CIVIL WAR VETERANS AT THE 75th REUNION AT GETTYSBURG

CIVIL WAR VETERANS AT THE 75th REUNION AT GETTYSBURG

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Item Code: 2026-2118

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An interesting group of five photographs taken at the 1938 “75th Reunion” of Union and Confederate veterans at Gettysburg. All five are original photos bearing July 7, 1938, printing dates on the reverse along with handwritten identifications in pen of the subjects. The event had been planned since the 1913 fiftieth anniversary and the gathering lasted from June 29 to July 6, 1938, the main events coinciding with the days of the battle, with 1,359 Union and 486 Confederate veterans attending. The event was covered nationwide by reporters, photographers and radio broadcasters. The veterans came from all over the country and were not limited to those with service on the field. Even at that date there were misgivings among veterans about a joint reunion and the display of the Confederate flag.

The photos are identified as follows:

1) “Unveiling of Eternal Light – July 4-1938” This shows the Peace Light Memorial with a large crowd on the platform around its base, and another group of audience members in the foreground, some having turned toward the camera and in the process of leaving at the conclusion of the ceremonies. This eternal light was dedicated in honor of the 1913 gathering of veterans of both sides, promoted as a symbol of unity and reconciliation.

2) Untitled on the reverse. Two men in front of a tent with US flag at left and sign on the center pole reading: “GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC / DR. OVERTON H. MENNET / COMMANDER IN CHIEF. A younger man stands at right wearing light color hat and trousers. The older man in dark hat and clothing with his hands in his hip pockets at left might be Mennet. He had served briefly in the 146th Indiana, mustering into Company E as a private Feb. 15, 1865, and mustering out Aug. 31, 1865, at Baltimore. He was G.A.R. Commander-in-Chief 1937-38.

3) A somewhat portly CS veteran in gray jacket, pants and hat, reunion badge on lapel, holding a walking stick and holding up what may be a pipe. A young woman with purse and holding a small box of some sort stands beside him, both posed in front of a tent. Reverse reads: Confederate / J.C. Bradford / Soldiers Home-Sweet Home- / Little Rock / Ark.” Born 8/23/48, James C. Bradford died in Arkansas 3/7/39, age 90. Bartholow’s list of veterans at the event lists him as serving in Co. K of the 9th TN Infantry. His headstone lists him as serving in Co. K of the 9th TN Cavalry, with War Department authorization for it stating he had been paroled at Jackson, TN, in June 1865. He CMSR file indicates he enlisted June 30, 1863, in what was first designated the 19th TN Cavalry and also known as Biffle’s Battalion, but was mustered and served in the field as the 9th Tennessee Cavalry. Bradford was captured March 16, 1864, at Union City, TN, according to his CMSR file, and was imprisoned at Camp Chase, OH, and later Pt. Lookout, MD. His record has become confused to a degree by the signature of an “Obadiah Bradford” on same page as which his name appears in a column of names on a roll of prisoners of war as J.C. Bradford, but his file includes the note that he was paroled at Jackson, Tenn. June 1865, making clear this is the same man.

Bradford was among the veterans interviewed at the event by twenty-one-year-old Charles Albert Earp and published in 2003. Bradford stated he had been a Rebel sympathizer in a Union section of Tennessee, but succeeded in joining Forrest. He claimed to have been wounded in, “a skirmish on the Duck River with three Union transports and a gunboat” and recalled his capture as taking place at Lexington when he was on a scouting party that “rode into a large detachment of Union cavalry.” He told young Earp that he was a good rider and always had a horse, “but that his superiors made him walk sometimes when he was ‘mean,’” which might have been intended as a moral lesson for the young man.

4) “Confederate – Texas.” An unidentified Confederate veteran shown standing in a tent, leaning on a walking stick and appearing to tip his hat to the photographer. A small Confederate battleflag on a stick has been tied to the center-pole of the tent. He wears an officer’s frock coat, likely indicating rank in the UCV.

5) Two Union veterans. One standing with cane next to a companion in a wheelchair. Both wear badges on their left lapels. The seated veteran is wearing several. Identified on the reverse: Union - / Michael Franz / Iowa / Union – Peter Schreiner / 215 Hamilton St. / Crawfordsville / Indiana.” Franz served in the 20th Iowa and is sometimes listed as France. He was credited to Buffalo, IA, and enlisted as a private 12/29/63 and mustered into Co. A of the 20th as a private on 1/7/64. He transferred into Co. H of the 29th Iowa at some point and mustered out 8/10/65 at New Orleans. Schreiner is listed as enlisting and mustering into Co. A of the 108th Ohio on 8/15/63 and serving until mustered out at Louisville, KY, on 7/22/65, having transferred from Co. A to Co. H on 6/9/65.

This is an interesting group of on-the-spot photos taken at the event intended, like the eternal peace light itself, to foster reconciliation and unity.   [sr][ph:L]

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