In July, 1913, 50 years after the Battle of Gettysburg, over 50,000 veterans attended a Grand Reunion in the same fields where they had struggled so valiantly for the future of their country. There were tents erected in massive camps. Restaurants and grocers catered meals, and many events were planned for the days of July 1 through July 4. Between the events, the veterans took time to explore the battlefield and visit with one another. Here is one veteran’s story:

“On Wednesday [July 1], about seven or eight of us took a tramp over the battlefield. We went down Confederate Avenue to the Spangler House, where we refreshed ourselves with cool water and lemonade, and then continued our march. We went to Devil’s Den, then to Little Round Top, and the castle on the heights [the 44th New York monument], then up the blue lines and back to camp.

On the morning of July 2, I was talking to a comrade, who said, ‘Here is where my command was during the fight, and right here the spear was shot off the flagstaff. I am going to look in the weeds and leaves to see if I can find it.’

He began to poke about in the dirt, and suddenly he grabbed at something and held it tightly against his breast. He had found the spear after it had lain there for 50 years.”
--From The Confederate Veteran, vol.xxi, p. 539.