Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

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Lincoln's
Gettysburg Address

Excerpts from newspapers and

other sources illuminating

aspects of this most well-known

Presidential speech

References to

Gettysburg Nationa

Cemetery

From the files of the
Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection

(Formerly described as: Binder 1, p. 16-20)

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THE SATURDAY S ER MON

By The Rev. Samuel W. Purvis, D. D.

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address'

1?

Texts — The words that I speak unto I Hires toning h„«- c««« *», i i

a^r spirit, ana they Ire life.- KR cKd,^ Z g? t!SS

1 into one of those autumn days for which
Pennsylvania is so justly famous. Lin-
coln s secretary went to the Wills home

Heaven and earth shall pass away,
out My word shall not pass awau. —
Matt. 24 : 35.

JESUS' sermon on Mount Hattim is
undoubtedly the world's greatest
oration.
The words of that famous preach-
ment have been quoted more than any
other of the world's great speeches.
Coming from the Divine to the human,
I think that, next to the Man of Nazar-
eth, Abraham Lincoln is most often
made the subject in sermons, or re-
ferred to in public address, or held up
I before the world as a great example.
\ Beside the Sermon on the Mount, in hu-
j man appreciation, has been placed Lin-
I coin's Speech at Gettysburg.

Today — November 19 — is an anni-
versary of the giving to the world of
that most remarkable address.

Three elements combine to make a
great oration — a great occasion, a great
theme, a great personality. I can think
of many illustrations, chief among
them, humanly speaking, Chatham in
Parliament, Webster at Bunker Hill,
and Lincoln at Gettysburg. I would
reverse the "order of these orations in
their importance — as very likely you
would, too. I do not today wish to
speak of the three elements making a
great oration, nor to analyse that ora-
tion. That has been done in countless
text books of the schools. But I would
like to speak of the event of its delivery
■ — the back ground, the day, the delivery,
the evolution of the address, and its
permanent hold upon the world.
The Glorification of Mars Hill

The battle of Gettysburg was fpught
July 1, 2 and 3, 18(33.

It was mid-summer. 6,000 were
killed in action. Those that were bur-
ied were hastily > thrown into shallow
graves and loose dirt scraped over
them. As far as was quickly possible
names were scribbled on rude head-
boards made from hard-tack cracker-
boxes and barrels. For weeks after the
smoke of battle hundreds of horses were
still unburied. Thousands of soldier
detiS wtre hurriedly buried in shallow
trenches and graves. Many weeks after
the battle hands and feet protruded
from graves all too thinly covered.

Soon after the battle Governor
Andrew Curtin, of Pennsylvania, went
to the field to see what could be done
to change such an intolerable condition.
Before he left he appointed David Wills,
a public spirited citizen of Gettysburg,
to act as representative of the Keystone
State, and gave him authority to meet
the unusual conditions to the best of
his judgment. There were not only
those already buried in the fields, but
those wounded soldiers who were daily
dying in public buildings, churches,
homes, barns and in the villages and
country round about. Mr. Wills advo-
cated the purchase of a strip of ground
of about seventeen acres on the battle-
field that might be used as a suitable
place of interment. Governor Curtin
approved of his suggestion, and the
Governors of seventeen States, whose
soldiers had taken part in the battle,
were asked to co-operate. Fifteen of
these responded.

Pennsylvania had the largest number
of soldiers engaged in the conflict, but
New York's section contains the great-
est number of graves. Nearly one-fourth
of all those buried at Gettysburg came
from the Empire State. The work of
removing bodies began October 27. The
removal was done under the direction of
Mr. Wills, save in the case of Massachu-
setts, whose soldier dead were re-buried
by a representative appointed by the
Governor of the Old Bay State.

As the plan progressed it was decided

and found the great Emancipator still at
work upon his speech.

At ten o'clock. Lincoln, wearing a
tall silk hat, white gauntlet gloves, and
black frock coat, passed out the York
street door between two files of sol-
diers, mounted a medium sized bay
horse, which tradition in Gettysburg
says was proudly owned by one of its
citizens, Mr. Adam Rebert. The pro-
cession was made up of several bands
of music, including the Birgfield Band
of Philadelphia. The line proceeded
up Baltimore street along which three
months before the Union Army had re-
treated on the evening of the first day's
fight.

The National Cemetery is less than
a mile from the Public Square in the
village. The procession reached there
fifteen minutes after eleven. On the
spot now occupied by the National
Monument a small wooden platform,
raised about three feet from the ground,
had been erected. To this the Presi-
dent and his party were ushered. Lin-
coln was seated in a high-backed rock-
ing-chair placed between the seat occu-
pied by Secretary of State Seward and
that reserved for the orator of the day,
Hon. Edward Everett. Mr. Everett
was almost a half hour late. It was
practically noon when Birgfield's band
had played a funeral dirge, and the Rev.
Thomas H. Stockton, chaplain of the
United States Senate, had concluded his
touching, eloquent prayer.

Mr. Everett arose and began his ora-
tion with the words : "Standing be-
neath this serene sky, overlooking these
broad fields now reposing from the
labors of the waning year, the mighty
Alleghenies towering before us, the
graves of our brethren beneath our
feet, it is with hesitation that I raise
my voice to break the eloquent silence
of God and nature." The oration was
a classic. A few minutes short of two
hours in its delivery from the beginning
to the final sentence : "In the glorious
annals of our common country there
will be no brighter page than that
which relates the Battle of Gettys-
burg !"

"—While Fame Her Record Keeps".

The stage was worthy of an immortal
utterance.

Mr. Everett having finished his two-
hour oration, the Baltimore Glee Club
sang. The hot, standing-weary crowd
stopped in their restless foot-shifting
as the tall gaunt figure of Lincoln rose
from the high-backed rocking chair, and
became quiet — possibly braced them-
selves for another long speech. But the
address was so short — ten sentences —
about 267 words, words as round and
smooth and polished as the pebbles
of a brook — taking but ten minutes to
deliver— that the people had hardly
adjusted themselves to listen when he
ceased. Some thought he had merely
stopped for a drink of water. There
was a moment of intense silence, then
some scattered applause. I wonder if
great speeches, like great events, may
only be truly measured in the haze and
thought of distance?

Much that is imaginary has been
written about the Gettysburg address.
No two persons who heard it are agreed'
on the details of its delivery. The hu-
man memory after over a half cen-
tury is apt to be at fault. What one
has heard or read afterward of an event
is apt to be incorporated, in good faith,
m his own recollection. But the evi-
dence is all in — apparently. Did Lin-
coln read from his notes? The steno-
graphic report does not so indicate. If
he read at all it certainly was not close-
ly. Although agreement is that the

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2012 with funding from

State of Indiana through the Indiana State Library

http://archive.org/details/lincolnsgetOOIinc

ajUoU

THE SATURDAY SERMON

"Lincoln's Gettysburg Address"

J

but ,1/ji icnrd shall not pass aw
Matt 24: 85.

ESUS' Sermon on Mount Hfltti
ndoubtedly the world's greatest

_..j words of thnt famous preach-
ment have been quoted more thnn any
other of the world's great spe-v^s.
Coming from the Pi vim; In I In; luim-m.
I think that, next to the Jinn of _\'u/:>r-
eth, Abrnbam Lincoln is most often
made the subject in sermons, or re-
■ ferrerl to in public address, .1 1m-H up
. before the world us a great example.

]'..■ ;i.l.- tlir S-r 11 "11 111": Uonrii, in ii'l-

; nmn H]>i>i'ei:irui(iii. lias been placed Lin-
coln';; H] 11- ill 11I li.ity^l.iirtT.

Today— November 1!> — is nn anni-
versary of the giving to the world ol
that most remarkable address.

Three elements combine to make a
(Treat oration— a great occasion, a great
theme, a great personality. I can think
of many illustrations, chief among
them, humanly speaking, Chatham in
Parliament, Webster at Bunker Hill.
and Lincoln at Gettysburg. I would
' reverse the'order of these orations in
their importance — as very likely you
would, too. I do not today wish to
speak of (he three elements making a
groat oration, nor to analyse that ora-
tion. That has been done in countless
text hooks of the schools. But I would
like to speak of the event of its delivery
— the back ground, the day, the delivery,
the evolution of the address, and its
permanent hold upon the world.
The Glorification of Mars Hill

The battle of Gettysburg was fought
July 1, 2 and 3, IStW.

It was mid-summer. 6,000 were
tilled in action. Those thnt were bur-
ied were hastily * thrown into shallow
graves and loose dirt scraped over
them. As far ns was quickly possible
names were scribbled on rude head-
boards made from hard- tack cracker-
boxes and barrels. For weeks after the
smoke of battle hundreds of horses were
still iinburied. Thousands of soldier
deait wire hurriedly buried In shallow
trenches and groves. Many weeks after
the battle hands and feet protruded
from graves all too thinly covered.

Soon after the battle Governor
Andrew Curtin, of Pennsylvania, went
to the field to sec what could.be done
lit change such an intolerable condition.
Before he left he appointed David Wills,
a public spirited citizen of Gettysburg,
to act as representative of the Keystone
State, and gave him authority to meet
tho unusual conditions to the best of
his judgment.. There
those already buried in the fields, but
those wounded soldiers who were daily
dying in public buildings, churches,
homes, bams_ and in the vijhiges and

threatening, but soon the sun broke
through the clouds and the day turned
* those autumn days for which

la iS' so ju-lly [(inmns. I,,',,.
coins secretary went to the Wills hor
and found the great Emancipator still
work upon his speech. ' ' '

At ten o'clock. Lincoln, wearing «
tall silk hat, white gauntlet gloves, and
black frock coot, passed out the York
street door between two (ilea of sol-
diers, mounted a medium sized bay
horse, which tradition in Gettysburg
says was proudly owned bv one of its
citizens, Mr. Adnm Rebert The pro-
cession was made up of several bands
of music, including the Birgfield Band
"f I'liiljul.-ljdiia. The line proceeded
up Baltimore street along which three
months before the Union Army had re-
treated on the evening of the first day's
fight

The National Cemetery Is less than
. mile from the Public Square in the
■illnge. The procession reached there
fifteen minutes after eleven. On the
occupied by the National
a small wooden plot form,
raised about three feet from the ground,
had been erected. To this the Presi-
dent and his party were ushered. Li:
coin was seated in a high-backed roc
ing-chnir placed between the sent occi
pled by Secretary of State Seward nnd
that reserved for the orator of the day,
Hon. Edward Everett. Sir. E'
was almost a half hour Inte. It
practically noon when Blrefield's hand
had played n funeral dirge, and the Itcv,
Thomas H. Stockton, chaplain of the
United States Senate, had concluded his
touching, eloquent prayer.

Mr. Everett arose and began his
tion with the words: "Standing be-
neath this serene sky, overlooking thene
broad fields now reposing from the
labors of the waning year, the mighty
Alleghenies towering before us, *'
"Taves of our brethren beneath
et, It is with hesitation thnt I ._...
y voice to break the eloquent silence
God and nature." The oration
.. classic. A few minutes short of . . .
hours in its delivery from the beginning
to tho final sentence: "In the glorious
annals of our common country there
will be no brighter page than that
which relates tho Battle of Gettys
burg !"

17 i

Mr. Wills

cated the purchase of a strip of i:r..iiu.l
of shout seventeen acre* on tin- lmnt-
fieia that might he used as b suitable
place of interment. Governor Curti
approved of his suggestion, and the
G"\vriiors "f sermKen States, whose

soldiers had taken part iu the bnM.-,
were asked to co-operate. Fifteen of
these responded.

Pennsylvania had the largest numbi
of soldiers engaged in the conflict, but
New York's section contains the great-
est number of graves. Nearly one-fourth
of all those buried at Gettysburg ca
from the Empire State. The work
removing bodies began October 27. The
removal was done under the direction of
Mr. Wills, save in the case of Massachu-
setts, whose soldier dead were re-buried
bv b representative anpointed by the
Governor of the Old Bay Slate.

As the plnn pru~r.^.-.;.l It wjif decided ....

io make a gr^ni <■■,:.-:.< nf in? licoici'oyy iiiu

ceremonies. The Hon. Edward Everett par. _.

former Governor of Massachusetts, nnd The

.,ndi.iit,rf.lly one of Ihe created omtoi

of the dev. wns invited to deliver tl
address. The dnte.to suit his arrang

was fiv. .1 for November 10, 180.T— si
ty-four years ago today. President LIi
coin was invited, but at first was ni
asked to take part in the exercise
Later he was invited to "make, a fe

dedicatory r

n Tenting Tonight — "

Wednesday noon of the 18tb n special
train over the Baltimore and Ohio road
left Washington with the Presidential
party, Abraham Lincoln, three Cabinet
officers, Mr. Nicola j and Mr. Hay, sec-
retaries, two foreign Ministers, army
officers, military guards of honor, mem-
bers of the Marine band and newspaper
eor respondent*. Tho train had four
coaches drawn by o gaily decorated loco-
motive. The last conch was a director's
car, one-third partitioned off in the rear
into a separate compartment with its
scats arranged about the walls. When
the train left Washington, Lincoln, with
some others of tho party, occupied this
compartment At Hanover Junction
they were to meet the train bearing the
various Governors' parties, coming by
way of Harrisburg, but thnt train was
delayed, and the Presidential party pro-
ceeded, reaching Gettysburg about dark.

The President wns entertained at tho
home of David Wills, an honored at-
torney, afterward Judge, in Gettysburg.
The house was a substantinl three-stor-
ied dwelling on the Public Square,
facing on York street Andrew Curtin
and Edward Everett were to be enter-
tained at that same home, while Secre-
tary of State William H. Seward, wns
to be guest at the home of Mr, R. G.
Harper, next door.

The streets of the village had been
filling with Ihc crowds — possibly ten
or: fifteen thousand— since Monday.
Many hod come to attend the dedicatory
exercises, others from a desire to see the
battle-field, where still on every hand
were striking and grewsome evidences
of the bloody conflict a few months be-
fore; ragged and muddy knapsacks, can-
teens, shoes, bayonet sheaths nnd frag-
ments of gray and blue jackets. Slight
grave markings or unknown, unrecog-
nized heroes were in every quarter of
the field.

The nigttt preceding tho dedication
was warm and clear. A bright moon-
light flooded the village and its crowded
streets. After the evening meal the
visiting bands rendered patriotic selec-
tions. The Baltimore Glee Club sang
popular war-time songa usually ending
with song and tune of "John Brown."
Serenading parties visited the Wills
home, that of Harper's, around the cor-
ner, and other folks of prominence.
About nine o'clock Lincoln excused him-
self from the company In the pnrli

the Wills hot

> his r

on the second'

floor overlooking the

w thronged with a noisy

crowd. Bctwcc

ninB and ten o'clock

the President se

t a servant down onk-

ing Mr. Wills to

«w 1" his room. Ho

told Mr. Wills t

tat he had just seated

"iii'ii. '!>.• Baltimore Glee Club
.._ The hot, standing-weary crowd
topped in their restless foot-shifting
is the tall gaunt figure of Lincoln rose
from the high-backed rocking chair, and
became , quiet — possibly braced them-
selves for another long speech. But the
address wns so short — ten sentences —
about 207 words, words as round and
smooth and polished as the pebbles
of a brook — taking but ten minutes to
■that the people had nnrdly

adjusted themselves to listen when It.
ceased. Home thought be hod merely
stopped for a drink of water. There
was a moment of Intense silence, then
some scattered applause. I wonder if
great speeches, like great event*, may
only be truly measured in the haze and
thought of distance?

Much that is imaginary has been
written about the Gettysburg address.
No two persons who heard it ore agreed-
on the details of its delivery. The hu-
man memory after over a half cen
tnry is apt to be nt fault What oik
has heard or read afterward of an event
be incorporated, in good faith
vu recollection. But the evi-
dence is all in — apparently. Did Lin-
read from his notes? The steno-
graphic report does not ho indicate. If

t ia that t"
hand tit le.

t the t"

iped almost before the people hnd
ized the speaker hnd begun. That
Id seem easily possible because of

. length of the speech preceding. If

the people present failed to adequately
grasp the magnitude of the Address, so
likewise the press of the country large-

ly failed

With others praise was scant Only
__.e newspapers expressed hearty com-
mendation. Among them the Evening
Bulletin of Philadelphia said, in part,
tho next day: "The President's brief
speech of dedication was most happily
expressed. It was warm, earnest, un-
affected and touching. Thousands who
would not rend the long, elaborate ora-
ion of Mr. Everett will read the Presi
ent's few words, nnd not many of them
rill do it without moistening of
yes and n swelling of the heart'
The world now says it wns a great
ddress! Part of it was written on
White House stationery — presumably

6euned in Washington. Part may have
een written or re-writteu, in Judge
Wills* home, and part may have ct
in the inspiration of the moment '
phrase, "under God", in the scntci

' " 1 1 .1 1 lllis NrthV.ll. llllll.-l- Hull, si

ove a new birth of freedom", nppe
11 the stenographic report, but not
the early manuscripts. There are 1
copies of tho ■ Gettysburg speech __
Lincoln's handwriting — and they all
differ. Three are ia possession of the
Library of Congress, and it hns photo-
graphic reproductions of the other two.
There is much old straw that might be
thrashed in this connection, but that
._ not now my intention. That copy of
the Gettysburg Address which he wrote
nutogrnpbed for the Soldiers' nnd
Sailors' Fair in Baltimore, March 11,
1SG-1, is now generally accepted as the
tborized and standing version of the
great utterance. It is thnt which is
inscribed on the great Lincoln Memorial.'
I like to note Lincoln's great and
ternary modesty, shown ogain here
the Gettysburg Addi

tot [ ..

hire highly resolve".

lose that we
probably did

'I". Notice his modest disclaim
'Tin- world will littli- nut.' hit 1..
remember what we will say here".

__ tho lips of a million
ichool children today. It has entered
into the literature of every tongue on
the globe. It is writ in eternal bronze
very spot where he spoke the
They arc Inscribed on the tab-
lets of mcu's consciousness every-
where and for all time.

Words live nfter deeds are forgotten.
They keep the memory of deeds alive.
Abraham Lincoln's Address nt Gettys-
burg will be fresh and inspiring in its
Hues when the very storv of the battle-
field itself will be as hazy in history as
:he story of the 6iege of Troy — his words
will live as long as live the sons of

exercises, and wished to
know whnt was expected of him. After
some explanation of the program Mr.
Wills withdrew.

At eleven o'clock Lincoln opened the
door and asked the guard outside where
Mr. Sewnrd wns staying. When ne
learned that it was just next door at
Harper's he gathered tho sheets of
paper whlrh ho hnd been writing and
■with Mr. Wills nnd the guard went to
the neighboring house. He was gone
but a very short while when ho returned
and went again to his room. Hnd he
gone to ask his Secretary of Slate his
opinion of the message of tmimrrmv?

Or was It some d-lnil in <■ ie<-i lot, .villi

the program and Edward Everett's ora-
tion? No one knows. I
The Bivouac of the Dead

Nine o'clock. Tluirnday morning, No-

I

(

GETTYSBURG'S

'battlefield IS

% HUCKSTER HAVEN

It's Sad Contrast with
Manassas (Bull Run)

[Chicago Trltmne Vtts% Service}

Gettysburg, Pa., July 5— One of
(he nation's most historic shrines,
the Gettys-
burg battle-

PENNSYLVANIA

6ETTVSBUR6.

field, has
become a
haven for
hue ksters.
Eighty-nine
years ago
this week,
blood of the
north and
the south
soaked the
black soil
near the sleepy Pennsylvania town
in a battle that marked the turn-
ing point in the Civil war — the be-
ginning of the end for the Con-
federacy.

Yet today, less than .300 yards
from the spot where Abraham Lin-
coln delivered his immortal ad-
dress, tourists are urged to buy
" souvenir " beer container open-
ers, "Gettyburg powder puffs,"
and ash trays with the inscrip-
tion, " Put your damn ashes here."
750,000 Visitors Each Year
To lure dollars from the 750,000
Americans who annually visit the
battlefield to pay homage to " these
honored dead," peddlers use his-
toric relics and monuments as
come-ons.

One impressive, flag decked
building, located adjacent to the
Gettysburg national cemetery, pro-
claims itself the "National mu-
seum." The title is a trade name
and the establishment is in no
way administered by the federal
government.

Parking at the museum is free,
but once inside the building, the
tourist begins to pay.

The guns, ammunition, canteens,
saddles, and other artifacts un-
earthed on the battlefield are in a

separate room at the rear of the
museum.

Run Gauntlet of Salesmen

To get a glimpse of them, the
visitor must first run a gauntlet
of salesmen and pass thru a lit-
tered trinket shop filled with cheap
items such as kewpie dolls and
" Gettysburg chocolate covered
cherries."

Then, if he still has 50 cents In
his pocket, he may enter the mu-
seum, where one pt the major at-
tractions is a saddle purportedly
used by Lincoln.

Many have visited both the Get-
tysburg battlefield, located about
80 miles north of Washington, and
Manassas battlefield [Bull Run]
in Virginia, about 24 miles south-
west of the capital. None who has
visited both shrines can fail to
note the difference in atmosphere.

At Gettysburg, the scene of the
Union army's greatest victory,
merchants have gone all out to
commercialize on the historic im-
portance of the town.

Manassas Remains Shrine.

The battlefield at Manassas,
where the Union army twice suf-
fered terrible defeat by the south,
remains a hallowed shrine with-
out a trace of commercialism.

Tourists entering Gettysburg are
repeatedly propositioned by pro-
fessional guides, peddlers, and ex-
pensively " free " sideshows fea-
turing Civil war relics.

The guides demand up to $6 a

car for a two hour tour of the
battlefield, and the markers on the
field are so scattered and uncor-
rected that the services of a
guide are almost mandatory.

At Manassas, where "Stone-
wall " Jackson received his nick-
name and the federal troops were
twice routed, clear, well defined
markers tell the story of the bat-
tles without need of a guide. But
if groups of students or military
analysts request guide service, a
courteous, well informed United
States park service ranger con-
ducts the tour — free of charge.

Both Under Park Service

Both battlefields are under the
administration of the interior de-
partment's park service division.
The government provides no guides
at Gettysburg, issuing licenses in-
stead to private operators. A fed-
eral museum is maintained at both
locations, but in Gettysburg the
privately owned museum draws far
more tourists than the govern-
ment establishment.

The museum at Manassas Is
open to the public. Pamphlets are
available for free distribution, and
a large, electrical map explains
the battle tactics in clear, force-
ful detail, at no charge to the
visitor.

Emphasis thruout the museum
and park is on the momentous his-
torical events that were enacted
there. There are no peddlers on

or near the grounds to detract
from the feeling of reverence for
the great Americans who died
there.

In Gettysburg, the pamphlets
are sold, except for those provided
at an information booth main-
tained by the Gettysburg Retail
Merchants' association. A govern-
ment owned information building
at the entrance to the battlefield
has been taken over by the guides,
and no pamphlets or information-
al material are in evidence.

Pay to See Bedroom

The bedroom vv here Lincoln
slept on the night prior to his ad-
dress has been carefully preserved
in the old Judge Wills house, lo-
cated in the center of Gettysburg.
A large sign in the window adver-
tises " free admission."

The free admission applies only
to a curio shop located in rooms
adjoining the Lincoln shrine. Here
the visitor is prevailed upon to
buy " stone candy," dishes, pottery,
ash trays with engraved busts of
Lincoln, and penny post cards.

Occupying a place of honor on
the wall is a unique tribute to the
great emancipator: "Lincoln's
Gettysburg address in alphabet
soup! "

The only object the tourist ob-
tains at no charge is a political
handbill from the proprietor, who
is running for the Pennsylvania
legislature on the Democratic
ticket.

Bui for a peep at the bed Lin-
coln slept in, the visitor first pays
a quarter.

Owner of Ihe "National mu-
seum " is George D. Rosensteel,
who began his career as historical
curator while working as a water

boy for Gettysburg road crews in
1898.

Collection of firearms

Rosensteel picked up the relics
unearthed by road excavations and
stored them until opening the mu-
seum. He owns the largest collec-
tion of Civil war firearms in exist-
ence.

The federal museum operated by
the park service in Gettysburg oc-
cupies one room on the second
floor of the postoffice. Last year
it had less than 10,000 visitors,
while the privately owned show-
place near the battlefield was pa-
tronized by 750,000.

The collection of war relics in
the Manassas museum was do-
nated by the farmers and towns-
people for preservation in the pub-
lic domain. Cannonballs and rifle
bullets are still to be found in the
fields around Bull Run, and the
museum grows constantly.

The attitude of Gettysburg mer-
chants toward the hallowed
ground on which they live was
summed up last week by a mem-
ber of the Retail Merchants asso-
ciation.

" Just Begin to Awake "

" If this place was located in
California," he declared, " the
state would spend millions of dol-
lars advertising it to tourists. We
have just begun to awaken the
people here to a realization of
what they have. With proper ad-
vertising we can triple the volume
of business."

Manassas merchants, apparent-
ly, have not yet been awakened.
There are no " battlefield curio "
shops, nor high pressure promo-
.tional campaigns.

One store sells Confederate flags

Chicagft Snttday Tribune: July 8S 1952
F Parti— Page 21

and " rebel caps," but the store-
keeper, speaking in a slow, south-
ern drawl, explained to reporters
the lack of commercialism:

"We don't go in for that stuff
much down here," he said.
" Seems like the boys who fought
on the hill left plenty to be re-
membered by, without us selling
souvenirs. It'd kinda be a shame
to try to cash in on what they
did."

i

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1 Lasting Memorial to a Grange Leader

Gettysburg National Cemetery And William Saunders

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19

THE RECENT celebration of
the 120th anniversary of the
birthday of Abraham Lincoln
gave rise to the introduction of
a bill in Congress directing the Sec-
retary of War to erect in the National
Cemetery at Gettysburg an appropri-
ate marker to the memory of William
Saunders, first Master of the National
Grange, who planned and designed
the cemetery at Gettysburg, and who
was never remunerated for that ser-
vice.

The bill in question was introduced
by Congressman Franklin Menges,
who represents the district in which
Gettysburg is situated. It calls for an
appropriation of $2,500. As is well
known in Grange circles, William
Saunders was one of the foremost
landscape architects of his day in the
United States, and he served for
many years as superintendent of the
propagating gardens of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture at Washington.
It was probably in connection with
the laying out of the National Ceme-
tery at Gettysburg that Mr. Saunders
did his most important work as a
landscape artist for the government.
Mr. Saunders died in 1900, but his
daughter, Miss Belle Saunders, is still
living in Washington, is employed in
the Department of Agriculture, and
was in attendance at the recent ses-
sion of the National Grange in Wash-
ington. Among- her treasured posses-
sions is a journal that was kept by
her father, and this contains an in-
teresting account of how Mr. Saun-
ders came to be selected to plan the
National Cemetery at Gettysburg.
The story is best told in his own
words as recorded in the journal
mentioned: —

About six weeks after the battle I
received a letter from David Wills, of
Gettysburg-, acting- as agent for Gov-
ernor Curtin, asking- me to meet him
at that place for the purpose of con-
sulting- upon the selection of a site and
land for a. cemetery to be used for the
i terment of soldiers who fell in that
battle. When I reached there I found
that Mr. Wills had purchased prop-
erty. I was pleased with the site, but
saw that it was angular, and its front
on the Baltimore Pike was only about
150 feet. I therefore told Mr. Wills to
get more ground, extending- the front
line and straightening- out other lines,
which was speedily done, adding- about
5 acres more to the cemetery and
simplifying its outlines. ■

On this my first visit I studied the
ground thoroughly and thought of
various methods of treatment. It oc-
curred to me — and I felt it all impor-
tant under any plan — that the remains
of the soldiers from 'each state should
be laid together in a group. In fact I
had examined the ground before sug-
gesting an addition to it and had em-
ployed an evening considering how
best to arrange for interments. The
surface was somewhat undulating,
some high or elevated points, but
others low and inferior in comparison,
so that in distributing the interments
by states some would, of necessity, be
placed in the lower portions and thus
an apparently unjust discrimination
might be inferred. I ultimately con-
cluded that a central point on the
highest reach of the ground be desig-
nated for a monument, and a semi-
circular arrangement made, so that

the appropriation for each state would
be a part of a common center and the
position of each lot would be relatively
of equal importance.

The ground was marked out in par-
allels 12 feet* in width, thus giving a
length of about 7 feet for the inter-
ments and 5 feet of pathway between
the next parallel. On the inner circle
of each a heavy line of granite curbing
was placed. This made a continuous
circle of gravestones, as it were. About
2% feet was marked on these stones,
the width for each interment, and the
name carved on the granite at its
head. These blocks showed 10 inches
above the surface of the ground and
show a width of 10 inches on their

upper surface or face. The name,
company and regiment being carved in
the granite opposite each interment,
secured a simple and impressive ar-
rangement, combined with perman-
ence and durability.

Having made rude drawings and
measurements as to the space required
for this plan, I went over the field and
was convinced that more space would
be required at this particular point to
enable this plan to be carried out.
Then the question of adding to it by
further purchases of land was con-
sidered, and ultimately some five acres
of an adjoining apple orchard were
procured, which allowed the plan to
be carried out.

Having secured such measurements
and survey of the ground as would
enable me to formulate a plan or de-
sign for the entire space, I hastened
to Washing'ton and commenced to
make the plan. I do not now recall
the exact sequence of events, but
everything was hurried to> get at work
and remove the bodies which were
scattered over the battle field and in
danger of obliteration, as the farmers
were anxious to plow for crops.

I employed a friend and surveyor,
James S. Townsend, to go to Gettys-
burg, and with others procure a list
of the dead and the> state1 they came
from, so as to help me in the disposi-
tion of plan of interments. This took
some time. I also sent him a copy of
the plan, and he proceeded to set that
portion out, so as. to provide for re-
moval of bodies at as early a day as
was possible. The work of exhuming
the bodies was commenced on the 2 7th
day of October, 1863, but it was so
protracted by ungenial weather during
the winter that it was not finished
until well on in March, 1864. The
number of bodies ultimately found ex-
ceeded the original calculations, and
this also retarded the finish of the
operations, and caused continual alter-
ations in the detail of the plan, as it
had to be extended to meet these ad-
ditions to certain of the states. This,

however, was only a matter of appor-
tionment and did not alter the idea
of the plan. The working sketch was
in the hands of the surveyor, who was
pushing the work, especially that part
for the interments.

A few days before the dedication of
the grounds, President Lincoln sent
word to me that he desired me to call
at his office on the evening of the
17th (November), and take with me
the plan of the cemetery. I was on
hand at the appointed time, and spread
the plan on his office table. He took
much interest in it, asked about its sur-
roundings, about Culp's Hill, Round
Top, etc., and seemed familiar with
the topography of the place, although
he had never been there. He was
much pleased with the method of the

graves, said it differed from the ordi-
nary cemetery, and, after I had ex-
plained the reasons, said it was an
admirable and befitting arrange-
ment. He asked me if I was going up
to Gettysburg to-morrow. I told him
that I intended to be there and take
up the plan. He replied, 'Well, I may
see you on the train.'

I went up on the 18th, but I think
now that I did not go on the train he
went on; I went on an earlier train.
! On reaching Gettysburg I found every
place crowded, oould not get any hotel
or boarding house. In fact there were
not many hotels in the town. I spent
the night in the parlor of an acquaint-
ance, along with quite a crowd, and
if we slept at all we did so sitting- in
chairs. Next morning — the 19th — the
town was all excitement, and all faces
were turned toward the cemetery.

About noon Edward Everett as-
cended the platform and commenced
his oration, which was well received,
although his detailed account of the
battle was lengthy, and I think some
considered it tiresome. I should sup-
pose that he spoke for nearly two
hours. I was sitting on the platform
near to President Lincoln, only Gen.
O. O. Howard between me and the
President, and was only a few feet

WILLIAM SAUNDERS
First Master of National Grange And De-
signer of National Cemetery

from him when he delivered his mem-
orable address.

The story of how Lincoln's mem-
orable address was received has been
told and retold many times. The fact
that Edward Everett was selected to
deliver the principal oration, while
Lincoln was asked to make only a few
remarks, clearly indicates that those
who had charge of the dedication
ceremonies did not rate Lincoln in
the same class with Everett as an
orator; but among the first to grasp
the beauty and significance of
Lincoln's address was Edward Everett
himself, who generously told the
President that his speech would long
be remembered after his own would
be forgotten.

It reflects an interesting light on
the journalism of that day to note
that only two daily papers of the
country carried Mr. Lincoln's Gettys-
burg address. The New York Times

contented itself by saying that "The
President made a few extemporaneous
remarks."

Continuing his narrative, Mr. Saun-
ders tells in some detail how he came
to be selected to plan the cemetery at
Gettysburg, and the painstaking man-
ner in which this labor of love was so
faithfully performed, although in the
execution of the plans he was reduced
to the necessity of drawing to some
extent on his own purse, for which he
was never reimbursed: —

The project of this cemetery was
started by David Wills of Gettysburg.
Soon after the battle he found bodies
scattered over the fields, some of them
but rudely buried, the* farmers plow-
ing over graves and seemingly care-
less about the dead. Mr. Wills wrote
to Governor Curtin and suggested that
the state of Pennsylvania should
see to it that the dead should be better
cared for. Governor Curtin promptly
and strongly took up the matter, and
authorized Mr. Wills to communicate
with the governors of other states
whose troops participated in the battle,
asking for their sanction, to remove the
dead at the expense of Pennsylvania.
This proposition was not favorably
entertained, as each state wanted to
share the expense. A convention of
governors was convened at Altoona,
and among other proceedings it was
ag'reed to employ me to furnish a plan
for the improvement of the cemetery
grounds. Hence the letter of Lawyer
Wills to me as above' mentioned. Who
brought up my name to this conven-
tion I never found, as I was not aware
of any of the governors knowing me.

The making of roadways and plant-
ing trees and shrubs were executed
by contract, and was done in a satis-
factory manner. Twenty years after
the planting I visited the cemetery
and marked 'many of the trees for
removal, as the groups were too thick.
By this time the cemetery had been
turned over to the general govern-
ment. For several years, I can not
recall how many, the cemetery was
controlled by commissioners, one
from each of the states concerned, ap-
pointed by the governors of the
respective states. It was ultimately
turned over to the government and
was placed in control of the quarter-
master general of the United States
Army. This officer, considering that it
was essential to do something in the
■cemetery, planted a lot of shrubbery
in the lawns, or open grass spaces,
which destroyed the beauty of the
grounds; but this was in keeping with
the performances of military •officers,
who, as a general thing, are very
destitute of artistic taste in anything.
Up to that time the plan of the plant-
ing had developed so that the design
was apparent. A friend of mine, who
had participated in a Fourth of July
celebration at Gettysburg, and not
knowing that I had ever had anything
to do with it, told me that if I wanted
to see an exquisite- example of land-
scape gardening I should visit the
cemetery grounds. I said to him that
I had designed these grounds for that
especial purpose.

The plan contemplated no conspicu-
ous headstones at any of the graves.
All were to be treated alike and be of
uniform simplicity. As time went on,
military companies sent headstones,
some of them quite elaborate, request-
ing them to be set at the head of cer-
tain graves. After a time, and after
several of such stones had been re-
ceived, the subject of their distribu-
tion was referred to me. I decided
that they should be grouped in a por-
tion of the grounds which I desig-
nated, which was done, and thus saved
the uniformity and simplicity of the
plan. On my plan when submitted I
titled it, "Soldiers' National Cemetery,"
which was discussed by the commis-
sioners, and they agreed that the name

was quite applicable, and it was
adopted.

At a .meeting of the commissioners
held at Harrisburg, December 17,
1863, the following resolutions were
passed : —

"On motion of Mr. Alfred Colt of
Connecticut, the plans and designs of
the Soldiers' National Cemetery as laid
out by Mr. William Saunders were
adopted by the convention. A motion
was made by Mr, Colt returning
thanks to Mr. Saunders for the designs
and drawings furnished gratuitously
for the Soldiers' National Cemetery at

HON

Pennsylvania

the Saunders Memorial

FRANKLIN MENGES
Congressman Who Sponsors

Gettysburg, Pa., which was unani-
mously adopted."

On motion of Mr. Brown, of Ohio:
"Resolved, lhat Mr. William Saun-
ders be authorized to furnish 40
photos of the plan of the Soldiers'
National Cemetery for the use of the
states having soldiers buried therein,
which was adopted."

The last resolution meant more
work for me. In order to get good
photographs I had to make a new copy
of the plan, for all the other copies
were more or less colored, and a good
photo could not be made from them.
Making a new copy was tedious, and
I woi'ked on it nights and Sundays.
I ultimately procured the number
desired and dispatched them to the
various states. I do not think that I
ever received a cent of remuneration
for this work so flippantly resolved.
The commissioners never seemed to
have any treasury to draw from, and
although I sent in the photographer's
bill, I had to pay it. Mr. Edward
Everett wrote to me that he was
desirous of having a plan of the ceme-
tery made, so that it could be folded
in a pamphlet with his oration. This I
also prepared for the engraver on so
small a scale that I strained my eyes
considerably, and it took me consider-
able time, but I finished it and made a
good job of it. For all this drawing,
planning, and time and money ex-
pended I never had any acknowledg-
ment except that mentioned in the
above resolutions passed at a private
meeting, as stated.

§ When the facts contained in the
'•■^urnal of Mr. Saunders were brought

to the attention of Congressman
Menges, he had them published in
the Congressional Record on Lincoln's
Birthday, because of their appropri-
ateness to the occasion, at which time
he also introduced the bill for the
erection of a memorial to Mr. Saun-
ders at Gettysburg.

It would be truly fitting for Con-
gress to enact the Menges Bill at the
earliest possible date, thus paying a
deserved tribute to the memory of an
unselfish and faithful public servant.
Never has any member of the Grange
rendered a more unselfish service to
his country than did the first National
Master, William Saunders, whose
labor of love will stand as an endur-
ing memorial to his generous toil.
This story of the Gettysburg National
Cemetery, which thousands of Patrons
have visited, will be of universal in-
terest as few of these tourists realized
how significantly the Grange is iden-
tified with this great American shrine.
Appropriately might these facts — or
at least extracts therefrom — be intro-
duced into the programs of subor-
dinate and Pomona meetings of the
coming months.

*J>

THE SOLDIER DEAD.

The Resting Places or Over 300,000
Union Braves.

While the garlands strewn upon the grave* of
our heroes are yet green and the recollection of
the commemorative exercises of Decoration day
are fresh upon us let ux glance at the vast army
of the soldier dead lying scattered throughout
the land and for the moment study the terrible
cost of war. The Quartermaster's Department,
after the close of the rebellion, was for several
years engaged in gathering into permanent cem-
eteries the bodies of Union soldiers who were
killed in battle or who died in hospitals or rebel
prisons. By the official reports the total number
interred throughout the United States is 316,233.
Of these only 175,764, or about five-ninths of the
whole number, can probably ever be identified.
Even these figures do not cover the whole num-
ber who lost their lives in the war of the rebel-
lion, for, owing to the vast area covered by the
operations of the hostile armies, many bodies
left on the field of battle, in skirmishes
in woods and in isolated encounters of
pickets and reconnoitering and scouting parties,
have probably never been discovered. It is dif-
ficult to form any estimate of the number, all
trace of whose remains have thus been lost, but
it is without doubt considerable. Most of the
scattered heroes, unknown to fame though great
in deeds, who yet lie hidden in forest, field or
pen, will now remain in nature's green keeping
until the resurrection mora. Of the grand total
36,868 are known to have been prisoners of war,
who died in captivity, and this does not include
the whole number who died while held by the
rebels, for it is thought that numbers of those
who died in the prison pens of the South have
not been found or identified. Of rebel prisoners
of war the remains ol 21,336 have been interred
Unfortunately statistics to show the amount of
mortality on the rebel side are very meagre. It
is not probable the rebel loss will ever be known
with anything like the accuracy with which we
can reckon that on the national side, but, assum-
ing them to be equal, it will be seen that the en-
tire loss to the whole country in human lives
during the war of the rebellion must amount to
nearly three-quarters of a million. Besides
72 national cemeteries, the Union dead are scat-
tered in 320 local and post cemeteries. The largest
of these are at Arlington, Va., the former home-
stead of General Robert E. Lee, with 15,547
graves; Fredericksburg, Va., with 15,300 graves;
Salisbury, N. C, with 12,112 graves; Beaufort,
S. C, with 10,000 graves; Andersonville, Ga.,
13,705 graves; Marietta, Ga., 10,000 graves; New
Orleans, La., 12,230 graves; Vicksburg, Miss.,
17,012 graves; Chattanooga, Tenn., 12,964 graves;
Nashville, Tenn., 16,529 graves; Memphis.Tenn.,
13,958 graves; Jefferson Barracks, Mo., 8,601
graves.

The Gettysburg National Cemetery embraces
an area of about seventeen acres, covering the
centre of the Union line of battle on the 2d and
3d of July, 1863, and occupying one of the most
prominent and important positions on the field.
This is one of the most complete of the National
Cemeteries and contains 3,512 graves, of whom
979 are unknown. These figures do not, how-
ever, by any means show the Union loss in the
engagement, for the greater part of the wounded
were moved to Baltimore, Washington, Annap-

olis and Philadelphia, and many of the slain
have been taken away by their friends.

The cemetery at Antietam contains 4,695
graves, 2,903 of which are unknown; in addition
to the bodies of 1,475 who fell at Antie-
tam, the remains of the United States
soldiers scattered on the battle fields of
Monocacy, South Mountain, and those buried at
Harper's Ferry and Cumberland, Md., have
been gathered here. The National Cemetery at
Kichmond, Va.. two miles from the city on the
Williamsburg* road, just within the line of the
rebel fortifications, contains an unusually large,
proportion of unknown graves. Out of 6,276 as
many as 5,469 are unknown. 'They are mostly
deceased prisoners of war from Belle Isle, Libby
prison, Castle Thunder, and other prison pens at
the former rebel capital. Salisbury National
Cemetery contains 12,112 bodies of Union soldiers,
who died while confined in Salisbury prison.
At Danville, Va., Millen, Ga., Culpepper Court
House, Winchester, Va., Cold Harbor, Va., Fort
Harrison, and Elendale, Va., Raleigh, Wil-
mington, N. C, Beaufort, S. C, Lookout Moun-
tain, Corinth, Miss., Shiloh, Tenn., Chalmette,
La., and other points in the country in which
military operations were carried on during the
war there are national cemeteries containing the
known and unknown dead gathered from the
battle fields in the vicinity. These cemeteries,
generally, are well cared for; pains are taken to
keep them sodded; to plant ornamental trees,
and beautify them in various ways. Thus sleep
our Brave. "Thank God for Liberty's dear
dlain; they give perpetual consecration unto iU»'

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