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MASONS AT THE
BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG
The Masonic Friend to Friend
Monument
The Battle of Gettysburg, which took place from
July 1 through July 3, 1863, is the most famous, most bloody, and in many ways
the most significant battle of the U.S. Civil War from 1861 to 1865.
Robert E. Lee took his Confederate Army of Northern Virginia on a controversial
invasion of the Northern States in an effort to alleviate Virginia from having
armies continue to fight there, and also in an effort to bring the Union Army of
the Potomac out of its fortifications, to a climactic battle that could end the
war and result in independence for the Confederate States of America.
Abraham Lincoln understood the significance of
Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania, and he appointed Union Major General George G.
Meade to lead the United States army, with orders to prevent any attack on
Washington, D.C., or Baltimore, Maryland. General Meade led his army into
northern Maryland, while General Lee split his army into different parts with
missions leading to the hoped-for capture of Harrisburg, the capital of
Pennsylvania, with other missions to follow. However, Lee did not realize
that Meade's army was as close as it was, until June 28. Then, he issued
orders for the parts of his army to regroup at Cashtown or Gettysburg.
In the meantime, some of Lee's army was camped
near Gettysburg, and some of Meade's army was in Gettysburg. They clashed
briefly on June 30, and again in much larger numbers on July 1. Both sides
threw in reinforcements, until the July 1 battle became a very large battle,
very hard fought by both sides. At the end of the day the force of
overwhelming numbers resulted in a Confederate victory for that day. The
Union army regrouped on the hills and ridge south of Gettysburg, in a very
strong position, under the leadership of Major General, and Brother, Winfield
Scott Hancock, one of the most widely admired generals of the Civil War.
On July 2, General Lee attempted to defeat the
Union army by attacking both ends of it, in another extremely hard-fought day
with thousands of casualties. One of the most significant events of that
day was the defense of a hill called Little Round Top by a Maine regiment
commanded by Colonel (later Major General), and Brother, Joshua Lawrence
Chamberlain. When his men ran out of ammunition, knowing that if he gave
up his position the entire battle might be lost, he ordered a bayonet charge
that might have been suicidal. Instead, he won a highly-praised victory,
plus a Medal of Honor, and fame that resulted in his being later be elected
Governor of Maine four times.
The climax of the battle took place on July 3.
After a quiet morning, in early afternoon General Lee ordered the most massive
cannon attack ever on the North American continent. Then, he ordered about
12,000 men to attack the center of the Union position, across about a mile of
open country. Both the Southerners and Northerners generally showed great
courage in facing each other, realizing that this might be the event that would
decide the war and the fate of our country. Among the leaders of this
event, known as Pickett's Charge, was Confederate Brigadier General, and
Brother, Lewis Addison Armistead. The leader of the Union force being
attacked was the Union Major General, and Brother, Winfield Scott Hancock.
Armistead and Hancock were both career soldiers,
and before the Civil War they were friends when both were U.S. Army officers in
California. Both were also Freemasons.
When the Confederate attack reached the Union
line at Gettysburg, there was fierce fighting. General Armistead was shot
twice, and as he went down he gave a Masonic sign asking for assistance. A
fellow Mason, a Union officer named Henry H. Bingham, then a Captain, later a
higher officer and then a very influential Congressman, came to Armistead's
assistance and offered to help. Armistead reportedly asked to see and talk
with his friend General Hancock, but he was told that Hancock had been very
badly wounded just a few minutes earlier. Union Brother Bingham then
helped Confederate Brother Armistead off the field and to a hospital, but
Armistead died two days later. General Hancock, to the surprise of many,
recovered and resumed his command later in the Civil War.
This incident, of a Freemason who was a Union
officer helping a Freemason who was a wounded Confederate officer, is one of the
greatest examples of the ideals of Freemasonry in action. In 1993, the
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania completed and dedicated a monument on the Gettysburg
National Cemetery, with the cooperation and support of the United States
government, that shows Brother Bingham, a Union officer, assisting Brother
Armistead. This statue is extremely dramatic, and it is called the
"Masonic Friend to Friend Masonic Memorial."
In the words of Sheldon A. Munn, one of the
Freemasons who helped bring about the construction of this monument:
"The 'Friend to Friend Masonic Memorial,' at
Gettysburg will help demonstrate to the world that Freemasonry is, indeed, a
unique fraternity; that its bonds of friendship, compassion and brotherly love
withstood the ultimate test during the most tragic and decisive period of our
nation's history; it stood then as it stands now, as 'A Brotherhood
Undivided!'"
Masons who played key roles at the Battle of Gettysburg
Winfield Scott Hancock
Born February 14, 1824 in Montgomery Square near Norristown, Pennsylvania.
West Point class of 1840, graduated 18th out of 25, at age 20. Served
in Mexican and Seminole Wars and Utah (Mormon) Expedition. Chief Quartermaster
in Los Angeles, California. Civil War Brigadier (1 star) and Major (2 star)
General. Wounded severely at the Battle of Gettysburg. Considered one of the
best Union generals. After the Civil War served in the U.S. Army, later
Democratic candidate for President of the U.S. in 1880. Died February 9, 1886,
at Governor’s Island, New York. Buried in Montgomery Cemetery, Norristown,
Pennsylvania.
Member of Charity Lodge #190, Norristown, Pennsylvania, Royal Arch Mason,
#90, and Hutchison Commandery, Knights Templar #22.
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
Born September 8, 1828 in Brewer, Maine. College Professor at Bowdoin
College, Maine; spoke 7 languages. Lieutenant Colonel and later Colonel of the
20th Maine Regiment, later Brigadier (1 star) and Major (2 star)
General. Wounded 6 times during the Civil War. Hero of Little Round Top, for
which he received the Medal of Honor. At Appomattox he was the General who
received the formal surrender of the Confederate Army, from Major General John
B. Gordon, a fellow Freemason. After the War, Chamberlain was elected Governor
of Maine 3 times, later President of Bowdoin College, a businessman and author.
Died February 24, 1914. Buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, Brunswick, Maine. There
is a museum about him in Brunswick.
Member of United Lodge #8 in Brunswick, Maine.
Lewis Addison Armistead
Born February 18, 1817, in New Bern, North Carolina. Came from a military
family; his uncle commanded Fort McHenry during the British bombardment in the
War of 1812 which inspired the Star Spangled Banner. Attended West Point 1833,
1834-1836, but resigned. Served in the Mexican War where he was twice awarded
for bravery. He was serving in California with Winfield Scott Hancock when the
Civil War began, and he resigned to travel cross country to join the Confederate
forces. Colonel and later Brigadier (1 star) General. Died July 5, 1863, in
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Member of Alexandria-Washington Lodge #22 in Virginia. Charter member of
Union Lodge 37 in Fort Riley, Kansas.
Other Freemasons who played significant roles at the Battle of Gettysburg:
Captain Henry H. Bingham, Chartiers Lodge #297, Cannonsburg PA,
Life Member of Union Lodge #121 in Philadelphia. Received the Medal of Honor.
Elected to Congress in 1878, where he served 33 years and was one of the leaders
of Congress. Died March 24, 1912, in Philadelphia, aged 70. Buried in North
Laurel Hills Cemetery, Philadelphia.
Major General Henry Heth, Senior Warden of Rocky Mountain Lodge
#205 in Utah Territory. Very close friend of Robert E. Lee. Military career,
severely wounded at Gettysburg but survived. After the War he started an
insurance business in Richmond. Died in 1899, age 73. Buried in Hollywood
Cemetery.
Brigadier General Solomon Meredith. Commander of the "Iron
Brigade," also called the "Black Hat Brigade." Born May 29, 1810
in Guilford County, Virginia. Had 3 sons in the Union Army, 2 of whom were
killed. After the War he was surveyor general of the Montana Territory. Member
of Cambridge Lodge #105, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Brigadier General Alfred Iverson. Columbian Lodge #108,
Columbus, Georgia. His father was a U.S. Senator from Georgia before the War.
After the War he was a businessman in Georgia and later an orange grower in
Kissimmee, Florida. Died in 1911, age 82.
Major General Carl Schurz. Born March 2, 1828, in Cologne,
Prussia. Very well educated, but left Europe after he supported failed
revolutions. Prominent politician in the U.S., supported Lincoln’s election in
1860, and a leader of the German-American community. Given a Generalship to
command the large number of Germans in the Union Army. Did not have a
distinguished career in the Civil War. After the War we supported equal rights
for Blacks, Ambassador to Spain, U.S. Senator from Missouri, and Secretary of
the Interior. Died in 1906 in New York City, where a park is named for him.
Member of Herman Lodge #125 in Philadelphia.
Brigadier General John B. Gordon. Born February 6, 1832 in
Upson County, Georgia. Attended University of Georgia and trained in law. At the
Battle of Antietam he was wounded so severely in the head that only a bullet
hole in his hat prevented him from drowning in his own blood. Wounded 8 times.
After the War he was elected U.S. Senator from Georgia 3 times, later Governor
of Georgia. Member of Gate City Lodge #2 in Atlanta.
Brigadier General George T. "Tige" Anderson. Left
college in Georgia to enter the Mexican War. Severely wounded in Gettysburg.
After the War he was a railroad freight agent and then police chief in Anniston,
Georgia. He was a Freemason, but details are not known.
Brigadier General John H.H. Ward. Born in New York City in
1823. Fought in many Civil War battles, but removed from the Army in 1864 for
misbehavior and intoxication in the face of the enemy. This was disputed for 30
years, and never settled. After the War he served as clerk of courts in New
York. In 1903 while vacationing in Monroe, New York, he was run over by a train
and killed. Became a Mason in Metropolitan Lodge #273, New York City, f1855.
Royal Arch Mason, Commandery, Shriner, Active 33rd degree in the AASR,
Northern Masonic Jurisdiction.
Brigadier General Rufus Ingalls - Williamette Lodge #2 Oregon
Brigadier General Joseph B. Kershaw - Kershaw Lodge #29 South Carolina
Brigadier General Alfred T.A. Torbert - Temple Chapter #2 Delaware
Brigadier General William Barksdale - Columbus Lodge #5, Columbus, Mississippi
Major General David B. Birney - Franklin Lodge #134 Pennsylvania
Brigadier General Harry T. Hays - Louisiana Lodge #102 Louisiana
Major General Daniel Butterfield - Metropolitan Lodge #273 New York
Brigadier General John W. Geary - Philanthropy Lodge #255 Pennsylvania
Major General Alfred Pleasonton - Franklin Lodge #134 Pennsylvania
Brigadier General George J. Stannard - Franklin Lodge #4 Vermont
Brigadier General James L. Kemper - Linn Banks Lodge #126 (PM) Virginia
Major General George E. Pickett - Dove Lodge #51 Virginia
Brigadier General John D. Imboden - Staunton Lodge #13 Virginia
Famous Quotes:
By Abraham Lincoln, at the Gettysburg Cemetery, November 19, 1863:
"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this
continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition
that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing
whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated
can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come
to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here
gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and
proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we
cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead
who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or
detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it
can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living rather to be
dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far
so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task
remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to
that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion--that we here
highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation
under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of
the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.
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