USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > Gettysburg > Address delivered at the dedication of monument of the 14th Conn. vols. at Gettysburg, Penn., July 3d, 1884 > Part 4
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OVER THE OLD FIELD-A MEMORABLE CAMP FIRE.
the hotels and upon the streets, citizens and comrades of the different regiments mingled socially, and warmly grasped hands in memory of the past and in joy for the present. Thus the hours passed until well toward midnight, when the last load of comrades, bound for the Springs Hotel, sang as they bowled along, their cheery:
"We'll roll, we'll roll the chariot along!"
and quiet again reigned in Gettysburg.
Wednesday, July 2d, the hot sun rose in a cloudless sky, and his earliest rays discovered many of the comrades out upon the line, viewing the field and bringing back the fading memories of twenty- one years ago. As early as eight o'clock, every team that could be pressed into service was engaged, and the work of exploration occu- pied the time of all until night, except for an hour or two near midday, when the comrades were at the unveiling of a splendid monument erected by the 124th Regt. N. Y. Vols.
The crowning glory of this day was the camp fire of blazing logs, commencing at dusk, on the veritable ground upon which the regiment lay during the night of July 2d, 1863. By invitation from the 14th, it was participated in by members of the 17th C. V., 124th N. Y., and other veterans, ladies and citizens. There was an abundance of pipes and tobacco for the old smokers, and plenty of cold ice water to quench the parched tongues.
"Lieut. Col. Moore, President of the Association, presided. The time was spent listening to speeches, the stories of camp life, remi- niscences of hardships and struggles, pleasant memories mingled with sorrowful ones. Remarks were made by Chaplain Stevens, Maj. Coit, Maj. Tibbitts, Capt. Davis, of the 14th; by Col. Torrance, Col. Wooster, 20th Conn., Comrade Wm. Haines, 12th N. J., and Comrade Calhoun of 17th Conn. A number of neatly printed army songs, selected especially for this reunion, were distributed among the 'boys,' and the beautiful moonlight night was made vocal with the old army songs of 'America,' 'The Battle Cry of Freedom,' ' Marching Through Georgia,' 'Tenting on the Old Camp Ground,' 'Tramp, Tramp, the Boys are Marching.' 'The Veterans' Auld Lang Syne,' 'Comrades, Touch the Elbow,' 'Hurrah for old New England,' &c. The assembly broke up with three cheers for prominent officers, Gettysburg, &c. All voted it a good time, quite in contrast with the scenes transpiring twenty-one years before."
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THE UNVEILING.
Thursday, July 3d, opened with the departure of the Seventeenth Regiment at six o'clock, at which early hour many of the Fourteenth boys were astir and out upon the field again, determined that no point of interest be left unexplored.
The culmination of the labor of love was the unveiling of the Monument, the following account of which was written by one of the citizens of Gettysburg:
"The exercises of the 14th Connecticut were held on Thursday after- noon at three o'clock. The monument erected by this organization is located on the right of the Round Top Avenue, at the point where a portion of Pickett's charge culminated on the 3d of July, 1863.
" The members of the organization and their friends formed at the Eagle Hotel at two o'clock p. M., and marshalled by Lieut. Col. Moore, marched to the position of the monument, where a large number of people had already assembled. The veterans were drawn up in line, facing the monument, when the exercises were opened with a very im- pressive prayer by Comrade J. E. Durand of the 14th. This was fol- lowed by the singing of 'America,' all present uniting. Maj. J. C. Broatch, Chairman of the Committee on the Monument, submitted a report that their work had been completed, and the total expenses of construction, erection, &c., amounted to $725, and that sufficient funds were on hand to pay all bills. Lieut. Col. S. A. Moore, President of the Association, then turned over the monument to the care and protection of the Gettysburg Battle-Field Memorial Association. The rays of the sun were beating down so fiercely, that a comrade made the happy suggestion, which met with a unanimous amen, that the further exer- cises be held in 'Ziegler's Woods,' whither the party proceeded.
" Upon reaching the woods, the ' boys ' scattered themselves around in true soldier style, some on the ground, others on boulders, on camp- stools, in carriages, and, in short, any way to be comfortable. Chaplain H. S. Stevens, the orator of the day, was then introduced by Lieut. Col. Moore. His oration was a graphic, entertaining and interesting history of the regiment, and was enjoyed not only by the veterans, who were vividly reminded of their trials and perils and losses during three years of war, but by the veterans of other regiments and non-combatants present. He stated his object to be to speak to the survivors of the 14th and review its record, of which they were not only proud but jealous.
** * * *
" It has long been a disputed question who burned the Bliss property, but the facts as stated by Chaplain Stevens should settle it. The proof adduced by him, corroborated by surviving members of the organiza- tion who were present at this meeting, and who participated in the scenes of that July morning, admits of no doubt that the 14th are enti- tled to this honor. The orator's description of Pickett's charge and the
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WHAT THEY SAY OF US.
resistance made by our line was very thrilling. The 14th occupied a most dangerous and exposed position, but they resisted every effort of the serried ranks of Pickett's veteran reserves to penetrate their lines. Thrice did they attempt it, filling up their decimated first and second lines, and thrice were they repulsed. Then came the counter-charge, and, amidst the cheers of the victors, the hordes of treason were hurled back to Seminary ridge, the high-water mark of the Rebellion having then and there been reached. During this time the 14th Conn. captured five rebel battle-flags and over two hundred prisoners. The regiment entered the fight with 160 men, and lost during this engagement 62 men killed and wounded and 4 missing,-forty per cent of its fighting force.
" But this was not the end of the war for them. They participated in all the great battles, until Lee laid down his sword at Appomattox. The regiment certainly has a glorious record and one that will be im- mortal.
" The ' boys' sang ' Rally 'round the Flag,' and David A. Buehler, Esq., Vice-President of the Memorial Association, received the monu- ment on behalf of the Association, taking occasion to compliment the regiment on its brilliant record.
"Col. Bachelder was introduced, but owing to severe throat trouble was unable to make any extended remarks. He sustained the claims of the 14th that they had burned the Bliss property.
"Impromptu remarks, reminiscences of the war, were made by Comrade Wm. Haines, 12th New Jersey, Col. Dwight Morris, and Com. Benjamin Hirst of the 14th. After singing several patriotic songs, the benediction was pronounced by Comrade Durand, and, after smoking the calumet of peace, they returned to town. All present were de- lighted with the exercises, and felt that it had been not only a pleasant but profitable afternoon."
At the conclusion of the exercises, a member of the Battle-Field Memorial Association (himself an old soldier) remarked that he had attended at all of the ceremonies of a like character that had taken place, and that he had no hesitation in saying that " the Fourteenth's is the best, for it is all soldier."
Another spectator has said in print:
" There was no brass band, no grand gala day display. It was a memorial day honored by the men who did the hardest work in that terrible conflict. They needed no blare of trumpets nor bursts of rhetoric to commemorate deeds indelibly printed in each mind and enrolled on the brightest page of the nation's history. It was the Four- teenth Connecticut Volunteers. Boast or pomp could find no place in their celebration. Connecticut can point with pride to every regiment she sent out, but none of them all saw the hardships, suffered the losses and achieved the victories that the Fourteenth did. And none are
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HOMEWARD BOUND.
more willing to ascribe them their deserts than are their comparatively more fortunate comrades in arms in the other regiments; such is soldier nature."
And still another writer from Gettysburg:
"All here agree with me that the Fourteenth may well feel proud of what they have done here, not only in 1863, but also in 1884. The soldierly bearing and gentlemanly demeanor of the men is freely com- mented upon throughout the town."
Before leaving the grove, the "boys " had an old-time Fourteenth's love feast; the big pipe was smoked; photographs of the scene were taken, and the exhuberant joy that followed the glorious success of the afternoon of July 3d, 1863, was repeated, -for the Fourteenth was a second time victorious at Gettysburg!
The departure from the historic town was regretfully made at nine o'clock in the evening, by special train, amid the cheers of citizens. Songs were sung and speeches made from the platform until the train was in motion, when the Fourteenth broke out all over! Every song that ever was sung by anybody, and some that no mortal ever heard before, rang through the cars for hours! The brilliant achieve- ment of
" The Duke of Yorkshire with his one thousand men,"
was dilated upon until the mathematical beauty and symmetry of the song was fully understood. Changes in the text of
"Comrades, touch the elbow!"
were noted and feelingly remarked upon by one of the "boys," who would be gray-headed if he wasn't so bald, -and thus the tide ran high, overflowing every bank, and stopping at nothing until Harris- burg and the sleeping-cars were reached, when the hilarious storm abated, and ere long the sturdy snore of many a tired veteran attested to the fact that the old Fourteenth was as quiet as it ever can be.
It would be foolhardy not to cease this record here, for another scratch of the pen might awaken
" The Duke of Yorkshire with his one thousand men!"
$
LIST OF ENGAGEMENTS .. OF THE 14TH C. V.
BATTLES.
Antietam,
September 17, 1862.
Fredericksburg,
December 12, 13, 14, “
Chancellorsville,
May 2 and 3, 1863.
Gettysburg,
July 2, 3, 4, “
Bristoe Station,
- October 14, “
Morton's Ford,
February 6, 1864.
Wilderness (Todd's Tavern),
May 5,
Wilderness,
May 6,
Laurel Hill,
- May 10,
Spottsylvania,
May 12,
North Anna River,
- May 24,
Tolopotomy,
May 30,
Cold Harbor,
June 3,
Cold Harbor,
June 5,
Petersburg,
June 17,
Ream's Station,
.August 25,
SKIRMISHES.
Falling Waters,
- July 14, 1863.
Auburn, -
- October 14,
Blackburn's Ford,
October 15, “
Mine Run, -
November 30, "
Spottsylvania,
- May 13, 1864.
Spottsylvania,
May 14,
Spottsylvania,
May 18,
Milford Station,
May 22,
North Anna River,
- May 26,
Petersburg, -
June 16,
Deep Bottom,
August 15,
Deep Bottom,
August 16,
Hatcher's Run (Boydton Plank Road),
October 27,
Hatcher's Run, -
February 5, 1865.
Hatcher's Run,
March 29,
High Bridge,
-
March 30, " to
Farmville,
Surrender of Lee's Army,
April 10,
WASHINGTON, D. C., Sept. 5. 1884.
THE PHOTOGRAPH.
The first fence seen, looking past the left of the Monu- ment, marks the line of the Emmettsburg road. The apple trees in row beyond are remains of orchard on the Bliss premises and indicate position of line of rebel skirmishers. The light spot seen at opening between fourth and fifth trees, counting from the left, is the embankment of former drive- way to floor of barn in the rear-all now remaining of the structure. The smaller light spot seen above the mound is a board tablet with inscribed record, recently placed there by comrade Hirst.
The line of trees crowning the crest beyond the orchard, indicates Seminary Ridge, the position of the rebel batteries : from their cover Longstreet's infantry emerged to make their attack, July 3d. All these points are readily distuinguished with a good reading glass, the picture having been taken with reference to showing them.
The photographer, Mr. W. H. Tipton of Gettysburg, will supply fine views of the Monument for framing-one of them with group showing more than forty likenesses of genuine Fourteenth men taken July 3d, 1884-also Stereoscopic views.
S.
F8349.0532
5614
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