First of all, on behalf of the National Park
Service let me welcome you once again to the Gettysburg National Military Park in our ongoing
mid-winter lectures. My name is Ranger Karlton Smith and I’m
going to be talking to you today basically about the reunion in 1888. The first real reunion here marking the 25th
anniversary of the battle. Before I get started just some housekeeping
chores. One is we are still giving our midwinter talks. Next Saturday the talk will be “It was Indeed
a Scene of Unsurpassed Grandeur and Majesty: An Audio-visual Presentation of the National
Park Service’s Coverage of the 150th Anniversary of the American Civil War.” And on Sunday March 16th “Our Once Beautiful
but now Desolated Valley: Post War Shenandoah Valley of Virginia”. And that is being presented by Sam Mark from
Cedar Creek. So a guest ranger coming here to present that
program. All the programs are free and it should be
noted that all the talks will eventually be posted on YouTube. So keep an eye out for those. I also have to apologize because our, our
normal mike that we wear apparently is giving us some trouble. It apparently works for part of the program
and then dies out. So unfortunately we have the old hand-held
mike. This thing is almost like a radio mike and
you always have to speak right into it. So if anybody has trouble during this program
hearing me, just kind of wave your arms and I will try to speak a little bit louder. Also before I begin the program I have to
apologize in advance in a sense to John Cleese and Michael Palin of Monty Python. I heard part of an interview with them several
months ago on NPR and they were talking about this new two man show they put together called
Together Again for the First Time. Now, of course, they are famous for having
performed as part of Monty Python but this was the first time the two of them had gotten
together to do a two man show. That’s why they were together again for
the first time. And in one sense here, Longstreet and Sickles
met in 1863 but in 1888 they’re going to be together for the first time. But it is going to be a reunion, the Grand
Reunion of 1888, the 25th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. Now the idea of this starts in 1887 with General
Dan Sickles who at a meeting of the Society of the Army of the Potomac proposed that the
1888 meeting take place over the anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. And that the Society invite members from the
Army of Northern Virginia to join them on the battlefield. So this is intended to be a joint reunion
in an effort really at reconciliation. They also wanted the US army’s participation
in this to sort of highlight the importance of it. Now at first there was questions whether the
army would actually show up because the commanding General of the Army, Phil Sheridan, didn’t
think the expense warranted sending troops up to Gettysburg for the 25th anniversary. But apparently some old veterans, including
Dan Sickles, met with General Sheridan and he changed his mind. And so coming up here is going to be Colonel
Horatio Gates Gibson who had served with the Army of the Potomac in the Third US Artillery
until April of 1863. At that time he is appointed Chief of Artillery
of the Army of the Ohio. And at one time in command of the Second Ohio
Heavy Artillery. He is coming here commanding batteries A,
C, E, H, K and L and the Headquarters Company of the Third Artillery from the Washington
barracks. Also coming up is Major Louis Henry Carpenter
of the Fifth Cavalry who had served here at Gettysburg with the Sixth Cavalry. He’s commanding troops B of the Fourth and
B of the Sixth Cavalry from Fort Myers. Also coming up are batteries G and I of the
Third Artillery from Fort McHenry. The heavy artillery is going to be equipped
as infantry though the light artillery itself is under the command of Captain John Graham
Turnbull who here at Gettysburg had commanded batteries F and K of the Third US Artillery. So several veterans still with the Army coming
here to Gettysburg. The National Tribune also noted that “not
the least among those who have already arrived are the lemonade vendors, sideshow operators
and badge fiends. They have occupied every available spot along
Baltimore Street and on first class condition to break the ears of the visitors with their
eternal clatter.” Now this is actually a picture of vendors
in Hartford Connecticut but it does give you the idea of the vendors lined up along Baltimore
Street. It probably looks something like this, they
were sort of wagon to wagon almost. The National Tribune also talked about the
trip coming to Gettysburg. And when they were in Baltimore at the Baltimore
station they saw former Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston who the paper described
as “an undersized man with a nose that it looked as if it had been broken, a short bushy
white beard and dressed in a suit of black broadcloth with a high silk hat came into
the station with a very quick spry step for one so old.” General Johnston at the time was 81 years
old. He was recognized where he grew from Parkers
Battery from Richmond and asked if he was going to go to Gettysburg. The General said “I’d like very much but
I can’t. I’m too old to stand the journey and the
crowd.” But the paper said “by and by Longstreet,
tall, large framed and wearing luxurious white whiskers appeared and was received with still
more enthusiasm as the men all served under him.” And then coming into the station is former
Confederate General John B. Gordon, “tall, slender with long black hair curled under
the ends in the old Southern style and with hard, cruel gambler-like face, disfigured
by a deep scar made by a Yankee bullet.” And you can’t see it on the right here,
oops, you can’t see it in this picture but in the Civil War picture you can see a deep
cleft right under his eye. And that’s probably the wound they’re
talking about. Most of the VIPs are going to be staying at
the old Springs (a brief break in the talk) most of the VIPs are going to be staying at
the old Springs Hotel which was located on the old Gettysburg Golf Course. Gettysburg Country Club Golf Course. As you are coming into Gettysburg from the
west, coming in from Chambersburg, you pass Herr’s Tavern, then a housing development,
and then, and then you pass what’s now sort of a spa recreation area. What essentially happened was a company from
Maryland took over the old country club club house. They have that, the Park Service has what
used to be the golf course itself and that’s where the Springs Hotel used to sit. And among the VIPs staying at the Springs
Hotel was, was Dan Sickles leonine and impressive as he ever is. Former Union General Henry Slocum who commanded
the Fourth Corps here at Gettysburg with his refined scholarly face. Union General Samuel W. Crawford Commanded
the Pennsylvania Reserves here at Gettysburg. Former Colonel James S. Robinson of the 82nd
Ohio who was severely wounded here at Gettysburg on the first day. The paper reported of Robinson, they described
him as “the towering Ohioan who commanded the third division of the Eleventh Corps for
a few terrible minutes on the first day until he, like his predecessors in command, were
stretched out on the ground by a row of bullets. And who has since been a member of Congress
and Secretary of State for Ohio.” In fact, at this time he is serving as Secretary
of State for the state of Ohio. Also appearing at the Springs Hotel was Colonel
Hiram Berdan whose sacrifice accounts sharpshooters of sustaining Longstreet’s charge on the
second day until the Army could have notice of the impending danger. Also there was John Gordon and his wife. Gordon now served as governor of Georgia. And Dan Butterfield, the Chief of Staff of
the Army of the Potomac here at Gettysburg would spend a lot of time at the Springs Hotel
although he is not staying there. I’ll tell you why in a little bit. But also apparently staying at the Springs
Hotel is James Longstreet. And it was reported that on June 30th soon
after his arrival Longstreet was the center of a group made up of General Lucius Fairchild
who lost an arm on the same field, Governor James Beaver of Pennsylvania who hobbles around
on crutches due to the loss of a leg at Cold Harbor, and General John C. Robinson of Binghamton,
one of his legs was shot from under him at Spotsylvania. When it was rumored that Longstreet had arrived
at Springs Hotel, hundreds at once began a pilgrimage in that direction. But before the advance guard of whole into
sight the dashing ex-Confederate was rushed off to Reynolds Grove to participate in the
dedication of the monument to commemorate the deeds and the dead of Wisconsin’s Iron
Brigade. Now the biggest platform for this dedication
was actually set up on the other side of Herb’s Woods in front of the John Reynolds killed
monument. So it’s not right here. Also when the day came on June 30th it’s
not just the monuments to the Iron Brigade but they dedicated all six monuments to Wisconsin. They are all being dedicated on the same day. So the six main monuments and the several
advance markers were all being dedicated at the same time. And while he’s up on the platform, when
Longstreet reaches the platform he’s surrounded almost at once by well-wishers, including
Colonel Rufus Dawes of the Sixth Wisconsin. They even shook hands together. And Dawes said “General, it looks very different
from the scene of 25 years ago.” “Yes,” was Longstreet’s reply, “it
reminds me of a camp meeting.” “Well it will soon be one” added a newcomer. “We are now one, sir, I think” was Longstreet’s
response. And I am not quite sure how to interpret that
response from Longstreet. He’s either trying to say we already are
at camp meeting or he’s trying to say we are one people now. I am not quite sure what he is talking about. Keep in mind Longstreet was going deaf so
he had a hard time hearing people. In fact at one point he’s actually carrying
one of those ear trumpets around with him so he can hear. Maybe he didn’t quite hear the question
right and this is how he is responding. The big meeting on June 30th, the one everyone
wanted to see and witness, is the meeting between Dan Sickles and James Longstreet. The meeting itself doesn’t take place until
about 1 o’clock in the afternoon at the Springs Hotel. The meeting was observed with great interest
by a throng who were curious to see how these old opponents on the battlefield would greet
each other. They had not met since the Battle of Gettysburg
and the Union general still carried a lively recollection of the unceremonious manner in
which he had been handled at one stage of the memorable fight by the Confederate leader. As Sickles entered the dining room Longstreet
caught sight of him. Pushing his chair to the rear he offered his
right hand which was grasped. Sickles, around his shoulders, threw his disengaged
arm. They were friends in a moment and there was
very little eaten at that particular table for 30 minutes as they talked about events
a quarter of a century ago. Later in the afternoon the New Jersey Brigade
or the Kearney Brigade monument will be dedicated. Now the only problem with this is the state
of New Jersey or the commissioners, for some reason, issued three different contracts for
the construction of this. And the three contractors couldn’t get the,
apparently couldn’t get coordinated very well. So when they dedicated the monument all they
dedicated was the base. The shaft itself wasn’t up yet. But the paper said that despite that, when
the flag was torn away only the rugged stone base the New Jersey exercises were an unbounded
success. Among other people on the speakers’ platform
were Governor Beaver of Pennsylvania and James Longstreet. After dinner Longstreet takes a ride on the
battlefield with ex-governor Smyth of New Hampshire and his wife and Colonel John B.
Bachelder, the Park’s historian at that time. The New York Times said “the latter spent
so much time on the field that he actually knows every foot of it. Longstreet had not intended to go over the
field until Monday but was induced to take a preliminary trip by Colonel Bachelder in
order, as the latter said to be able to answer questions on Monday. In his drive he was shown a stone near the
Bloody Angle and he stopped and looked at it. It is the only stone of the kind to be found
on the battlefield. It bears the following inscription ‘Brigadier
General Lewis A. Armistead CSA fell here July 3rd 1863.’” They also apparently took a ride up to Little
Round Top and had a view of the terrain to the west where Longstreet’s attack would
be coming from. It was said that Longstreet was delighted
with the scene from the summit of Little Round Top, expressing himself better than ever,
convinced of the mistake of trying to turn the Union right at Devil’s Den. Of course this is the first time Longstreet’s
been to the summit of Little Round Top. So now, for the first time in 25 years, he
has seen what the Union troops were seeing. Another person who was attracting a good deal
of attention was Brigadier General Henry J. Hunt the chief of the artillery for the Army
of the Potomac here at Gettysburg. He was attracting this attention, the paper
said, without courting it. So people just wanted to know General Hunt’s
opinion on things. The Union Army First Corps will hold its reunion
on July 1st in Herbst’s Woods and the speakers platform was set up in front of the monument
to General Reynolds. The monument, this particular monument, had
been dedicated on July 1st 1886. So it was still anew monument when they met. And they are up there on a wooden platform
about two feet high. Now remember it’s the same platform used
by the Wisconsin delegation the day before. One of the first to arrive was General Longstreet,
a special guest of the reunion. He’s going to step up on the platform and
shake hands with Bishop John Philip Newman, the bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church
in Washington, who’s going to give the opening prayer. But the Gettysburg Compiler also reported
that just as the strains of the band leading the procession of men who would take part
in the exercises were heard coming over the brow of Seminary Ridge, Captain Levon Pond
of Wisconsin, the man in charge of the exercises, walked up to General Longstreet who was sitting
at the front of the platform and whispered to him “General come quickly with me, I
think the platform is giving way”. The General at once walked off and a second
after with a crash the support gave way and the structure dropped to the ground. The fall was but two feet and fortunately
no one was injured. At which point they gathered everybody together
and went ahead with the exercises. After Bishop Newman, Governor James Beaver
of Pennsylvania would deliver an elegant address. General John C. Robinson, as President of
the Society of the Army of the Potomac, will also give an address. Lucius Fairchild will be introduced to the
tune of Yankee Doodle, and his address was both witty and appropriate. And the General Longstreet is asked “Do
you have a speech?” It was also reported than when Major Halstead
mentioned the name of Longstreet the General was given a rousing reception. Introduced to the tune of Dixie he made a
brief speech and this is part of what he said “I was not in time to witness any part of
the first day of Gettysburg but am pleased to be here in time to witness a ceremony commemorating
the days of honor of the Army of the Potomac and to express that sympathy that should go
out from our hearts to those who know how to appreciate the conduct of soldiers who
offer their lives on the altar of their country. And who may better attest to the bravery of
defenders of Gettysburg than those who pressed the measure of battle against them. And who could forcibly realize that it was
their heroism that undeciphereable moment resolved to resist the advance of aspirations
of state sovereignty with the firmness that was justified by the strong ground upon which
fortune cast their lines. Amidst these formidable surroundings, the
rockbound slopes and heights, reinforced by bars of lead and iron and ribs of steel and
American valor.” After the ceremonies of the First Corps reunion
were over most people are going to trudge up to Doubleday Avenue for the dedication
of the 83rd New York monument. Participating in this was the 9th New York
State Militia which back in 1861 had joined the Union cause as the 83rd New York. So their successors in the New York guard
are coming here to pay homage to their ancestors in a sense. Among the arrivals on July 1st was Senator
Warren E. Miller from New York who had also served in the 4th Cavalry here at Gettysburg. The New York Times said quote “Miller was
guest of General Butterfield” and here’s why Butterfield’s not at the Springs Hotel
“It seems that General Butterfield has a private car here that he uses as a hotel”. So General Butterfield came here in style. You know, Springs Hotel might be a nice place
to stay but he’s got his own private car and that’s where he’s going to stay. Also on July 1st what the newspapers first
did describe as the old Union Man, in this case they are talking about Colonel Berdan,
“in discussion of the battle this morning asked Longstreet if he remembered the firing
on his front before his troops made a forward movement. ‘Remember it’ the General picked up his
ears and made more animation than he had made at any time since his arrival on the field,
said the defining question saved Sickles in the day. Berdan rubbed his hands together and looked
immensely pleased. He and Longstreet have since spent a good
deal of time together and it is difficult for anyone to get Longstreet out of the clutches
of Colonel John B. Bachelder, the Park historian. He and Longstreet drove over the grounds of
the second day’s fight this morning but as he was accompanied only by Colonel Bachelder
the condition of his memory regarding July 2nd had not been learned. He is to visit all parts of the battlefield
tomorrow. Also on July 2nd starting at 8 o’clock in
the morning are going to be the impressive ceremonies surrounding the dedication of Irish
Brigade monument. The day started at 8 o’clock in the morning
with a requiem Mass in Francis Xavier Catholic Church conducted by Father William Corby,
the Irish Brigade chaplain who gave final absolution on the battlefield. He was assisted by Reverend Thomas Olett and
by Reverend Joseph A. Bell the pastor of St Francis. Once the requiem Mass was heard the veterans
will march to the monument near the Wheatfield for the dedication of the monument itself. Rear General Dennis E. Burke and Colonel James
C. Brady will deliver the orations for the dedication. While the veterans are there General Sickles
is going to drive by and it was said that the veteran eyes would lustily cheer the old
Corps commander. Now I don’t know if Sickles … now Sickles
apparently is on his way out to the dedication of the Excelsior Brigade monument which is
close to the Emmitsburg Road so this has either happened before that dedication or after it. But it sounds like it’s before because of
the timing. So why Sickles is coming this way instead
of straight down the Emmitsburg Road I don’t know. It might be just to see more of his troops
who had fought with him back in 1863. But the Excelsior Brigade members were looking
forward to the reunion as the time to dedicate their imposing Doric temple monument on the
Trostle Farm on the Emmitsburg Road but here’s another group doomed to disappointment. The work not being done. Again, the monument’s not there, only the
base and that’s it. At that time General Sickles is going to preside
over the dedication, Joseph Titchell of the 71st New York will deliver the main address. General Sickles, it was said, also received
a perfect ovation from the boys of his old command. Probably about this time that this photograph
was taken of Sickles down near the Trostle Farm and this is in the area where he was
wounded. We also see him here with General Carr, of
course General Sickles and General Graham, two of his brigade commanders on the field
with him. At 10 o’clock that morning, while all of
this is going on, on the other side of the field there’s going to be a dedication for
Greene’s Brigades monument on Culp’s Hill. And General Longstreet is going to be there. It was also reported that before the ceremonies
began General Longstreet who stood between General Henry Slocum oops, who stood between
General Slocum and General Henry Barnum, was decorated with a red rose and a miniature
American flag by Miss Sadie Chrissy. Hanging on to one of the buttons of his frock
coat was a grey colored canteen on the face of it appeared a bust of General Phil Sheridan. James is called upon for a speech before the
crowd made a move. He responded very briefly but made a hit. He had no claim on that part of the field
occupied by the monuments, he said. He had not been there before. He had met the 12th Corps but it had come
into his territory later in the day without an invitation. The monuments being dedicated include the
137th New York, the 178th and 102nd New York and the 60th New York. At 2 o’clock in the afternoon the cornerstone
of the memorial church of the Prince of Peace was laid in the presence of thousands of spectators. Also dedicated today will be the 68th Pennsylvania
monument along the Wheatfield Road. Now this particular monument was paid for
by the state of Pennsylvania. Two years before the veterans had erected
another smaller along the Emmitsburg Road so the 68th now has two monuments out in the
area of the Peach Orchard. One the veterans put up and one paid for by
the state. Also today the 62nd Pennsylvania would dedicate
their monument and the main speaker there was General Jacob B. Schweitzer, the brigade
commander from the battle itself. Also dedicated on July 2nd is the 4th New
York Artillery commanded by Captain James Smith up in Devil’s Den. And everyone’s familiar with this particular
statue, it’s right at Devil’s Den as you make the turn at the top. Among the people on the platform for the dedication
was Captain Smith and General Hunt, commander, again Chief or Artillery for the Army of the
Potomac during the battle. One of the great stories coming out of this
particular dedication is the Hunt, who is sitting next to Smith, turned to Smith at
one point and said “if your guns were really here, I’d have court martialed you.” And the general consensus now is that guns
were not where the monument is. The guns were high up on the crest of the
ridge probably in the area where the 99th Pennsylvania monument is located today. That fits better with what’s known and what’s
been written about the battery. So a little history, a little battle lesson
for you today among other things. Also on July 2nd the Society of the Army of
the Potomac is going to have their yearly meeting and they elect Joshua Chamberlain
as president then for the next year. They also choose Orange New Jersey for the
meeting in 1888. The main event of all these three days of
celebration, if you will, is going to be the grand reunion scheduled for 5 o’clock in
the afternoon of July 2nd at the National Cemetery. The speakers will be at the Cemetery Rostrum. As reported, at least ten thousand people
were crowding in the Cemetery and there were so many people wanting to get there, they
actually had to close the gates. And people had to stand outside the walls
to try to hear what was going on. One magazine at the time The Critic also noted
that “the unique and striking feature of the Gettysburg reunion was the return and
assemblage of the men who had, on the same field, had fought each other to the death
for principles incapable of reconciliation.” The National Tribune also noted that “side
by side on the grandstand of the National Cemetery could be seen General Sickles, Longstreet,
Slocum and Gordon who had been trying with all their power to kill each other at the
time of the great action but now they sat there with the best of feelings toward each
other. It was a queer sight to see, to see these
leaders on opposite sides engage in friendly intercourse before the vast assemblage that
was gathered in the Cemetery the like of which will, perhaps never be looked on again”. And the New York Times stated “the actors
are the very men who defended the ridge on whose throat the Cemetery lies repeated and
desperate assaults led by the very men, 25 years ago this very day, who join them here
now in pledges of friendship, loyalty to a common flag and unity of devotion to a common
country. All, place, scene and the leading figures
of the men themselves were inspiring.” The ceremonies kicked off at 5 o’clock in
the afternoon with Reverend Joseph Twichell, as I mentioned former chaplain of the 71st
New York, giving the opening prayer. Twichell at this time was serving as the pastor
of the Asylum Hill Congregational Church at Hartford Connecticut and had been a close
friend of Mark Twain since they first met in 1868. The master of ceremonies is going to be General
John C. Robinson. Now Robinson had been commissioned directly
into the Army in 1839 from New York. He served as colonel of the First Michigan
Infantry and was promoted to brigadier general on April 28th 1862. He lost a leg at Spotsylvania, had command
of the second division of the First Corp at Gettysburg. He had served as lieutenant governor of New
York and was now serving as commander in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic and president
of the Society of the Army of the Potomac. He would have the honor of introducing General
Sickles. And part of Sickles’ comments were “twenty
five years have passed and now the combatants of ’63 come together again on your old field
of battle to unite in pledges of love and devotion to one constitution, one union and
one flag. Today there are no victors, no vanquished. As Americans we may all claim a common share
in the glories of this battlefield, memorable for so many brilliant feats of arms. No stain rests on the colors of any battalion,
battery or troop that contended here for victory. Gallant Buford who began the battle and brave
Pickett who closed the struggle fitly represent the intrepid hosts that for three days riled
each other in indecipherable of martial renown. After General Sickles came Governor Gordon
of Georgia. And there was frequent applause as Gordon’s
swinging sentences, eloquent and ringing, were uttered. Gordon had greeted the assembled soldiers
he said, “with less trepidation than he did in 1863. He’d know that there would mean today citizens
of every common country with no break in the line from Maine to Florida”. There was one suggestion that dominated his
thoughts and he asked for a brief indulgence. “My fellow countrymen of the north, if I
may be permitted to speak for those whom I represent let me assure you that in the profoundest
steps of their nature they reciprocate that generosity with all the manliness and sincerity
of which brave men are capable. In token of that sincerity, they join in consecrating
for annual patriotic pilgrimage these historic heights which drains such copious drafts of
American blood poured so freely in discharge of duty as each conceived it. A mecca for the north which so grandly defended
it, a mecca for the south which so bravely and persistently stormed it. We join you in setting apart this land as
an enduring monument of peace, brotherhood and perpetual union.” Governor Beaver of Pennsylvania, who I found
out if you didn’t know it, this is who Beaver Stadium is named for up at Penn State, had
been appointed by his comrades in the Army of the Potomac to give a simple but sincere
welcome to the Confederate veterans. He pointed to the fact that at one time the
whole people lived under a compact called the Constitution. This compact was subject to diverse and diverse
interpretations since the ordinary forms of government could not decide the issues it
had to be… it had to be left to the direct arbitration of war. “But” the Governor stated “we are now
citizens of a common country claiming no superiority and made no inferiority, each claiming to
be American citizens and all the attributes of the glorious name.” Governor Beaver concluded his remarks by stating
“You and I have something to do with the future. Our faces are to be resolutely turned to the
front, the hand which beckons us forward not backward. It is in recognition of this fact and because
that we, as wearers of the grey and blue, can exert and should exert a great influence
in shaping the destiny of this country. That my comrades of the Army of the Potomac
have invited you here that we may look each other in the face may assure you of our desire
to accord to you your full share of the work which is before us. A vast sympathy and heroic effort which you
have made and are still making in boning up a new south, an avowed admiration for the
courage and fortitude and the endurance with which you sustained your side of the contest
to which I have alluded whose decision is beyond recall. We welcome you because we need you. We welcome you because you need us. We welcome you because we together must enter
into and possess this future and transmit this heritage to the oncoming generations. If so, let the dead past bury its dead.” Given the response for the Confederates to
General, ah to Governor Beaver’s speech was General Charles E. Hooker. Now Hooker was not the scheduled speaker here,
another man was but he couldn’t make it to Gettysburg because of train connections,
so Hooker’s called on at the last minute to give a response. And it was said that even though the effort
was extemporaneous it was a splendid one which evoked great applause. General Hooker said “he had been moved by
the generous spirit that extended the invitation to the soldiers of the grey to meet the soldiers
of the blue in Gettysburg.” Among his remarks General Hooker stated “So
we of the Confederacy who delight to be called the brilliant dashing charge of Pickett no
less admire the stubborn resistance of the Iron Brigade. They were all Americans and the American heart
is large enough and American history true enough to record the valor of all and claim
it as a common heritage.” General Hooker concluded by saying “We should
be something more or less than men and women, could we forget the perils encountered, the
hardships endured and the blood shed for us by the boys who wore the blue and the boys
who wore the grey. Their last syllabled utterances as they fell
on this and on many other distant battlefield as their pale lips froze in death per chance
murmured our names. No! The memories must be ever cherished, not in
hate but in love. And as we go from this field let us feel nerved
and new for the struggle of life and the development of our glorious country.” The papers reported that as the applause was
still going on for General Hooker, General Longstreet came up on the platform very quietly. And after shaking hands with General Sickles
and Gordon took his seat near the latter. Pennsylvania’s famous war governor Andrew
Curtin is now going to walk feebly to the rail which ran along the edge of the rostrum. His short talk invoked the crowd with laughter
but there is no report of the words of Governor Curtin or the speakers who came after. So we know he made people laugh but what he
said we don’t know. Nobody recorded it. And unfortunately nobody recorded the remarks
of General Longstreet or General Slocum. All we know is that they spoke and that’s
it. The final speaker of the day was General Newton
Martin Curtis. He was the former commander of the 142nd New
York, promoted to brigadier general on January 15th 1865. He was a member of the New York State Assembly
and was currently the commander of the New York chapter of the Grand Army of the Republic. And nobody recorded what he said either even
though he’s the last speaker. In between they did read a telegram from President
Grover Cleveland who had been intended.. who had been invited to attend the reunion but
in his telegram he concluded that “because of my confining duties here in Washington
and all the circumstances surrounding the subject I have arrived at the conclusion that
I ought not to leave here at the time designated.” The President did feel though that “the
meeting of the survivors of Gettysburg upon the field where they fought 25 years ago cannot
fail to teach an impressive lesson and convince all our people that bravery is akin to magnanimity,
while reminds them that the object of war is the attainment of peace.” The Reverend Doctor Milton Valentine, the
third president of Gettysburg College and currently the chairman of the faculty of the
Lutheran Theological Seminary, is going to close the exercises with a benediction. The next day on July 3rd the papers reported
that Generals Longstreet and Gordon, everywhere they went were always the center of attraction
and were kept in constant conversation by the Yankee soldiers telling how, when and
where it might have been had this, that or the other had transpired. So they were talking about what ifs even back
then. It was also said that one of the features
of Tuesday July 3rd was the tour of the field by General Longstreet and General Sickles. Now Captain Davids of the regular Cavalry
made a detail of four horses for General Longstreet, General Butterfield, Warren Miller and General
Berdan who made the tour on horseback. General Sickles went in a carriage. And again Longstreet and Berdan are going
to shake hands, it was over the stake where the former struck the head of Longstreet’s
column three quarters of a mile in advance of the Union advance line and a quarter of
a mile in the rear of the Confederate attack. Now from that description the place they are
talking about is the monuments on Berdan Avenue which are the only Union monuments on the
Confederate side of the battlefield. But these monuments represent Companies A.
B, D and H are the first US sharpshooters, Company F of the first US sharpshooters and
the third Maine infantry. There were stake driven where these monuments
were going to go, they are not actually dedicated until 1889 a year later. So Longstreet and Sickles are shaking hands
over the stakes where these monuments are located. They also passed by the Hancock wounding monument
which had been erected in May of 1888, so this is a relatively new monument when they
go past it. When the party of horsemen pass this by on
the second day’s reunion General Butterfield called a halt. Looking to the west General Longstreet looked
intently toward the gloomy woods of Seminary Ridge from which Pickett made his celebrated
charge. This is the Hancock Wounding monument, the
Codori barn, this is Seminary Ridge with the Virginia Memorial right in the middle. So it’s these fields Longstreet is looking
at in 1888. Shortly after that General Longstreet caught
sight of the marker where brave Armistead was killed. He was both surprised and gratified to know
that a movement was on foot to mark this spot with a fine monument. And of course at this time they were talking
about a monument to Pickett’s division being placed someplace in the area of the High Water
Mark, near the Armistead marker. There are plans for that but that is never
going to happen. And so part of that monument is now down in
Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond. So it was never placed on the battlefield
itself. Eventually they are going to make their way
to Little Round Top. And so the party halted upon the slope, halted
upon the spot on which the 44th New York monument would be erected. On Little Round Top the enemy, the party encountered
the enemy and naturally quailed as the enemy had a camera with him. The deadly instrument performed its foul work
just before the arrival of another distinguished party. The new arrivals were General Sickles, General
Slocum and General Carr who would drive up in Sickles carriage. So Longstreet and company is on a horse, this
picture was taken and it was said that General Sickles and his companions occupied a baruch. And hundreds were strolling along the road
and noticed the New Yorkers and were determined to follow them. They did follow them and Little Round Top
soon contained a small army. This army wanted to shake hands with General
Longstreet and was bound to do so. General Sickles looked on and laughingly said
“this is General Longstreet’s second reception on Little Round Top.” The old Confederate general blushed and actually
tried to hide behind a huge bolder when the deadly camera was again leveled at him. He was captured and brought to the front. The photographer cried “All ready”, the
cloth was flung aside, chins were held up and in a moment, the negative disclosed the
faces and figures of General Longstreet, General Sickles, General Slocum, General Butterfield,
General Carr, General Hartranth and General Joshua Chamberlain. The paper also noted that this photograph
would be for sale on paper in a few days. And of course you can’t just take one photograph
especially of a group like this. So the photographer who took a photograph
of these men with their hats on. And here we see General Chamberlain, this
is General Carr, General Longstreet and General Sickles. There is also a little change in who is standing
where with the next photograph because in the next picture standing beside Longstreet
is General Slocum. This is General Carr, General Chamberlain
and then Longstreet and Sickles. So a couple of these guys have changed position,
probably because General Slocum is now there and since he outranks Chamberlain and Carr
he got to stand next to Longstreet this time. But at this point Longstreet changes, exchanges
his horse for a ride in Sickles’ baruch. And they take a little tour of the battlefield. They go down past Devil’s Den, and when
they’re passing the monument for the Irish Brigade Longstreet commented “a fine monument
and fine body of men. They were fighters.” Also this day on July 3rd General and Mrs.
Gordon will be out on the battlefield at Barlow’s Knoll. That’s where they wanted to go and there
he met General Francis E. Barlow who was shot full of holes there 25 years ago. The men met for the second time in 25 years
and the meeting was rather affecting. Also on July 3rd an important VIP at the time
is Colonel Russell Alger. He’s colonel of the 5th Michigan Cavalry
later a brigadier general but in 1888 his name had been placed in nomination for President
at the Republican National Convention. He also served a term as the twentieth governor
of Michigan. So people were really interested in seeing
Colonel Alger on the field because of this nomination. The paper said that he is a genial soldier
looking man, and is reported to be a steadfast friend. General Alger visited the scene of the cavalry
fight on the third day and indecipherable Brigadier General George C. Briggs. They went over the ground where Jeb Stuart
and his cavalry ran into the faces of Custer and Gregg. From the scene of the cavalry fight they surveyed
the Little Round Top at the other end of the battlefield. They visited the spot where General Farnsworth
fell. It has been stated that Farnsworth shot himself
rather than fall into the hands of the enemy. This story was exploded today, if never before,
by Captain L. G Estes who was chief of Kirpatrick’s staff. He brought Farnsworth the order to make the
charge in which he fell. He was within twenty feet of Farnsworth when
the lad was killed. He had been wounded twice but stuck to his
horse. The third one was fatal and it was administered
by the enemy. So General Estes in 1888 would try to put
to rest the story of Farnsworth committing suicide rather than surrender. According to Estes, Farnsworth was killed
by the Confederates. The parting ceremonies, the concluding ceremonies
would take place again in the National Cemetery on July 3rd. Again General Robinson would be presiding
over the ceremonies. The guests on the platform included Longstreet,
Sickles, Barlow, Carr, Slocum and several brigade commanders. By that time General Gordon himself had left
Gettysburg. Horatio C. King, who was a brevet colonel
of US Volunteers, the Judge Advocate of New York and Secretary of the Society of the Army
of the Potomac, read a poem that had been submitted by George Parsons Lathrop. The main speaker is going to be George William
Curtis. Curtis is considered one of the founders of
the Republican Party, he wrote for Putnam’s Magazine, the New York Tribune and in 1863
was the political editor for Harper’s Weekly. In 1871 he heads the Commission on the Reform
of the Civil Service and served as president of the National Civil Service Reform League
and the New York Civil Service Reform Association. Part of his opening statement read “that
upon this field consecrated by American valor we meet to consecrate ourselves to American
union. In this hallowed ground lie buried not only
brave soldiers of the blue and the grey but the passions of war, their jealousies of sections
and the bitter root of all our national differences, human slavery.” Immediately after Curtis’ oration and immediately
following the ceremonies General Longstreet, General Sickles and General Crawford took
a carriage and rode over part of the battlefield. Also being dedicated on July 3rd is the 5th
New York Cavalry monument on Bushman Hill and the 3rd New York Independent Battery along
the Taneytown Road. Now this battery did not see really any action
during the battle, it’s in a reserve position ok, so it probably wouldn’t elicit a lot
of comments except for one thing, and that is apparently the main speaker for the dedication
of this monument is former Major General William S. Rosecrans who commanded the Army of the
Cumberland. So what connection he has with Gettysburg
and the 3rd Independent I have no clue. But that’s who they got for the speaker. It should be pointed out that Rosecrans at
this time was the Register of the Treasury, it’s now known as the Bureau of the Public
Debt. So Rosecrans is a fairly high public official. The one thing that newspapers don’t comment
on, and maybe this didn’t happen, is whether or not Rosecrans met, at any time met on the
field his old roommate or classmate from West Point James Longstreet. Nobody reports they met. It would have been interesting this, as old
classmates, but also keep in mind it was James Longstreet who broke the right flank of Rosecrans’
army at Chickamauga and sent that right flank and Rosecrans into retreat back to Chattanooga. So maybe if Rosecrans knew Longstreet was
there, maybe he didn’t want to talk to him. I don’t know. That night there is going to be a reception
given by the Society of the Army of the Potomac. Speeches were made by many of the generals
and there was a general jollification between the blue and the grey. General Robinson presided and introduced General
Chamberlain as the new president of the Society. On July 4th at an early hour General Slocum,
General Butterfield, General Graham, General Longstreet and Governor Curtin, with many
other distinguished military men, turn their faces homeward. General Sickles was a passenger on the 1 o’clock
train today. The town hadn’t returned to its normal condition. Hotel rates since this morning dropped exactly
50 percent. The 25th anniversary reunion here was designed,
not just as reunion for the 25th anniversary, but also designed as a period or reconciliation. To bring the north and south veterans together
again on one field. To really get across the point from all the
speakers that after 25 years we’re one country, one flag and one Constitution. But the ceremonies in a sense don’t stop
with that celebration. On August 8th of 1888 for example, the statue
of General Warren will be dedicated on Little Round Top. So the monumentation commemoration continue. In April of 1893 some of these guys come back. At that time not only Longstreet and Sickles
came back but also Oliver O. Howard was here, General William Mahone from Virginia was here,
this is actually General David McMurtie Gregg, commander of Union troops on East Cavalry
battlefield. This, I think is E.P. Alexander and this,
I believe is Osmun Latrobe one of Longstreet’s staff officers. So a lot of men coming back. Many of these men will also be here in July
1893 for the 30th reunion. But remarkably there’s no national coverage
for the 30th reunion. In fact the local papers only have one or
two columns dedicated to it and that’s it. It appears that only the 25 year anniversaries
are the big ones. So the 25th, the 50th, the 75th, 100, 125th,
the 150th in 2013. So, for those of you who plan to be around,
the next big anniversary, the 175th, will be in 2038. And it wouldn’t surprise me if some of the
younger rangers that we have on the staff, like Caitlin, are still here interpreting
the battlefield 25 years from now. And again interpreting how the veterans came
together to talk of reconciliation, about how they were one country serving under one
flag.
