- Joined
- Jul 23, 2017
- Location
- Southwest Missouri
Pennsylvania Lt Governor John Peter Shindel Gobin
former Brevet General Union Army
Civil War Nurse Georgeanna "Georgia" Wade McClellan
sister of Gettysburg civilian victim 'Jennie' Wade
A yellowed newspaper account of his remarks, preserved by the general in a scrapbook, evokes a vivid scene for the modern reader. "Gen. Gobin got warmed up and let himself out to the shouts of approval and cheers of delight from the listeners. He said he was tired of hearing so much gush about Pickett's charge, as though they were the only heroes of the day. He said they simply charged across the field and were met and repulsed by men as brave and reckless as they, and those who crossed the wall did so as prisoners, with their guns thrown away and their hands thrown up. He thought more distinguished deeds of valor had been performed by divisions of the Union army." .... Gobin rebelled at the sentimentality of the reunion.
The newspaper continued, "... He said the Grand Army of the Republic men were disposed to extend the hand of friendship to their old enemies, but they were getting tired of this gush and pretense for the glorification of a veteran simply because he wore a gray uniform with a Southern flag printed on his badge. That badge meant treason and rebellion in 1861, and what it meant then, it meant now. He thought the idea of reunion was overdone, and was being used only as a leverage to foist certain individuals into notoriety at the expense of the principles for which the North had fought to the elevation of the principles of disloyalty."
Gobin's oratorical finale inspired "wild cheers" from his audience of aging veterans. "The general concluded by saying, 'I want it to be distinctly understood, now and for all time, that the men who wore the blue and fought on this field were everlastingly and eternally right, and that the men who wore the gray were everlastingly and eternally wrong.' "
Gobin's sharp and unwavering expression of his patriotism no doubt jarred many who hoped that the Gettysburg reunion would be a salve to the nation's lingering war wounds. Though it is unclear whether he heard Gobin's fiery address on July 4, Gen. Henry Slocum, who commanded the 12th Army Corps during the 1863 battle, reflected on the reunion as he boarded a train in Gettysburg that same day. "It went off all right, I suppose, but it was a very delicate thing to handle. I hope they will not have it again. Once is enough for such reunions."
When reports of his remarks spread across the country, Gobin received expressions of support, including a letter from a woman with a deep personal connection to Gettysburg. The letter was written on official stationery of the Department of Iowa, Women's Relief Corps, and dated July 15, 1888:
"Dear Sir, Excuse the liberty I take in addressing you. Having been introduced to you at St. Louis last summer, I feel we are not entire strangers. I am the sister of Jennie Wade, who was killed during the battle of Gettysburg, and am very much interested in that battlefield.
"I have just received the Gettysburg paper given a full account of the reunion and the difference of opinions in regard to the meeting of the 'Blues and Grays,' also the reunion held at Round Top and your brave sentiments in the matter (please accept my congratulations).
"The mystery to me is how can the Union soldiers forget that horrid war and its sufferings and shake hands with rebels on so sacred ground as Gettysburg. They surely have more forgiving grace than your humble correspondent, or they have lost sight of the object for which they fought.
"I had no desire to go to Gettysburg this summer, I preferred to shed my tears at home. They can talk about the rebels being reconstructed, but give them a chance and we can whip them again. Hoping this may be received with the spirit it has been written, I remain the true friend of the 'Boys in Blue.' Georgia McClellan"
from The Daily Item Nov 11, 2008 by John Deppen
You can read the original newspaper article in the Butler Citizen July 13, 1888 (here)