle. Why should we not collect
them in some suitable placer L 90 not
ask that monuments be erected over |
them. do not ask that we should in
any way indorse their cause or their
conduct, or entertain other than feel |
ing of condemnation for the cause; but
they are dead; they have gone be-
fore their Maker to be judged.
In all civilized countries it is the
usage to bury the dead with decency |
and respect, and even to fallen enc
mics respectful burial is accorded in |
death. [Applause.l 1 earnestly hope |
this suggestion may have some infu- |
ence throughout this brave land, for


this is the only one among hundred |
crowded battle fields. Some persons
may be designated by the Government
If necessary to collect these neglected |
bones and bury them without COM
memorative monuments, but simply |
indicate that below sleep the misguided |
men who fell in battle for cause oyer
which we triumphed.


I shall detain you no longer, for |
you are about to listen to. one of the
most eloquent men in this country.
MY purpose was simply to comply with
the kind Invitation given to me to
speak meek words OF praise for the
dead heroes sleepin2 around, and on
the solemnities of the occasion. I thank
you for your attention, and will now