THE
GETTYSBURG
PARTY
From
Gettysburg
To
Hagerstown
Another Speech By General Devens
The Spy’s special from Hagerstown Md., where the Gettysburg
party stopped last night says: The morning at Gettysburg dawned
lowery, but no rain fell General
Devens parted company with the tourists this morning, and was
escorted to the depot by the other members of the company under Col.
Joslyn, who marched them in fours, the ladies at the head.
Being formally drawn up in line the general lifted his hat
and addressed them thus:
“Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am sincerely obliged and grateful to you for this very kind
compliment to me, and assure you I shall hold dear in memory this
little episode. I say
farewell to you with much regret, but my engagements are such that
it is imperative. To my
old comrades I bid an affectionate farewell.
Much do I desire to extend this journey to Ball’s Bluff,
the old spot so interesting to us, and as I bid farewell to you at
this place, more than ever memory of the farewell of our dead comes
to me. The farewells to
them are more than to you living, for them we shall see no more.
We can but feel we are moving toward them, nearing the river
which divides us from the large army gone before.
My comrades, I am deeply grateful for your kindness to me,
and wish you a pleasant journey, as no doubt you will have.”
The forenoon was spent in relic hunting on the battlefield and
in driving to points of interest, many going to the scene of the
first nights fight, which was not visited Wednesday.
Trips were made to gen. lee’s headquarters, where beautiful
roses were procured., to Gen. Meade's headquarters on the Taneytown
road. A little below
this point the 15th turned off to engage in conflict on
the second day. Gen.
Sprague and Col. Joslyn with the widow of Col. Ward visited the
location of the headquarters of the hospital of the 2d Corps, and
established as near as possible the position where Col. Ward died
after being taken from the field.
This place which was naturally adapted to hospital locality,
was where Gen. Sickles underwent amputation of a leg.
The party dined at 12 and took cars for the Carlisle Indian
school, arriving at 2, where they visited the entire barracks, being
shown about by the superintendent, R. H. Pratt, and spending two
hours at this place. The
party arrived at
Hagerstown
at
6:30
and had a rousing reception from the citizens and Hagerstown Light
Infantry, drawn up in line. The
party distributed to various hotels for the night.
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