DOCSLIB.ORG

1 the Center for Civil War Research Explains the Reason for a Reunion Of

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
1 the Center for Civil War Research Explains the Reason for a Reunion Of 1 The Center for Civil War Research explains the reason for a reunion of Civil War veterans was an occasion to gather together, to relive their shared experiences, find solace in their battle‐forged bonds, to celebrate their heroic deeds, and to commemorate the sacrifices of their comrades. These reunions of regiments, corps, armies, and fraternal organizations‐ so important to the soldiers and their families‐ came eventually to serve as a symbol of a wider national reunification, despite the vast majority of reunions remaining purely separate former Union or Confederate affairs. By contrast, at infrequent “Blue and Gray” reunions, veterans of both sides made conciliatory overtures, enjoyed the hospitality of former enemies and celebrated their collective American identity. Attended by the hundreds and thousands, reunions of all kinds evoked powerful sentiments and became fertile ground for the construction of Civil War memory. The location, frequency, attendance, and content of these reunions not only demonstrates the popularity of this form of remembrance, but also the national imperative to commemorate the Civil War in a way that honored its veterans and gave meaning to their sacrifices. Poetry has been used quite often to honor and pay tribute to those who have fallen in combat. No finer example of that is better demonstrated than the poem written by Francis Miles French who was born 1827 and died 1907. Finch wrote poetry throughout his entire life but declined a chair in rhetoric literature at Cornell University, thinking his poetry was “ only incidents along the line of a busy and laborious life.” His best known poem was “ The Blue and the Gray” written in remembrance of the dead of the American Civil War was inspired by a women’s memorial association in Columbus, Mississippi who on 2 April 25, 1866 tended the graves of Confederate and Union soldiers, treating the dead as equals despite the lingering rancor of the war. The BLUE And The GRAY By the flow of the inland river, Whence the fleets of iron have fled, Where the blades of the grave‐grass quiver Asleep are the ranks of the dead; Under the sod and the dew, Waiting the judgment‐ day; Under the one, the Blue, Under the other, the Gray These in the robings of glory, Those in the gloom of defeat, All with the battle‐blood gory, In the dusk of eternity meet: Under the sod and the dew, Waiting the judgment‐day Under the laurel, the Blue, Under the willow, the Gray. From the silence of sorrowful hours The desolate mourners go, Lovingly laden with flowers Alike for the friend and foe; Under the sod and the dew Waiting the judgment day; Under the roses, the Blue Under the lilies, the Gray 3 So with an equal splendor, The morning sun‐rays fall With a touch impartially tender, On the blossoms blooming for all: Under the sod and the dew, Waiting the judgment‐day; Broidered with gold, the Blue, Mellowed with gold, the Gray, So, when the summer calleth, On forest and field of grain, With an equal murmur falleth The cooling drip of the rain: Under the sod and the dew, Waiting the judgment‐day, Wet with the rain, the Blue Wet with the rain, the Gray, Sadly, but not upbraiding, The generous was done, In the storm of the years that are fading No braver battle was won: Under the sod and the dew, Waiting the judgment‐day; Under the blossoms, the Blue Under the garlands, the Gray No more shall the war cry sever, Or the winding rivers be red; They banish our anger forever When the laurel the graves of our dead! Under the sod and the dew, 4 Waiting the judgment‐day, Love and tears for the Blue, Tears and love for the gray. The Great Reunion of 1913 was not the first joint Blue‐ Gray Reunion held at Gettysburg, nor would it be the last. This reunion would be considered the largest as there were more than 54, 000 participants. In the words of Colonel A. E. Bradley, U. S. Army Chief Surgeon “ Surely never before in the world’s history have so great a number of men so advanced in year’s been assembled under field conditions. Veterans from 46 of the 48 states would be in attendance. There were concerns ‘that there might be unpleasant differences between the blue and gray” quite the opposite took place as the reunion was repeatedly marked by events of Union and Confederate camaraderie. President Woodrow Wilson’s reunion address summarized the spirit of the event: “We have found one another again as brothers and comrades in arms, enemies no longer, generous friends rather, our battles long past, the quarrel forgotten‐ except that we shall not forget the splendid valor.” The Congressional committee used the name Celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg but other organizations and officials used numerous other names: Celebration of the Semi‐Centenary of the Civil War Gettysburg Celebration Reunion Celebration at Gettysburg Gettysburg Reunion Gettysburg Peace Reunion Great Peace Reunion Great Peace Jubilee 5 Golden Jubilee Great Reunion Grand Reunion Blue and Gray Reunion and in a souvenir program of poems: Grand Reunion of the Blue and Gray on the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg History records that there have been 3 other reunions of the Blue and Gray at the Gettysburg battlefield. The reunion of The Philadelphia Brigade and Pickett’s Division held on July 2, 3, and 4 of 1887 and the 25th Reunion of the Battle of Gettysburg held on July 1, 2, and 3, 1888 the Philadelphia Brigade and Pickett’s Division held once again on September 15, 16, and 17, 1906. The 1887 reunion was comprised of survivors of Pickett’s Division and those of the Philadelphia Brigade. The Philadelphia Brigade fought on Cemetery Ridge on July 3, 1863 against the forces of Pickett’s Charge. A controversy erupted before the reunion when some of the Philadelphia Brigade veterans thought it would be a conciliatory gesture to return several of Pickett’s Division battle flags that had been left behind at the Battle of Bloody Angle when their color‐bearers had been killed during the attack. But there existed a problem: these flags were in the custody of the War Department and when the Philadelphia Brigade wrote to the War Department to request the release of these flags for their return to the ex‐Confederates, “the suggestion raised a mighty protest from 6 Honorable Lucius Fairchild, at that time Commander‐in‐Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, and Honorable Joseph B. Foraker, then Governor of Ohio, who threatened to invade Washington with the National Guard of Ohio, if necessary, to prevent such a sacrilege.” Fortunately, as time passed cooler heads prevailed regarding the battle flags, swords and other artifacts related to the Battle of Gettysburg and other Civil War battles and exchanges became commonplace. This reunion at Gettysburg in 1887 is claimed to be “the first reunion of the Blue and Gray and took place upon any battlefield of the War of Rebellion” and was attended by more than 300 ex‐Confederates and more than that number of the survivors of the Philadelphia Brigade. The reunion on July 1, 2, and 3, 1888 was a much different reunion than the one that was held the previous year. This reunion was open to many more veterans than attended in 1887. Reports by Philadelphia newspapers that some 35,000 veterans from both sides would come together and camp on the battlefield. A New York Times headline on July 1, 1888 declared: IT’S AGAIN A TENTED FIELD SICKLES AND LONGSTREET AT GETTYSBURG THE TWO OLD_TIME ENEMIES MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE GREAT FIGHT OF THE REBELLION Signs of peace and reconciliation was everywhere. Confederate General James Longstreet was a featured speaker. According to newspaper accounts, he was given a rousing reception. His speech began, “ I was not in time to witness any part of the engagement of the first day of Gettysburg, but I am pleased to be here in time to witness these ceremonies and to express that sympathy that should go out 7 from all hearts to those who how to appreciate the conduct of soldiers who offer their lives on the altar of their country.” General Longstreet would die in 1904.Along with General Longstreet another featured speaker was Union General Dan Sickles who was also asked say a few words. His final words of his speech would sum up what time had done to sooth bitterness of war. His words were “For myself, I rejoice that I am her today to meet so many comrades and so many foes and to unite with all of you in pledges of friendship and fraternity. And now I ask you one and all, the survivors of the blue and gray, to affirm with one voice our unanimous resolve to maintain our union, preserve our institutions and defend our flag.” General Sickles would live to participate in the 1913 Gettysburg Reunion and would die in 1914. The Philadelphia Brigade and Pickett’s Division would meet one more time when a reunion would be held on September 15, 16 and 17, 1906. Many speeches were given, and the feeling was that since so many years had passed since the epic battle in 1863 that this might be the “last hurrah” for the boys from the Blue and Gray at Gettysburg. But then, as we know, less than seven years later the Great Reunion eclipsed not only the three prior gatherings but all Civil War reunions that have ever been held.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Longhunter, Southern Kentucky Genealogical Society Newsletter Volume 20, Number 4 Kentucky Library Research Collections Western Kentucky University, [email protected]
    Western Kentucky University TopSCHOLAR® Longhunter, Southern Kentucky Genealogical Kentucky Library - Serials Society Newsletter Fall 1997 Longhunter, Southern Kentucky Genealogical Society Newsletter Volume 20, Number 4 Kentucky Library Research Collections Western Kentucky University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/longhunter_sokygsn Part of the Genealogy Commons, Public History Commons, and the United States History Commons Recommended Citation Kentucky Library Research Collections, "Longhunter, Southern Kentucky Genealogical Society Newsletter Volume 20, Number 4" (1997). Longhunter, Southern Kentucky Genealogical Society Newsletter. Paper 129. https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/longhunter_sokygsn/129 This Newsletter is brought to you for free and open access by TopSCHOLAR®. It has been accepted for inclusion in Longhunter, Southern Kentucky Genealogical Society Newsletter by an authorized administrator of TopSCHOLAR®. For more information, please contact [email protected]. VOLUME XX - ISSUE 4 SOUTHERN KENTUCKY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY P.o. Box 1782 Bowling Green, KY 42102 - 1782 1997 OFFICERS President Mark Lowe Springfield, TN ph. 800-556-4021 Vice President John E. Danielson, PO Box 1843 Bowling Green, KY 42102-1843 Recording Secretary Gail Miller, 425 Midcrest Dr. Bowling Green, KY 42101 ph. 502-781-1807 Corresponding Secretary Betty B. Lyne, 613 E. Ilth Ave. Bowling Green, KY 42101 ph. 502-843-9452 Treasurer Ramona Bobbitt. 2718 Smallhouse J<.d. Bowling Green, KY 42104 ph. 502-843-6918 Chaplain A. Ray Douglas, 439 Douglas Lane Bowling Green. KY 42101 ph. 502-842-7101 Longhunter Editors Sue and Dave Evans, 921 Meadowlark Dr. Bowling Green, KY 42103 ph. 502-842-2313 MEMBERS HlP Membership in the Southern Kentucky Genealogical Society is open to all persons, especially to those who are interested in research in Allen, Barren, Butler.
    [Show full text]
  • America's Last Civil War Veterans and Participants
    America’s Last Civil War Veterans and Participants : An Investigation By Garry Victor Hill Revised and Expanded Edition 2 3 America’s Last Civil War Veterans and Participants: An Investigation By Garry Victor Hill Revised and Expanded Edition Frisky Press Armidale Australia 2020 4 America’s Last Civil War Veterans and Participants: An Investigation By Garry Victor Hill 5 Contents Disclaimer page 6 Personal Acknowledgements page 7 General Acknowledgements page 8 Dedication page 10 Introduction page 11 Part One page 20 Part Two page 92 Afterword page 374 Works Cited page 375 6 Disclaimer Interposed throughout this work are images of Civil War battle flags. They are used to aid the reader to determine allegiance of claimants to Civil War service. For e-book readers they make scrolling easier. Using the Union’s flag here does not make this writer an American patriot, nor does displaying Confederate flags express support for any political group that uses that flag. Usage of Confederate flags by twenty-first century white hate groups, ultra conservatives, and right wing extremists is a false misuse of history. Written Without Prejudice No suggestion of fraud or deceit is made against any individual. Where statements have not been fully verified this is due to a lack of conclusive evidence, conflicting evidence or impossibilities. A Note on language Grammar, spelling or syntax in quotations remain unaltered. The old style of putting a p preceding a page number has been used to avoid confusion with computer numbers. Americanised spellings are used. As two differing dating systems, those of the USA and the British Commonwealth conflict, months rather than their numbers are sometimes used.
    [Show full text]
  • The Men and Women of Civil War Reenactment A
    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Los Angeles What They Fight For: The Men and Women of Civil War Reenactment A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in History by Christopher George Bates 2016 What They Fight For: The Men and Women of Civil War Reenactment by Christopher George Bates Doctor of Philosophy in History University of California, Los Angeles, 2016 Professor Joan Waugh, Chair Abstract This study examines the three generations of Civil War reenactors: the veterans, the centennial reenactors, and the modern community. It argues that they are an excellent case study for examining the evolving memory of the Civil War, particularly when considered in the context of five interpretative traditions: the “Lost Cause,” the “Union Cause,” the “Reconciliationist Cause,” the “Emancipationist Cause,” and the “White Supremacist Cause.” At the same time, a careful analysis of the modern community illustrates the myriad ways in which contemporary individuals interact with and utilize the past. - ii - The dissertation of Christopher George Bates is approved. Janice L. Reiff Gary W. Gallagher Joan Waugh, Committee Chair University of California, Los Angeles 2016 - iii - - iv - Table of Contents ______________________________________________________________________________ Introduction ..................................................................................................................................1 1: “Grand Armies of the Republic”: The Veteran Reenactors .....................................................25
    [Show full text]
  • The Controversies Over America's Last Civil War Veterans by Garry Victor Hill 2014
    1 The Controversies Over America’s Last Civil War Veterans BY Garry Victor Hill 2014 2 3 Contents Dedication page 4 Author’s Note page 5 Acknowledgements page 5 Copyright page 6 Introduction page 7 Part One page 11 Part Two page 48 Afterword page 181 About the Author page 182 4 Dedication Jay S. Hoar (1933- ) Dedicated to Professor Jay Sherman Hoar without whose help this book was unfortunately written. This mistake was corrected in America’s Last Civil War Participants: An Investigation (2015) Professor Jay S. Hoar is the pioneer in the study of America’s Civil War Veterans. His three volume elegy will remain the definitive collection. 5 Author’s Note: This is Version One of a work in progress. Much more research is needed on several individuals: unfortunately this looks like months of work, not only to find and collate primary source material, but to assess its veracity, and worth. Secondary sources are also needed, they clarify much. Another more detailed version America’s Last Civil War Participants: An Investigation has been published in 2015. Even so the verdict on the last surviving veterans is not set in stone, I’m looking forward to evidence that will verify them. While realising that continual hedging with “probably” “possibly” “uncertain” “likely” “seems” and “dubious” are wearying and create a longing for definite conclusions, a major point is that too many people writing on this issue have been definite on issues – and have been wrong. When evidence is ultimately inconclusive I still go with the evidence. With sources I have not usually credited muster rolls and censuses in source notes because they and the individual or organization referred to are mentioned in the text.
    [Show full text]
  • Last of the Blue and Gray : Old Men, Stolen Glory, and the Mystery That
    Also by Richard A. Serrano One of Ours: Timothy McVeigh and the Oklahoma City Bombing My Grandfather’s Prison: A Story of Death and Deceit in 1940s Kansas City Text © 2013 by Richard A. Serrano All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Published by Smithsonian Books Director: Carolyn Gleason Production Editor: Christina Wiginton Editor: Duke Johnsy Designer: Mary Parsons Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data TK For permission to reproduce illustrations appearing in this book, please correspond directly with the owners of the works, as listed in the individual captions. Smithsonian Books does not retain reproduction rights for these images individually, or maintain a file of addresses for sources. eISBN: 978-1-58834396-3 v3.1 For my father Alfonso Serrano, U.S. Army veteran, World War II Come tell us old man … WALT WHITMAN, “The Wound-Dresser” From his Civil War poems, Drum Taps CONTENTS Cover Other Books by This Author Title Page Copyright Dedication 1 TWO OLD SOLDIERS 2 REUNION 3 OLD AGE AND STOLEN VALOR 4 ALBERT WOOLSON 5 WALTER WILLIAMS 6 OLD MEN IN BLUE 7 OLD MEN IN GRAY 8 CENTENNIAL 9 LAST IN BLUE 10 DEBUNKED? 11 IN HIS MEMORY-CLOUDED MIND 12 LAST IN GRAY 13 OF THE DEAD, SPEAK NO EVIL Postscript Sources TWO OLD SOLDIERS lbert Woolson loved the parades. For Memorial Day in Duluth, Minnesota, he rode in the biggest car down the widest streets of his Ahometown.
    [Show full text]