The Great Reunion- 1913
The largest reunion of Civil War veterans from both sides ever held occurred at Gettysburg in 1913. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hosted the event and invited every surviving honorably discharged Union and Confederate veteran in the nation. It was meant to be a combined reunion of members of the Grand Army of the Republic and United Confederate Veterans. Over 50,000 veterans came to Gettysburg; former enemies walked and talked together about the terrible battles that they fought in during the war. Not only were there veterans of Gettysburg, but also men who had fought at Antietam, Shenandoah Valley, in Georgia during Sherman's March, Tennessee, Kentucky, and at Appomattox. This was the largest gathering of former soldiers who had torn the nation apart and then had helped to sew it back together.
Most of the veterans were situated in the Great Camp. Since the start of June 26, 1913, veterans had begun arriving. Every veteran was provided a cot and a place in an 8-man tent. Throughout the event, kitchens supplied veterans with three meals a day. By the end of the reunion, the kitchens had made 688,000 meals! However, as the temperature had risen on July 2, heat exhaustion and physical fatigue hospitalized several hundred veterans. Despite their age and the conditions, only nine veterans passed away during the week-long encampment. Even with the temperature, the veterans wandered the battlefield by the hundreds. Many visited battle sites where they had fought fifty years before. Many were pleased to find that much of the battleground had been preserved.
Throughout the event, khaki-clad US Army personnel caused a lot of excitement. The soldiers were there to guard camp supplies, give demonstrations, and help the veterans. Many veterans passed time by eagerly discussing modern weapons of war with the soldiers. Veterans were also eager to explain how much things had changed during the time that they had been alive.
On July 4, Woodrow Wilson came to address the veterans. The president spoke to the veterans with compassion and gratitude:
"These venerable men crowding here to this famous field have set us a great example of devotion and utter sacrifice. They were willing to die that the people might live. But their task is done. Their day is turned into evening. They look to us to perfect what they have established. Their work is handed unto us, to be done in another way but not in another spirit. Our day is not over; it is upon us in full tide."
Most of the veterans were situated in the Great Camp. Since the start of June 26, 1913, veterans had begun arriving. Every veteran was provided a cot and a place in an 8-man tent. Throughout the event, kitchens supplied veterans with three meals a day. By the end of the reunion, the kitchens had made 688,000 meals! However, as the temperature had risen on July 2, heat exhaustion and physical fatigue hospitalized several hundred veterans. Despite their age and the conditions, only nine veterans passed away during the week-long encampment. Even with the temperature, the veterans wandered the battlefield by the hundreds. Many visited battle sites where they had fought fifty years before. Many were pleased to find that much of the battleground had been preserved.
Throughout the event, khaki-clad US Army personnel caused a lot of excitement. The soldiers were there to guard camp supplies, give demonstrations, and help the veterans. Many veterans passed time by eagerly discussing modern weapons of war with the soldiers. Veterans were also eager to explain how much things had changed during the time that they had been alive.
On July 4, Woodrow Wilson came to address the veterans. The president spoke to the veterans with compassion and gratitude:
"These venerable men crowding here to this famous field have set us a great example of devotion and utter sacrifice. They were willing to die that the people might live. But their task is done. Their day is turned into evening. They look to us to perfect what they have established. Their work is handed unto us, to be done in another way but not in another spirit. Our day is not over; it is upon us in full tide."