Edward Everett's Speech (Well a Little Part of It)

This is the start of Edward Everett's speech he gave before Abraham Lincoln gave what is now known as the Gettysburg Address that November19, 1863.

Of course, he spoke for over two hours.  I will not type the whole speech.  But, you can tell just from what little I wrote, the man was quite eloquent.

"Standing beneath this serene sky, overlooking these broad fields now reposing from the labors of the waning year, the almighty Alleghenies towering before us, the graves of our brethren beneath our feet, it is with hesitation that I raise my poor voice to break the eloquent silence of God and Nature.  But the duty to which you call me must be performed; --grant me, I pray you,  your indulgence and your sympathy."

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Then he went into a comparison of ancient Greece and the events of July 1863.  Then:

"We have assembled, friends, fellow-citizens, at the invitation of the Executive of the great central state of Pennsylvania, seconded by the Governors of seventeen other loyal States of the Union, to pay last tribute of respect to the brave men who, in the hard-fought battles of the first, second and third days of July last, laid down their lives for the country on these hillsides and the plains before us, and whose remains have been gathered   into the cemetery we consecrate today."

I don't know, but this kind of sounds a bit like Lincoln's speech.

Eloquent, Eloquent.  --Old Secesh

About That Everett Gettysburg Address-- Part 5: Only 285 Words

When Edward Everett was finished speaking, Abraham Lincoln  rose to speak.  Unlike Everett, he did not relive the battle.  In fact, he never mentioned the battle, the Union or slavery.  Instead, as Garry Wills wrote in his book on the Gettysburg Address, the president reached "beyond the historical particulars, ... [to] derive a new, transcendental, significance from this bloody episode."

In  only 285 words, he "wove a spell that has not, yet, been broken -- he called up a new nation out of the blood and trauma."

Edward Everett was quick to acknowledge the greatness of Lincoln's brief speech.  The day after the ceremony, he wrote to the president praising the "eloquent simplicity & appropriateness" of his remarks.

"I should be glad, if I could flatter myself that I came as near the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes."

Lincoln sent an immediate and gracious response:  "In our respective parts yesterday, you could not have been excused to make a short address, nor I a long one.  I am pleased to know that, in your judgement, the little that I did say was not entirely a failure."

Very Gracious of Lincoln and Quite a Compliment.  --Old Secesh

About That Everett Gettysburg Address-- Part 2: Establishing a Cemetery and a Speaker

When the armies withdrew after that three-day battle in and around Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, it was a hellish scene of carnage: 8,000 human corpses and 5,000 dead horses strewn across the fields.  The toll would grow to thousands more in the days that followed as men succumbed to their mortal wounds.

In the summer heat, Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Curtain faced a pressing need to identify and bury the dead.  But he also felt compelled to  give meaning to the bloody tragedy and hope to the future.

Curtain enlisted the help of leading Gettysburg citizen, David Wills, who immediately acquired  17 acres for a battlefield cemetery and began planning its dedication.  Looking for someone who could  with "artful words ... sweeten the poisoned air of Gettysburg."    Wills naturally turned to Edward Everett for those words.

Everett had inherited the mantle of Daniel Webster, the nation's leading orator at the time of his death in 1852.  The Bostonian had long  been recognized for his deft and graceful use of language, intuitive dramatic sense, musical voice and magnetic presence.

--Old Secesh

Auction of Civil War Soldier's Skull Called Off

From the June 3, 2014, CBS News "Auction of Civil War soldier's skull canceled after protests."

I must admit that when I first heard of this, IO was appalled.  How could anyone even consider doing something like that or buying it?

The planned auction of a skull found at Gettysburg, supposedly that of a Civil War soldier has been canceled and donated by the auction company for burial with honors (which I hope he gets after all this indignity).

Estate Auction, Co. of Hershey has donated the skull to the National Park Service.

The remains were found in 1949 as a garden was being tilled  on Banner Farm in Gettysburg.  It was notarized and handwritten documents say it was recovered with 13 other artifacts about two miles north of a barn used as a field hospital at the Battle of Gettysburg.

Gettysburg Park said there were two Banner farms in Gettysburg and one was used as a field hospital.

--Old Secesh

The New Lincoln-- Part 1: Lincoln at Gettysburg

From the October 2013 Smithsonian Magazine "The New Lincoln" by Franz Ledz.

In the bleak hours before dawn of March 5th this year, Christopher Oakley "stumbled upon what looks to be the most significant, if not the most provocative, Abraham Lincoln photo find of the last 60 years."

Oakley taught New Media at UNC-Asheville and was in his home studio working on a 3-D animation of Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address. Using the Evergreen gatehouse, a flagpole and four photos taken at the time they have produced digital images of the event. They hope to be finished with the project in time for the 150th anniversary of the speech on Nov. 19th.

There are only 70-known photographs of Abraham Lincoln in all, and ones of him at Gettysburg for the address, just three and the two found in 2007 have been challenged.

Will the Real A. Lincoln Please Stand Up. --Old Secesh

Col. Leventhorpe & the 11th NC at Gettysburg-- Part 4

As Pettigrew approached Gettysburg, Longstreet's spy, Harrison, rode up to him and confirmed that there were indeed Federal troops near Gettysburg. Then Pettigrew and Leventhorpe halted the brigade and rode ahead. At a ridge, they could see that Gettysburg had ten roads coming into it, but still was unoccupied by Union troops.

Pettigrew sent skirmishers forward and was about to order his brigade forward when he spotted a long dark column on the Emmetsburg Road. With field glasses, he made them out to be Union cavalry. It was Buford's Division.

At that point, Pettigrew began withdrawing slowly. He went back to Cashtown to report to General Heth. There, with Gen. A.P. Hill, the decision was made to send in Heth's whole division to Gettysburg the next day.

--Old Secesh

The Cyclorama Building's Gone

From the March 9, 2013, Hanover (Pa) Evening Sun.

I'm sure sad to have to report this, but the Cyclorama Building, despite a valiant 12 year fight to save it, is gone.  It wasn't a really pretty building, but with as long as it was around, a bit of history attached to it.

The National Park Service announced they were going to destroy it in 1999 and ever after that had a constant battle with architectural preservationists..  In January, the NPS cleared the last hurdle to its destruction and now its gone.

It was built near the site where the Cyclorama painting it housed was painted, concerning Pickett's Charge.  All this last week, people visited the site to get one last look.

The NPS wants to return the land to its 1863 appearance, an admirable thing, but one that could have had some context as to other historical features, even those not present when the battle was fought.

Of course, there is quite an industry in Gettysburg revolving around the battle, something you will not see if you go to the Battle of Antietam at Sharpsburg, Maryland.  That's a whole different environment.

Sorry To See It Go.  --Old Secesh