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PIC T U R E 
 
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 Painted by P- F.- Rothermel§ 
 
 j^Iow on Exhibition at 
 
 TREMONT TEMPLE, 
 
 PHILADELPHIA ' . 
 
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KEY TO ROTHERMEL'S BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 
 
 
 
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 BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 
 
 POSITION OF THE TROOPS, JULY 3, 1863. 
 
 THE better to understand the charge and repulse of Pickett's 
 Division, which the artist has endeavored to represent in this 
 picture, it will be necessary to say a few words regarding the 
 position of the contending armies, as well as the formation of 
 the ground over which the battle was fought. First, then, the 
 Second Corps < Hancock's) occupied that part of the line of battle 
 known as the left centre, od the gradual declining slope of Cemetery 
 Hill until near Little Round Top, where the ground becomes quite or 
 nearly level, it then rises, rather abruptly, to the crest of Little Round 
 Top and, with a valley intervening, culminates in Round Top, the 
 extreme left and key-point of the position of the Army of the Union. 
 The observer is placed at the left of Hay's Division, and on the right 
 of Gibbon's (the central Division of Hancock's Corps). The stone 
 wall, in the middle and foreground of the picture, was occupied in 
 part on the left by a portion of the 71st P. V., Col. Smith. A low 
 stone wall, nearly perpendicular to the first named, extended out some 
 distance towards the Emmettsburg Road to an angle, and thence down 
 towards the left, just in front of a clump of trees. Nearest to the angle 
 or right of this wall was placed the remainder of Colonel Smith's, 
 71st P. V., together with two guns of Cushing's Battery. On the 
 prolongation of this wall was the 69th Pennsylvania Volunteers, 
 commanded by Colonel O'Kane, and reaching to the left of the 
 chimp of trees in the centre middle ground of the picture. Then 
 came Hall's Brigade, then Harrow's, and then Caldwell's Division of 
 the Second Corps. Still further to the left, toward Round Top, was 
 stationed Doubleday's "Division of the First Corps, in front of which 
 and the line of Batteries was General Stannard's Vermont Brigade ; 
 (their first battle and gloriously did they do their duty). General 
 Dana's Brigade, of Doubleday's Division, in line* supporting 
 Batteries, and then General Humphrey's Division, Third Corps, 
 (Sickle's) in rear and in support of McGilvery's Brigade of reserve 
 artillery. Further to the left and somewhat further in the rear, 
 De Trobriand's Brigade; and in advance of the line occupied by 
 the artillery, was placed a Brigade of the Sixth Corps (Sedgwick.- i. 
 
6 
 
 The remainder of the Corps being massed at and near the rear of 
 Little Round Top. This was the position of the troops, with tin 3 
 exception of the 72d Pennsylvania Volunteers, Col. Baxter (wounded 
 the day before), and now under the command of the late Colonel 
 Hesser, in reserve, to the left and in the rear of the clump of trees, 
 where the ground slopes down rapidly for a short distance. The gun 
 in the left foreground represents one of Arnold's R. I. Batteries run 
 forward. At the end of the stone wall, near the middle, is seen a 
 part of Cushing's; further to the. left, Rorty's and others, and then 
 McGilvery's Brigade of reserve artillery, towards the slope of Little 
 Round Top. 
 
 The line the enemy occupied was on Seminary Ridge, on the right 
 of the picture. The right of Longstreet's Corps extending down some 
 distance beyond the point where the Emmettsburg Road crosses the 
 before mentioned Ridge, somewhat overlapping the extreme Union 
 left on Round Top. 
 
 The enemy's troops were formed in line of battle on this Ridge, 
 under cover of the hills and trees. Pickett's Division, three Brigades, 
 Kemper on their right, Garnett's in the centre and Armistead on their 
 left, which was supported by Pettigrew, commanding Heth's Division 
 (who was wounded the day before), and Pender's Division. The 
 right supporting column was lead by General Willcox. 
 
 The following is an Extract from JOHN H. B. LATROBES' "PINCH 
 OF THE FIGHT," as described by an Eye Wttness. 
 
 (First Published in the Baltimore American.) 
 
 ACCOUNT OF THE PINCH OF THE FIGHT. 
 
 "|QF Friday's fight I know more. Lee's attack was, on this day, on 
 ^-> what is called the left centre, and mainly took place between the 
 house at the turn of the horse shoe and the clump of trees. This 
 position was held principally by the Second Corps, the second brigade 
 of the second division of which, under General Webb, was on the 
 right, looking over the valley and down upon the Emmettsburg road. 
 Next to it on the left was the third brigade, (Hall's,) the first brigade 
 being still further on the left ; the three brigades, forming the second 
 division, being thus in line on the crest. If you bear in mind my 
 description, you will see now that a fire from the opposite side of the 
 valley at the Second Corps (Hancock's,) and the second division of 
 it (Gibbon's), would, if it ranged further, make Meade's headquarters 
 a hot place, and also the house where the officers lunched, as well as 
 the cemetery. 
 
 My knowledge being confined mainly to the second division, I will 
 not pretend to say much about anything else, for the reason that a 
 soldier in battle is not always competent to describe more than what 
 passes immediately around him ; nor will this failure on my part be 
 of much importance, because, with the fortunes of the Second Corps 
 and its second division, the fate of the fight was closely connected. 
 
Just in front of Webb*a brigade, and a little way down the slope 
 towards the valley, was a stone wall, and to the left, and somewhat 
 in advance of the stone wall, was a rail fence in front of Hall's brig- 
 ade. This wall, and fence and clump of tree3 were the features of the 
 day, lei me tell you. Away to the left was the Third Corps, 1 think, 
 and on the right, facing Gettysburg, the Eleventh Corps. About 
 what took place on the right, or to the east of the Gettysburg road, I 
 know Jttle or nothing. 
 
 Now, that you have my theatre of observation, let me come to 
 what took place on it. The morning of the 3d passed quietly. We 
 had heard, as a camp rumor, that Meade had said, that, "If Lee could 
 afford to wait so could he ;" and we fancied that the waiting had 
 begun, when, about one o'clock on Friday, a single gun en the oppo- 
 site side of the valley went "bang," and then there was the whirr of 
 a shot. Presently, another "bang, 1 * and then "bang, bang, bang, 
 bang, bang," until it was impossible to count the shots; and along 
 with these reports came every kind of hurtle, whirr, whistle and shriek, 
 that men had heard or can imagine, the most terrible of all proceed- 
 ing from some elongated missile, which ceasing to revolve around its 
 axis, dashed "promiscuously" through the air, becoming visible in 
 such event. The twelve pound shot were also to be seen as they came; 
 and the worst of it was, that every shot seemed to be coming straight 
 to hit you between the eyes. Horses were the greatest sufferers here; 
 for the men laid down and escaped ; but the poor brutes had to take 
 it standing. General Gibbon had sent two regiments to the brick 
 house on the Emmettsburg Road, from which we infer that he expected 
 an attack in that direction. Although Generals don't stop to tell the 
 soldiers what they are doing this or that for, yet now and then one 
 catches a word, when one happens to be near by, and picks up a hint, 
 if the infernal rampage allows time for thought. So, when General 
 Gibbon was heard to say to an aide, "Tell General Meade that the 
 enemy is advancing his infantry in force upon my front," and the aide 
 was seen to put spurs to his horse and go off in a full gallop, we began 
 to brace up for what was coming. By this time, after an hour and a 
 half of such firing as I have described, we could see, from where we 
 stood, the enemy moving up in three linens from out of the woods. 
 They would come out, marching by a flank, till they reached the 
 desired ground, when they would face to the front. Their second line 
 was about a hundred yards in the rear of the first, and on the edge of 
 the woods, across the valley, w T as a third line. It was a splendid sight 
 to see them. Ko one looked at their uniforms or no uniforms, their 
 hats or caps or bare heads. Everybody looked at the beautiful way 
 in which they arrayed themselves in order of attack, regardless of the 
 shot and shell which we threw into their ranks. . The soldiers on our 
 side again and again praised it, while they awaited the approach of 
 the enemy. !Nor did they Avait long. When they approached to 
 within ^bout two hundred yards, a part of our division, I think it was 
 Hall's Brigade opened fire, and we could see men fall, and others go 
 to the rear. Still on they came, crowding a little in front, but as 
 steady as rocks. Just then an officer rode by, and said the Vermont 
 regiment on the left was worrying the enemy. But they did not mind 
 
8 
 
 that either; on they came. When they got within a hundred yards, 
 more of our regiments opened fire; but it did not stop them. Some 
 regiments reserved their fire until they got within fifty yards, and 
 then the enemy fell fast; but still, on they came, and we could see 
 their faces, and hear their officers. It was almost too much for human 
 nature to stand, and a portion of the second brigade, which was behind 
 the stone fence, you will recollect, began to leave cover — not because 
 the enemy was upon it, but because it seemed impossible to stay. 
 Not a man ran, or seemed to feel like running, but they fell back 
 slow]) 7 , loading as they did so, and firing, while the flags of the enemy 
 — which are small red affairs with a white cross diagonal on them — 
 got up to the stone wall, and some crossed the line of rail fence, 
 perhaps a hundred or so, led, as I heard, by General Armistead. 
 They were able to do this, because, as I have told you, the second 
 brigade did not stand up to the line of the stone wall and rail fence, 
 so that the division was bent backward as it were, in the centre, the 
 ends on the right and left standing fast ; at least, so it seemed, for 
 there was a great deal of smoke and a terrific noise to confuse one's 
 power of calm observation. 
 
 This was the pinch, and the officers knew it. General Gibbon had 
 just been hit, some one said, and almost at the same time General 
 Hancock was badly wounded, and b ith were taken oft* the field to the 
 rear. But I recollect seeing Gibbon's aide try to rally the men, and 
 do it manfully, too. He did a man's part in steadying the line. So 
 did Webb, who was on foot in the midst of the men. Entreaty, 
 command, expostulation, encourgement, were employed. Webb was 
 everywhere. So was Colonel Smith, of a Pennsylvania regiment. At 
 this time the enemy were crowding over the stone fence near the 
 clump of trees, and their red flags were waving, as it seemed to me, 
 in triumph already; though Hall was all right and his men were 
 steady on our left Presently, some one near me said, that the enemy 
 were massing their men in front of Webb, opposite the clump of trees, 
 and we began to Avish for Hall's help. By this time, the officers bad 
 stopped the falling back and were driving stragglers to the front, 
 though we did not go forward to the stone wall, yet; but all were 
 facing the enemy and firing heavily — not in ranks, for every one 
 seemed going it pretty much on his own hook — but cheerfully, which 
 was a good sign. We had wished for Hall, so he came as wished, and 
 his right marched by a flank to our left and got mixed with our men. 
 As the third brigade (Hall's) came up by the flank, there was a 
 disposition, under the heavy fire to which it was exposed, to edge 
 away from the stone wall; but the officers overcame this, and soon a 
 compact body of men was formed, who delivered a heavy and well 
 directed fire upon the enemy as they came over the wall and rail 
 fence towards us. Just then an officer, Gibbon's aide — I think it was 
 the same who had gone for Hall — came over with some regiments 
 from the first brigade (Harrow's) on our left, and from him it was 
 reported, that the extreme right of the enemy, opposite to our left, was 
 breaking badly, and that men, there, were running to the rear. This 
 greatly encouraged us, and we cheered and went to our work with a 
 will. At this time, we were behind the crest, which was between us 
 
9 
 
 and the stone wall, which was a little way down the hill towards the 
 valley; and at the wall, between fifty and sixty yards from us, were 
 the enemy, many of them over the wall. We dow advanced, and 
 Could see, as we did 80, that the battle was raging in front of the third 
 division. We delivered a steady fire from the crest, at short range, 
 which cleared the wall, to which we then, rushed, flags waving and 
 men shouting. Webb, Hall, Devereux, Mallon and Smith were 
 among the men. Officers, on both sides, were using their pistols. 
 The color sergeant of the 72d Pennsylvania went forward with his 
 ctdors, the lance of which had been shot in two. The soldiers followed 
 him with a rush. No one wanted to straggle now. Other eolorswere 
 borne forward; the wall was gained, and crossed, and the work of 
 taking prisoners commenced. Hundreds, who threw down their arms 
 and rushed towards us, were sent to the rear. Here and there, there 
 was a struggle for flags; but the battle Avas ended in this part of the 
 field. Lee's great assault had failed. Going back with some prisoners 
 across the wall and over the crest, I saw General Meade, who came 
 on the ground with his son, who was his aide. He stopped to speak 
 to General Gibbon's aide (Hascall) and said, in his sharp way, "How- 
 is it going here?" or something that sounded like it. He was told 
 that the attack was repulsed; when he repeated, "What, is the 
 assault entirely repulsed?" When the aide again told him he thought 
 it was, he said, "Thank God." and made a motion to wave his hat, 
 but he did not, but waved his righthand and hurrahed, while his son 
 took oft' his hat and hurrahed like a good fellow. We men stood and 
 stared, and then passed on, as the General gave orders in a quick, 
 short way, which seemed to be about the placing of reinforcements. 
 The dead men and horses were lying thick around; there was still 
 some firing going on, and we were all — that is, all of us that were left 
 — begrimed with powder and dust, and many were bleeding; but it 
 was a good thing to see our General so cool, so much at his ease, and 
 speakiug in such a soldierly way; and when he said "Thank God," 
 many of us said "Amen." The reinforcements soon came up: but 
 we had done without them, and in a little while all was quiet under 
 the clump of trees ; and the stone wall and the rail fence, and the 
 heaps of dead, were once more at rest — the last, for ever. 
 
 One thing struck me much. It was the intelligence of the men. 
 For a good part of the time, and in the heaviest of the fight, the ranks 
 were lost, and there was no organization. The officers were in our 
 midst, everywhere ; but still we kept together, and seemed to under- 
 stand, without orders, what to do, and to feel that the quicker we 
 fired the sooner the thing would be over. As to standing in line and 
 blazing away regularly, wdiy we never thought of it, and yet our fire 
 was fearful, after the falling back from the wall was checked." 
 
10 
 
 The Point of Time in the Battle as portrayed in the Pieture, is thus 
 mentioned in "BACHELDER'S KEY to his ISOMETRICAL MAP 
 of the BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG." 
 
 " THE troops on Webb's left rapidly changed front to the right, and, 
 <y closing en masse, rushed upon the headstrong foe. Then com- 
 menced one of the most desperate hand to hand encounters of the 
 battle. The bayonet and clubbed musket were freely used ; colors 
 were entwined, and men writhed and stroye together in mortal 
 combat. Troops were hurried to their support. The First Corps 
 closed up; the Third moved to the right and closed en masse. 
 General Stannard, whose Brigade was at the front, moved it by 
 the right flank, changed front forward on first company, and with 
 his Green Mountain boys ojjened a murderous fire upon their 
 exposed flank. The effect was resistless. The ground lay thickly 
 covered with killed and wounded; hundreds, thousands, threw 
 down their arms; while the broken, shattered mass sought refuge 
 behind the hills from which they had emerged. Turning to the left, 
 Willcox's column, seemingly without an object, came winding its way 
 down the opposite field. They were quickly routed by McGilvery's 
 Brigade of Reserve Artillery, and large numbers were swooped up by 
 Stannard's troops. 
 
 Thus terminated one of the most determined and formidable assaults 
 of modern days ; a more decided repulse or inglorious defeat could 
 not have befallen their arms; and with it virtually ended the battle, 
 though the affair of Kilpatrick, before mentioned, closed at a later 
 hour. The enemy's loss in numbers was very severe, while the casual- 
 ties among officers of both armies was unprecedented. On the Union 
 side, General Hancock, Gibbon, Webb and Stannard were wounded ; 
 on our enemy's, Generals Kemper, Pettigrew, Trimble, and Colonel 
 Frye, commanding Archer's Brigade, were wounded, all within fifteen 
 minutes' time, and within a hundred and fifty yards of a common 
 centre. 
 
 Skirmishing continued during the next day, though the beaten foe 
 at once commenced his retreat, moving on the Fairfield and Cham- 
 bersburg; Roads. " 
 
PROGRAMME 
 
 OF THE 
 
 t 1 T J 1 1 lit Jt t 
 
 p ft pi pp ^ If I p p 
 
 ATI i:. Mia ST UPON THE UNVEUUNQ OF 
 
 ROTHERMEL'S GREAT PICTURE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 IpATTLE OF {GETTYSBURG, 
 
 AT THE 
 
 ACADEMY OF MUSIC, FHllLAB'A, 
 
 (vib Q/tMaau (gvenma*, (zyeccniwe-h StfM, of <^ o- cw-c4>. 
 
 Under the auspioes of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. 
 
 IJusic h) jnasstafs mraiut H[ititarg fjawt and ijnim foip. 
 
 OVERTURE— AMERICAN QUADRILLE JULLIEN 
 
 IJ NVEILIJS'Q OP THE pICTUF(E. 
 
 MARCHE AUX FLAMBEAUX MEYERBEER. 
 
 POLONAISE, KUHNER. 
 
 BATTLE OVERTURE LIN DPAI NTN ER. 
 
 READING OF JANVIER'S POEM OF "THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG." 
 
 RUSSIAN HYMN, SWOFF. 
 
 Visitors are recommended to bring OPERA GLASSES fur tlie better crimination of the Picture. 
 
11 
 
 On .Tr.lv 1, General Reynold's First Corps, until ho received his mortal wound, 
 and, after him, General Howard's Eleventh Corps, Btubbornly opposed a greatly 
 superior Confe Lerate force, Borne two miles north of the Town of < lettysburg, bnl 
 were driven back with loss, through the town, upon Cemetery Mill, Where 
 Stein wehr*s Brigade had been posted, as a point to tall back upon in case of 
 disaster. Later in the day, General Hancock (sent in advance of hia corps to 
 take the command] organized a line of defence out of the shattered remains of 
 the First and Eleventh Corps. 
 
 The following Description is by COLONEL C. H. BANES, Adjutant- 
 General Webb's Brigade, an Eye Witness on the Field of the 
 last great efforts of the Confederates. Pickett's Charge the Subject 
 of this Picture. 
 
 "The spectator is supposed to be standing on the line of battle, and looking 
 toward the left of the Union forces. This position was occupied by our troops 
 on the night of the 1st July, and also on the 2d. 
 
 "On the extreme Left, in the distance, are seen the elevations known as the 
 Round Tops, where the Pennsylvania Reserves did such memorable fighting. 
 In front of a line to our right of Round Top, nearer the Emmettsburg Road, 
 is the ground fought over on July 2, by General Sickle's Third Corps, and 
 General Longstreet, of the Confederates. Connecting with the line of the Third 
 Corps, and extending to the foreground of the picture, is the Second Corps, under 
 Hancock. With the exception of a brief and not very spirited attack, imme- 
 diately after the affair of the afternoon of July 2, this Corps had no severe work, 
 excepting an occasional shelling and sharpehooting fire, until noon of July :>d. 
 Just prior to that hour a temporary lull seemed to betoken a movement of some 
 unusual character. While the officers, with their field-glasses, were trying to 
 descry the next movement in the great, battle, a single Whitworth gun was fired 
 from the extreme Rebel left, and just reached the clump of trees in the fore- 
 ground. Then a shell from the Rebel centre, then a shot from the left, and 
 immediately, from right to centre, and centre to left, burst forth one of the most 
 terrible cannonadings of the war. The fire of over a hundred guns was 
 ebneentered on the same portion of Meade's line. Round shot and shell, 
 Whitworth bolts and spherical case, were all in the air at the same time. The 
 Union batteries as quickly responded, and the ground seemed to tremble with 
 the thunder of war. The infantry of both armies were silent before the work of 
 death, watching the destructive effects of the canonading. The ghastly wounding 
 of men and horse-, the dismounting of batteries, and the flying missiles from the 
 explosion of limbers and caissons made a scene of horror never to be 
 forgotten. 
 
 ''Amidst all this the Union men, grasping their rifles and lying on the 
 ground in silence, anxiously but firmly awaited the inevitable result of this 
 bombardment, — an infantry attack. At three o'clock the fire ceased as suddenly 
 as it had commenced, and from the line of woods beyond the Emmettsburg Road the 
 enemy were Been advancing in force. The Union batteries increased their fire 
 if possible, using case shot instead of shell, making rude gaps in the ranks of the 
 advancing columns, which were dosed as quickly as they were made. On they 
 come, looking in the distance like a living thunder-cloud. As new batteries 
 
12 
 
 arc placed in position, the five is increased, with no apparent effect, except to 
 mark the track with dead and wounded over which the force is moving. < >n 
 they come ! Nothing more gallant could be expected of desperate men in a 
 desperate cause. Gallantly the Union forces closed up their ranks, and awaited 
 the attack, like two giants about to grapple in a death struggle, each striving for 
 the impetus to overcome the other. The little stonewall in front of the 69th 
 Pennsylvania Volunteers is reached, and 'Pickett's men' of Longstreet's Corps, 
 who up to this time supposed they were attacking the untried militia, cried out, 
 'The Army of the Potomac!' General Armistead, of Virginia, in the advance, 
 with hat on his sword, was the first over the wall, exclaiming, 'Give them the 
 cold steel ! ' 
 
 " Here came the grip of the fight. Gallant Hancock is down ; Gibbon, severely 
 wounded, is lead to the rear ; Generals Kemper and Armistead, of the Rebel force, 
 as quickly fall ; and officers and men on both sides are as rapidly stricken. For 
 a k-\v moments the antagonists, survey each other, Armistead, the Rebel leader, 
 but a few paces from General Webb, of the Philadelphia Brigade, were literally 
 looking each other in the eyes. Then the final struggle. Rifles and pistols, 
 swords and bayonets, and butts of muskets — all are freely used. "Without 
 formation of ranks, Rebels and Union men in their front and rear, and Union 
 men in some places surrounded by the enemy. This lasted for a few moments, 
 when the Southern men could stand no more, and those who vere no*. 3urrounded. 
 or unwilling to risk an attempt to retreat over their path of desth threw dowx 
 their arms and surrendered. The fight was over, the last a**ack of Lee at 
 Gettysburg was repulsed, and the highest wave of the Rebellior reached its limit- 
 ever after to recede." 
 
COl'IED FROM THE "PBESS," DECEMBER Silt, 1870. 
 
 GETTYSBURG. 
 
 Rothermel's Picture of the Battle.— The Great Painting is Unveiled.— 
 History of the Struggle it Portrays. — The Addresses. — Description 
 of the Work. 
 
 ' T N the Academy of Music last evening, under the auspices of the Pennsylvania 
 5 Academy of the Fine Arts, Rothermel's Great Picture of the Battle of Gettysburg 
 was unveiled. A master work of art, the large canvas was stretched behind the 
 curtain ota the stage, brilliantly lighted up by multitudes of gas jets in the flies 
 and wings, stretched in such a way and position as to be distinctly seen from 
 every portion of the house. When the curtain rolled up, displaying the Painting, 
 the applause was unbounded, wild for a minute, and then the thronged audience 
 subsided into a death-like stillness, every eye devouring the Picture in its entirety 
 and in its details. 
 
 As has been mentioned, the audience was a thronged one, the house being 
 crowded in parquet, balcony and circle. 
 
 Ilassler's Military Band was present, and interspersed throughout the exer- 
 cises a number of marches and national and military airs. 
 
 After the performance of the first piece of music came the 
 
 UNVEILING OF THE PICTURE. 
 
 "When the curtain rose there was revealed to view the great Painting in all 
 its magnificence and terrible truthfulness. In size it is sixteen by thirty-two feet, 
 one of the largest pictures ever painted anywhere. It was brilliantly lighted by 
 rows of gas jets above and below, and every feature was distinctly visible in all 
 parts of the house. Every one who ever participated in or ever witnessed a battle, 
 knows the impossibility of transferring to canvas an adequate idea of such a 
 gigantic conflict in its entirety, including considerable lapse of time, generally 
 -real space, and a thousand sickening incidents. The most the artist can do is 
 to seize upon some one pregnant moment of the struggle, and one portion of the 
 tield lor his pictorial description. What he tints photographs, as it were, may be 
 regarded as one of numerous shifting scenes of a momentous tragedy. 
 
 Mr. FvOthermel has evinced his unerring judgment and artistic genius, as 
 much in the selection of this moment or phrase of the grand battle, as in its treat- 
 ment. The scene he has chosen was the great climax ot the tragedy, one 
 which not only gives the most faithful idea possible, of the main portion of the 
 field and of the fight, but lias enabled him to represent in a wonderful degree, the 
 action and intense energy so characteristic of a conflict of arms, and which makes 
 the Picture such a marvel of force and fidelity. The scene portrayed occurred 
 on the third day of the conflict, which had been engaging about two hundred 
 thousand men over an area of twenty square miles, and with varving fortunes. 
 Pickett's rebel division had made a desperate charge on that portion of the Union 
 line held by Hancock's corps. A stone wall was between the two armies. The 
 rebels had driven back our men, and had themselves advanced beyond the wall. 
 
16 
 
 A rally was made, the rebels retired behind the wall, and for a few seconds thefg 
 was here a hand to hand bayonet fight. Its duration was brief, the rebels soon 
 breaking and fleeing in confusion. This terrible bayonet struggle over the" 
 meandering stone fence forms the central feature of the Picture. To say that it 
 has been realized with ghastly accuracy and power, is but faint praise compared 
 to that which it deserves. On either side are the masses of the contending armies, 
 officers and men intermingled with the confusion inseparable from such a final 
 tug of war. General Meade has just arrived upon the scene, and together with 
 his son, Colonel George Meade, and Colonel Haskell, all mounted, is shown ; at 
 the left, dead, wounded and dying bestrew the ground in front. Away to the 
 rear stretch the lines of the two armies, marked in the distance only by dense 
 clouds of smoke. Bursting shells in the air and under the feet of horses and men 
 lend an added horror to the scene. 
 
 The perfection of the Picture rests chiefly in the accuracy with which the 
 locality, the conspicuous features of the two armies, and the particular struggle, 
 as well as many faces of officers and soldiers engaged, are drawn, together with 
 its remarkable breadth. One does not look for beauty in a battle scene, but Mr. 
 Rothermel has produced a sky and clouds in this Picture so poetic and so full of 
 nature's attractiveness, that they go far toward compensating for the horrors 
 depicted below. The work, as a whole, is a most grand and impressive one, and 
 should confer enduring fame upon its author. 
 
 Following the unveiling of the Picture came the following 
 
 ADDRESS BY JOSEPH HARRISON, JR. 
 
 War, with all its horrors, with all its glories— if glory can be educed from 
 such dreadful elements — has been the favorite theme of the Historian and the 
 Poet, the Painter and the Sculptor, the Architect and the Founder, in all the 
 past, as it is now. Holy "Writ is full of the records of War. The sculptured slabs 
 of Nineveh,— the mystic cuttings in granite, and the colors still extant amidst the 
 ruins of Egypt, are, in a great degree, the story of war. Greece and Rome, in 
 later days, reared the column the triumphal arch and the temple, in honor of war. 
 Nearer to our time, the pastoral Swiss delight to show m rude colors and in ruder 
 lines, their war-like efforts in struggling for liberty on the fields of Sempach, 
 Morgarten and Morat; of Tell, and of their greater hero, Winkleried, who, in 
 breaking the enemy's line, died with a sheaf of spears centering their points in 
 his single breast. The Red Indian paints on his Buffalo robe in uncouth fashion, 
 the storj r of his war path ; and through all time, the most refined, as well as the 
 rudest nations, have made and perpetuated the records and memorials of war. 
 
 Nearer and still nearer to our own time, war and its heroes have been por- 
 trayed on glowing canvas, in marble and in bronze. It is curious, too, to con- 
 template how sacredly and how carefully the story and the memorials of war 
 have been preserved to us. The Iconoclast, in thoughtless rage, broke up the 
 images and destroyed the church relics; but who has ever heard of the wilful 
 destruction of a record or a memon'al of war? There is something strange in 
 this. — The invading Prussian, crowds to-dav the galleries of Versailles, that 
 marvelous collection, dedicated to "all the glories of France." Here is shown 
 the humiliation 01 Prussia on a hundred fields, but we have yet to learn that a 
 single canvas has been injured or a single memorial mutdated. 
 
17 
 
 Blucher, brooding over his country's wrongs, mighl well nave been pardoned 
 when he insisted apon blowing ap the Bridge of Jena, on entering Paris after 
 Waterloo; but the better taste and judgment of Wellington stayed the old Ten« 
 ton's hand, and the bridge was saved. It was left for the French people of this 
 day, t" discuss the propriety of tearing nil' the bronze that encircles the column oi 
 the Place Vendome. But Austria, whose cannon — lost at Austerlitz — furnished 
 the material, and whose defeats furnish the story of the Bcroll, made no such sug- 
 gestion iu L815. A curious instance of this sacredness may be here related. In 
 the tov n of t oblenta, on the Rhine, ( now Prussian territory, i near which a portion 
 of the Grand Army that afterwards invaded Russia was gathered together, there 
 was erected, in 1812, an obelisk in the < rreat Square, with a fulsome dedication to 
 the Grand Army. Following Napoleon's defeat, in due time a Russian garrison 
 occupied Coblentz. The military governor placed there by the Emperor Alex- 
 ander, instead of destroying the memorial of Russia's proposed degradation, in 
 bitter irony, caused to be inscribed underneath the dedication, the words, "Seen 
 and Approved," with day and date, and signing his name at the bottom as Rus- 
 sian Military Commandant of Coblentz. The added words stand there to this 
 day. 
 
 The greatest men in art have portrayed the story of war in every shape. 
 Raphael designed, though he did not painty the Battle of the Ponte Mola, mar 
 Koine, where ( onstantine hurled Maxentius and his legions into the yellow waves of 
 the Tiber, under the rays of what he supposed to be a supernatural cross shining in 
 the heavens. Leonardo Da Vinci painted the "Battle of the Standard." Michael 
 Angelo sketched, but did not live to paint, the "Bathers at Pisa," that wondrous 
 scene, where an army, surprised when bathing, rush in hot haste naked from the 
 stream, to don quickly their armor and to fight. Some of the best works of mod- 
 ern painters of all nations depict the rage of battle, and appeal from glowing can- 
 vas to the patriotism of their countrymen. 
 
 Our country is not prolific in war art, and it is well that it is so, as it proves 
 us to be a peaceful nation. Trumbull has painted well the story of some of the 
 conflicts of the Revolution ; but, until the time of our civil strife, our war history 
 has had but few heroic themes. It is not well to foster, or to keep alive too 
 strongly, even in art, the bitterness engendered in the first years of the last de- 
 cade. But if any theme in this eventful history, appeals to us more strongly for 
 remembrance than any other, it is the Battle of Gettysburg. 
 
 Turn we now to the scene before us. "When the Legislature of the State of 
 Pennsylvania, in a true spirit of patriotism, determined to order a picture of this 
 great, this decisive battle, a lew friends of Mr. Kothermel, who knew his power 
 in other branches of art, believed that he, a native of our State, could paint this 
 picture well. They rejoiced when the order was given to him. How well he has 
 done his work, this audience and posterity must decide. The friends, who have 
 watched the picture from its inception to the present moment, can only say, and 
 this not in pre-judgment, that they have not been disappointed. It is no partial 
 picture. Union and Confederate soldier alike, have had full justice done them. 
 Like two sturdy athletes, well-matched, the contending hosts met, and the best 
 man won. 
 
 I will prophecy that, so long as this canvas holds together, and these colors 
 remain unladed, our countrymen, North and South, Last and West, will have a 
 just pride in this picture. They will be glad that the Battle of Gettysburg was 
 
18 
 
 fought, and they will rejoice that the "Pinch of the Fight" ended as it did. For 
 here our Union was saved, and here we were preserved a nation. Esto perpetual 
 
 You call for the artist, for the man whose brain conceived, and whose hand 
 executed this work, and it becomes my pleasing duty, in taking this modest, this 
 quiet-looking gentleman by the hand, to introduce Mr. Rothermel. 
 
 With these concluding words, Mr. Harrison extended his hand to the private 
 box, near which he stood, and the artist, 
 
 MR. ROTHERMEL, 
 
 arose in full view of all the house. He was time and again cheered. 
 Then came the following 
 
 ADDRESS BY COLONEL WILLIAM M'MICHAEL. 
 
 Art, to-night, pays tribute to arms; the genius of the pencil illustrates the 
 genius of the sword; the highest skill of painting depicts the sublimest struggle 
 of patriotism. For in this Picture, fitly unveiled in your presence, where beauty 
 may welcome it with smiles, and valor and judgment endorse it with approval, 
 we behold a work alike noble in the action which it represents and in the power 
 with which that action is delineated. Nor should we fail on this occasion to 
 express our satisfaction that the State has shown appreciation of the Battle of 
 Gettysburg by recording its story in this best of all histories, read in a moment 
 but remembered for a lifetime; and, seeing how admirably it is executed, 
 how true it is, how vivid, how lifelike, showing not the smooth display of a 
 holiday pageant, but the rough encounter of actual fight, the glorious but terrible 
 reality of war, we may well exchange congratulations that to so gifted a Pennsyl- 
 vanian as Mr. Rothermel, was assigned the important service of portraying this 
 suprfeme conflict, fought upon Pennsylvania soil, largely maintained by Penn- 
 sylvania soldiers, and planned, directed, and victoriously consummated by the 
 most distinguished of Pennsylvania generals. 
 
 But not to us alone, nor to our State, belong the fame and the consequence of 
 this great battle. Its result shaped the nation's life, its glory is the nation's 
 property. For, about those once peaceful hills, now historic from bloodshed, 
 hostile armies determined the final issue of the antagonistic ideas which were the 
 occasion and the support of the 'war; there rebellion made its strongest assault 
 upon government; there caste had its most critical encounter with freedom, and 
 the disintegrating spirit of secession with that of national integrity and Union. 
 The great wave of Southern invasion spending there its power, ebbed back never 
 to return, and when Lee and his followers, after such gallant and persistent 
 endeavors as make us admire their courage, even while we condemn their purpose, 
 turned again, baffled and defeated, to retrace their steps across the Potomac, they 
 started on that portentous march which was to end only by the capitulation at 
 the Appomotax. This is not a mere battle then — it is an epoch. This is not a 
 Picture only — it is an epic — a national struggle, a national record. And so, con- 
 scious alike of the magnitude of the work and of the event which it celebrates, 
 let us have this canvas hung where the whole nation may see it. Let it rest in 
 the shadow of old Independence Hall, so that the traveler from every State and 
 from every clime, pausing to look upon the sacred precincts where our liberties 
 
19 
 
 were proclaimed, may learn also of the bloody ordeal by which those liberties 
 were preserved and perpetuated. 
 
 We assemble to-night in a season of profound public quiet Across the 
 ocean rival nation- arc contending, r.s Gaul ami Saxon renew their ancient 
 Rtruggle for mastery, but do echo of the strife is heard within our own borders. 
 The -word is in truth turned into a plowshare, and the desolating march oi 
 armies exchanged for the peaceful tread of the husbandman No martial pro- 
 clamations now, no roll of drums in the street, no glowing appeal- from the ros- 
 trum. It i- our taxes we growl about, not our tactics, trade that we want, not 
 
 troops; and we are interested ill the list of customers ami clients, not in the 
 
 muster roll of recruits. These are the piping times of peace; no great perils; no 
 gnat emotions. The barracks are gone; the hospital hroken up; the tents aban- 
 doned. 1 >nt as 1 see once again, in the Bcene before us, the blue coat, the 
 Cartridge box, the musket, the wounded hero, the dying patriot, they recall a host 
 of memories that thrill me like a trumpet. 
 
 The years retire. Time rolls backward in its flight. It is April 16, ISfll, 
 and I stand again in yonder armory, with a crowd of young comrades clamoring 
 
 about me as we rally with vowb and acclamations around the uplifted stars and 
 
 stripes. No idea then of gain, or lucre, or personal advantage; but books drop- 
 ped, COUnting-rooms deserted, workshop-; closed — a single thought, a common 
 aspiration — the country assailed, the Union to be saved. For even while we 
 gather the South foments with angry treason, States break their allegiance, officers 
 their oaths, rebellion Haunts it ensigns, our Hag is tired on, Sunipter is over- 
 whelmed. Every where citizens hurry to their councils, troops to their standards, 
 the air is full of the auguries of war, banners fly upon the breeze, hand grasps 
 hand, political differences are forgotten, as all rise with majestic resolution in 
 answer tothecall to arms of their faithful President. Ah, friends, when we sicken 
 at tin- corruption that rots about us, let us not forget the clear virtue of that trying 
 time, when we dread the product of the future, let us be cheered by that noble 
 impulse of the past; when we weary of the burden of debt that is upon us, let us 
 remember why it was assumed, and that if of his own countrymen Walpole's bitter 
 expression be true, that "Every man has his price," when our honor and our 
 dignity as a nation were in question, billions were not enough to purchase the 
 American people. 
 
 Then came the thick of the war, with our varying reverses and successes, the 
 nation growing calmer, hut not less resolute, and through it all our loyal women 
 sustaining the cause with unwavering fidelity. It "is a fitting part of these ceremo- 
 nies that they should be present, and with them one who was conspicuous among 
 these gentler allies by her untiring ministrations, the story of whose good deed- 
 has been told among the angels by many a soldier whose dying anguish she has 
 assuaged, whose orphan children she has BO tenderly protected. So the war went 
 on until the early summer of 1863, which found Bosecrans pushing forward 
 his columns toward- < Georgia, and l'emberton's army closed as in a vice at Vicks- 
 burg by the tenacious and indomitable Grant. But while in the "West there was 
 promise of triumphs, in the East the aspect was more dubious; for Lee, with a 
 thoroughly disciplined and highly elated army, had left Virginia, crossed through 
 Maryland, and in the last days of June was actually threatening the capital ol 
 Pennsylvania. The situation was extremely critical, and it was nio-t 
 fortunate for the country that it Could confront the hold legions of the invadi rs 
 
20 
 
 with the war tried veterans of the noble Army of the Potomac. If they had 
 Pickett and Johnston, Stuart, Hill, Hood, and Longstreet, we gladly challenged 
 them with Birney and Reynolds, Geary and Buford, Hancock, and glorious 
 old Sedgwick, and to the sagacious direction of the rebel leader, could oppose 
 the cool head and stout heart of the intrepid Meade. Under his orders our 
 army was pushed rapidly forward to check the advancing march of the enemy, 
 and on the first of July the heads of the opposing columns met near the town of 
 Gettysburg, when a sharp engagement took place, in which the chivalric Reynolds 
 was slain, but not till his quick military vision had detected the vantage ground, 
 and his movements enabled our forces to occupy it. Our troops were placed from 
 the hill which you see in the background, -which is Round Top, along to an 
 eminence to the right, the enemy taking position against our front. Next day, 
 July the 2d, saw desperate fighting, with such fierce assaults as tried our fellows* 
 to their marrow, and the night fell upon a field covered with dead, and hospitals 
 crowded with wounded. But no talk of leaving, for here we win the field or here 
 we perish on it. The second day's fighting has compressed our left, but not 
 weakened it, for the line if shorter is more compact; but the enemy has gained 
 some advantage on the right, and effected a lodgment, which threatens that flank. 
 The night of the second is still prolonged in the sombre darkness of the early 
 hours of the morrow, as batteries take position and troops are disposed to regain 
 the ground, and at daybreak the cannons pour forth their fierce summons of 
 removal ; then, the infantry moving forward to the encounter, there follow four 
 hours of almost uninterrupted musketry, till the persistent valor of our men retake 
 the hills, and the integrity of. the line is recovered. 
 
 It is 12 o'clock, July 3d, and to-morrow will be the anniversary of our indepen- 
 dence. What tidings of joy or of sorrow shall its bells proclaim to the people. 
 Gird your loins, ye yeomen of our legions, for it is honor and liberty, and_a nation 
 for which you are contending I Twelve o'clock, and the heart of nature seems 
 almost to cease its beating in the intensity of dread expectation, while the efful- 
 gent sun, looking down at high meridian, seems as of old to stand still in its 
 course, as though shrinking appalled from the fearful slaughter it shall witness. 
 The pause of carnage, the brink of fate, for as the great orb bends slowly toward 
 the western horizon and marks the single hour upon the dial, a signal gun 
 breaks the solemn stillness. 
 
 And then from the line of the enemy, all along those hills, where 
 his masses lie waiting, there bursts forth a tempest of flame and smoke and 
 terrific cannonading, such as this continent never before witnessed ; nor seems to 
 slacken its thundering death hail, until, from the sulphurous canopy, a part of the 
 rebel front is seen advancing. Now for the tug of war! Now for the death-grip 
 of the battle! For yonder come Pickett's men, who swear by the Lone Star they 
 never have been beaten, and never will be, and on their either flank warriors of 
 a score of fights. 
 
 Eighteen thousand tested veterans, wrought into a Titanic war bolt — shaft of 
 adamant, edges of steel — hurled forth to crush our centre, with ponderous onslaught. 
 As they start, down rides Hancock along our line, superb that day in the beauty 
 of his valor. "Here they come!" he cries out cheerily. "Here they come, in 
 three lines of battle ! Steady, men, steady !" "All right, General ! we are ready ! 
 We hold this line, or die on it !" But now, as they develop in the fields and 
 move forward, our artillery rains destruction. It rakes them with shot, it rends 
 
21 
 
 them with shell, until on right ami left they falter and Btagger. Their Banks arc 
 crumbling, but their centre keeps firm. <>li! stay them, Pickett Your men of 
 
 iron, they Beem too brave to kill I But mi they c e, and mi, and on, till we 
 
 th.ii- faces ami hear their yells. These are not men; they are furies, maddened 
 with treason, frenzied with hate« >.<>«•. firel comrades, Hit! Up and at them ' 
 Fight, men, fight for your wives and your children, and r our homes. They sweep 
 (in ua like demons — are at tin- guns, are on the wall ! and to hand, Bteel to Bteel, 
 knife to knife — valor of patriots, rage of devils. Now, Cushing, give them your 
 canister I Now, Woodruffi tear them with yourgrapel Hall to the re-rue! 7*_M 
 down on them like tigersl Flank them, Stannardl Crush them, Gibbon I Mash 
 them, Webbl They reel, tiny waver, their colors are going ! They break, they 
 break I They retreat, they retreat) The charge is repulsed, the battle is won. 
 All honor to our heroes who survive; all reverence for those who have fallen; 
 
 all praise to their gallant leader, and all thanks unto (Jod who gave us the victory ! 
 After repeated Calls, 
 
 MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE, 
 
 who was seated in a private hox, arose and said 
 
 My FRIENDS: — I thank you sincerely for thus honoring me with your calls, 
 and the more since I am only a spectator here. We are assembled to-night to do 
 honor to one, the artist, who has painted the greatest battle of the war. It would 
 be inappropriate in me to say anything about the battle, and particularly after 
 the eloquent manner in which you have just heard it described ; hut I take this 
 occasion to bear my testimony to the correctness and fidelity with which this 
 picture has been painted, and to the great labors of the artist, Mr. Bothermel. I 
 have had some connection with the picture, so far as having been acquainted with 
 Mr. Rothermel since the time he was appointed to paint it. When 1 first met 
 him and learned he was to paint the ISattle of Gettysburg, I said to him what 
 really was my sincere view, that I thought he had almost as hard a task as I 
 had to win the battle [applause] ; and if you will remember all the while, 
 that this battle covered a space of over twenty square miles, that it lasted 
 for three days, that it had involved in it over two hundred thousand men, 
 and that it was to he put on a space of '.V2 by 18 feet, you will see that the artist 
 had a great "leal to do. In thefirsl place he had to select ,-omc special and particular 
 episode of this battle, it being impossible to show the whole; and then, with great 
 judgment, he had to present a scene full of the life and energy and strength of a 
 great battle-field. After that selection there were many things not known to many 
 of you, not known to him who was to labor in the description of the episode. Jle 
 was perfectly ignorant of the battle in all its details; he had to study out every 
 thing he desired to represent. J lis difficulties were great, and there were great diffi- 
 culties in the way of his getting accurate information. The persons to whom be 
 applied could hardly give it, though engaged in the conflict, for in the excitement 
 'of battle men take hut little notice of things transpiring around them. 1, invself, 
 have not seen things on the battle-field, and often when asked hi relation to them, 
 L always say that I can't say they didn't take place, hut that J didn't see them. 
 
 The Gerieral here at some length dwelt upon this difficulty and other diffi- 
 culties in the way of the artist, and said that the only error in the picture was one 
 in relation to himself The artist had painted him on it, when in reality he was 
 not on the scene at the moment of time selected, not arriving there until some 
 
22 
 
 few minutes afterwards. He then, referring to different points of the picture, 
 described the battle in connection with it, and concluded his address by saying 
 that it taught one lesson strongly, among others — the evil and the horror of war. 
 
 MR. M'CULLOUGH 
 
 was then introduced, and read in excellent style Janvier's poem on the " Battle 
 of Gettysburg." He was warmly applauded. 
 
 GENERAL SHERMAN, 
 
 who had left the seat he at first had occupied in the house, and was now with 
 General Meade in the box, was then loudly called for, and responded in a few 
 remarks : 
 
 He said it was hardly fair to call on him when he was only a spectator. He 
 had not been at the Battle of Gettysburg, but at that time was far away at Vicks- 
 burg. Upon the State of Pennsylvania he passed a handsome compliment for 
 her liberality and patriotism, in having preserved on canvas a scene of the battle 
 which had been fought on her soil, and expressed a hope that other States would 
 imitate her example. He agreed with the words of General Meade, that many 
 good lessons could be gathered from such a painting, especially to the young, 
 chief among which was a lesson about the evils of war. 
 
 When he had concluded the audience dispersed. 
 
PBOCEEE1NGS 
 
 .itagtuauia ^cadcmg of fftc fine Irfa, 
 
 IN RELATION TO THE FIRST EXHIBITION OF 
 
 P, F, Ruthermel's Picture ol'tho "Battle of Gettysburg." 
 
 ■ Philadelphia September 12th, 18TC 
 
 Stated meeting of the Directors of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Ftue 
 
 Art-. 
 
 Present — Messrs. Cope, (President,) Harrison, Claghorn, Stevenson, Gibson, 
 Btruthers and Sartain ^Secretary). 
 
 The minutes of the la<t meeting were read and approved. After the regular 
 business was finished, Mr. Harrison stated to the meeting his views relative in 
 the propriety of taking such steps as would keep the Academy before the public, 
 and <lo away with the idea that the Institution was entirely inactive. A favor- 
 able opportunity for doing so, was now presented in the near approach to comple- 
 tion of Mr. Kcitliermel's picture of the Battle of Gettysburg, and which is to be 
 exhibited to the public in this city. 
 
 The importance and merit of the work itself, added to the circumstance that it 
 will belong to the State, and was painted to adorn the State Capitol, will doubtless 
 render its exhibition an event in the history of Art in this city. Should its exhi- 
 bition be conducted under the auspices of the Academy, and in a gallery provid< d 
 therefor by the Institution, the effect would be to reflect credit on the Academy, 
 and aid it- future operations. After general interchange of views on the subject, 
 it was on motion, Ilrsolral, that a committee be appointed by the Presidenl to 
 consider the matter; and the committee was then appointed as follows: Messrs, 
 Harrison, Struthers, Gibson and Morris." 
 
 "Philadelphia October 17th, 187 ■ 
 Special meeting of the Directors of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. 
 /' M- -. Cope, Harrison, Claghorn, Sartain, Stevenson, Fell and 
 
 Gibson. 
 
 After the regular business was over, Mr. Claghorn called the attention of the 
 Directors to the circumstance that Mr. Rothermel's picture of the Ba 
 Gettysburg was nearly ready for exhibition, and that the artist had succeeded in 
 
24 
 
 obtaining .i place whereon to erect a building in "which to display it properly. He 
 thought a work of such importance produced in our midst, called for the adop- 
 tion of unusual measures in first opening it to the public, and that it was proper 
 that the Academy should connect itself with the occasion, so as to assist in 
 imparting to it as much eclat as possible. 
 
 The Directors entertained this sentiment, as was shoAvn by their action in rela- 
 tion to the subject at their meeting September 12th. It was accordingly on 
 motion, Resolved, that the entire Board of Directors be constituted a committee of 
 the whole to take charge of the arrangements for the opening exhibition of Mr. 
 Rothermel's picture, and that a letter be addressed by the President to the 
 artist, asking that they may be permitted to acton the occasion in the manner 
 proposed." 
 
 LETTER OF CALEB COPE. ESQ., TO P. F. ROTHERMEL. 
 
 "Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Nov. 10th, 1870. 
 
 P. F. ROTHERMEL, ESQ. 
 
 Dear Sir: — Your friends and fellow members of the Pennsylvania Academy of 
 the Fine Arts, have a just pride in the extraordinary success which has attended 
 your efforts to portray the leading incident in the great Battle of Gettysburg. 
 
 A work so full of merit, emanating from the patriotic sentiment of our noblt~ 
 Commonwealth, and appealing directly to the warmest sympathies of the peopL 
 should not be permitted to come before our citizens under the circumstances 
 attendant upon the exhibition of an ordinary painting. 
 
 For your sake, therefore, and for the universal interest felt in the subject, the 
 Board of Directors of this Institution, have informally desired me to request that 
 you will allow the first public display of your great Picture, to be made under 
 their auspices, at the Academy of Music, on some evening during the next month. 
 
 Anticipating a favorable answer, 
 
 I am, very truly yours, 
 
 CALEB COPE, Pres." 
 
 LETTER OF P. F. ROTHERMEL TO CALEB COPE, ESQ. 
 
 " Philadelphia, November 14th, 1870. 
 
 Caleb Cope, Esq., 
 
 President Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 
 My dear Sir: — Your communication on behalf of the Board of Directors of the 
 Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, in relation to the Picture of the 'Battle 
 of Gettysburg,' I esteem as an exceeding high compliment to my earnest effort at 
 representing an episode in that great event upon canvas. 
 
2--» 
 
 Abu evidence of their favorable opinion of my work and as a disposition to footer 
 American Art, I frankly accept the proposal of the Board you reprc cr.t, (hat 
 the Picture be opened to the public, under their auspices! at die Academy of 
 Music, in the month of I tecember. 
 Aocepl my thanks for your kind expressions. 
 
 Very respectfully yours, Ac., 
 
 P. P. ROTHEKMEL." 
 
 '■ Philadelphia November 18th, 1870. 
 
 Bpeeial meeting of the Directors of the Pennsylvania Academy ofthe Fine 
 Arts, as a committee of the whole on the exhibition of Mr. Rothermel's Picture 
 ofthe Battle of Gettysburg. 
 
 Present — Messrs. Cope, Claghorn, Struthers, Morris and Bartain. Mr. Cope in 
 the chair, Mr. Bartain, Secretary. 
 
 The Chairman stated that the meeting had hecn convened for the purpo-v of 
 taking anion on the subject set forth in the resolution adopted at the last meeting 
 ofthe Directors, relating to the opening exhibition of Mr. Rothermel's picture. 
 
 It beim: deemed advisable to confide the preparation to a Bub-committee, it 
 Was on motion, Resolved, that a sub-committee of three, he appointed by the 
 chairman, to attend to the details of the opening of Mr. Rothermel's picture of 
 tin' Battle of Gettysburg at the Academy of Music The following gentlemen 
 were appointed as a sub-committee, "... Messrs claghorn, Harrison and Struthers." 
 
 The first official act of the above Bub-committee, Mas to address the following 
 letter to the I tovernox of the Commonwealth : 
 
 "Pennsylvania Academy ofthe Fine Art.-, December 2d, 1870. 
 
 To Hi? Excellency, John- W. Geary, 
 Governor <>i Pennsj Ivania. 
 
 Sir : — The undersigned, a committee appointed in accordance with proceedings 
 
 printed on the annexed slip,* most particularly desire that you may make it 
 convenient to he present on the occasion mentioned. As * lovernor of our nolde 
 Commonwealth, to the patriotism and liberality of whose Legislature we owe this 
 great work of Historic Art, and as a prominent and distinguished actor in the 
 momentous struggle, which it bo well portrays, it seems specially fitting that 
 you. Sir, should be present and take part in the proceedings attendant upon the 
 fir-t introduction ofthe picture to the public We, therefore, earnestly request 
 you to be present at the Academy of Music in this city, on the evening of Tues- 
 day, December :20th. In due time a programme will be sent to you setting forth 
 the character of the ceremonies. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 3 \-i es L. < £laghorn, 
 
 "William STRUTHERS, 
 Joseph Harrison, Jr., 
 
 Gommittet of Arrangement." 
 
 * EBipcontah pe'a letter to Mr. Rothermel, and reply of the latter. - nd2L 
 
26 
 
 COPY OF LETTER SENT TO INVITED GUESTS. 
 
 Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Dec. 2d, 1S70. 
 
 To 
 
 In a spirit of commendable patriotism and liberality, the Legislature of the 
 State of Pennsylvania at the close of the civil war. ordered from our distinguished 
 artist, P. F. Rothermel, a Picture of the Battle of Gettysburg, of such dimen- 
 sions as would give a good idea of this great and decisive struggle. The Picture 
 is now finished. The friends of the artist, deeming his success so striking in the 
 great work which he has conceived and executed, wish to present it to the public 
 for the first time in such way as will mark the event as an epoch in American 
 Art, and as an appeal to the patriotism of our people in all coming time. The 
 Picture, under the auspices of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, will 
 i>e unveiled at the Academy of Music in this city, on the Evening of December, 
 20th inst., accompanied by appropriate ceremonies. 
 
 You are respectfully invited to be present on this occasion. If accepted, an 
 early answer is requested, so that tickets may be sent you in due time. 
 
 Respectfully, 
 
 James L. Claghorx, ") 
 
 Joseph Harrison, Jb, [ J£S5l 
 
 William Struthers, J 
 
 " Philadelphia December 17 th, 1870s 
 Special meeting of the Directors of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine 
 Arts, as a committee of the whole on the opening exhibition of Rothermel's pic- 
 ture of the Battle of Gettysburg : 
 
 P-csent — Messrs. Claghorn, Jessup, Struthers and Sartain. Mr, Jessup in the 
 chair. Mr. Sartain, Secretary. 
 
 Mr. Claghbrn stated that the meeting had been called to hear a report from 
 the sub-committee of all that had been accomplished since its appointment, and 
 also to settle some matters of detail necessary to be arranged, prior to the evening 
 of the 20th inst., when the opening exhibition would take place at the Academy 
 of Music. A verbal reixtrt was then made. 
 
 The names of invited guests were, to some extent, classified in the general ap- 
 propriation of locality. It was agreed that the invited guests should first assem- 
 ble in the Foyer of the Academy, and afterwards proceed from thence to the 
 seats assigned to them in the house. It was also agreed that the members of the 
 committee wear a distinctive badge (a small ribbon on the button-hole), on the 
 evening of the exhibition, and that they should meet in the Foyer at seven o'clock 
 precisely, when their several duties should be made known to them. It was 
 further agreed, that the Committee of the whole, should hold a meeting at twelve 
 o'clock noon, on Tuesday the 20th of December, and the Secretary was directed to 
 : -quest punctual attendance at both meetings, especially in the evening." 
 
l7 
 
 D Oth 181 i. VJ ... 1 .,k do n. 
 
 ill meeting of the Director! of the Pennsylvania Academy oi tin- Pine 
 Art-, ;i- a committee of the \\ bole on tin- exhibition of Mi. RothermeTa Picture. 
 
 Messrs, Claghorn, Struthers, l>r. Levis, Jessup and Bartain. Dr. 
 Lewis in the chair, Mr. 6 .rotary. 
 
 Various matters of detail came up am! were disposed of, and then particular 
 seats were marked off for each individual guest who had accept d , n Inn a- halt" past 
 three o'clock the committe* adjourned to meet again in the evening, at the ap- 
 pointed hour. 
 
 J'lu- Directors met in the evening at the Foyer of the Academy of Music, and 
 at tlif time appointed, proceeded with the invited guests to the Beats reserved for 
 in the body of the house. The 1 'resident of the United State- had been in- 
 \ited to be present, but public duties prevented his attendance. Among the dis- 
 tinguished guests present, were Qeneral William T. Sherman, General Mead.-, 
 General George Cadwallader, General Patterson, Surgeon Neal, General Van 
 \ ..et. General Owen, General Collis, General Mulholland, Admiral Turner, 
 Commodore Adams, Colonel Wm. McMichael, Colonel Wm. H. Harrison, Col- 
 onel Brinton, Colonel Mitchel, Judge ( ladwallader, Judge Ludlow, Judge Allison, 
 Judge Pierce, Senator Connell, and Messrs. McConaghy, Markley, Kerns and 
 
 Qlatz, Committee of the Legislature, ordering the picture. lion. Morton 
 McMichael, Hon. John W. Forney, Bishop Wood, Lev. Mr. Suddards, Lev. 
 Mr. Purness, Lev. Mr. Hutter, Albert Ilierstadt, Tbeo. Cuyler, Thad. Norris, 
 W. II. Eisenbrey, W. H. Harrison, David D. Paul, Thomas Hieks, J. II. B. 
 Litn. he, Wm. V. MeKean, A.I Drexel, Daniel Dougherty, H. C. Harrison, 
 Dawson Coleman, Wm. B. Mann, Coleman Sellars, Joseph Patterson, Ldward 
 Patterson, P. I Dreer, Alfred Jessup; with many other gentlemen. Many 
 distinguished ladies of our city and State, were also present. 
 
otpuktiotts oie 1 the :f:r,:ess. 
 
 From the Public Ledger, December 2%th, 1870. 
 
 Oor Own Artists. — There Is now on public exhibition in this city Rotherrnel's 
 great •work, representing the Battle of Gettysburg — the largest battle Picture, with 
 perhaps one exception, in the world. Its magnitude, however, is not its chief 
 merit. In conception and execution it well deserves the praise it has largely 
 ieceived from competent art critics, as being perhaps the best as well as the largest 
 war picture on this side of the Atlantic. Its recent exhibition at the Academy of 
 Music in this ci ; y, when it was first presented to the public view, was intended by 
 the Committee of the Academy of Fine Arts, who directed and arranged that 
 exhibition, to do something more than to commend the artist, by availing them- 
 selves of that opportunity to do honor to American Art. 
 
 On that evening, at the Academy, honored as the occasion was, by the pre- 
 sence of that great commander whose brilliant and conquering march across the 
 continent from the Mississippi to the South Atlantic coast, has made the name 
 of Sherman illustrious; with that other illustrious soldier, Meade, whose name 
 is identified with the great battle of Gettysburg ; with brave officers and gallant 
 men there who shared in that mighty and successful struggle; with solemn mem- 
 ories of the dead lemaining on that bloody field, whose places are missed in 
 many a sorrowing hourehold — with these associations and memories, the com- 
 mittee felt that something more might be done, than to present any one name as 
 the sole object of praise or homage. As we understood that meeting, its purpose 
 was to do honor to the power and value of American art, as illustrated in that 
 l?rge and magnificent picture, and in view of that canvas and the expression 
 which Mr. Kothermel has given to it, and in view of what our other artists have 
 done and are now doing, have we not been, are we not now as a people too indif- 
 ferent to the culture and encouragement of the higher arts in our country? 
 Have we not American art, not only in the sense of our country being the resi- 
 dence of artists, but, also, in the sense of the spirit and tone of their work cor- 
 responding to the ideal of our national greatness and glory, and of the lofty 
 hopes of the future of our Republic ? Have we not had prophets with us who- 
 received no honor at our hands ? From this quiet city of ours, in its earlier 
 times, there departed West and Leslie. Here, they were unhonored and unsung, 
 and would proliably have remained so. Abroad, they acquired great success and 
 high renown. 
 
 We do not forget that there have been, and are now in our city, liberal gentle- 
 men who have given their time and money, to the development of native art, and 
 •"=e freely give them praise. But much more should be done in this direction, 
 *>nd we would stimulate the thought as the main purpose of these remarks, that 
 it is a duty of American citizenship to promote American art and encourage 
 native artists, for it is doubtless true that we have in our country men of artistic 
 power, with great capacity to express their conce] t'ons on canvas and in marble, 
 who lack nothing but the indispensable encouragement and opportunity of doing 
 
29 
 
 bo. Surely tre have subjects for the pencil of the landscape painter, at shown bj 
 Chun li, Bterstadt and others, and we bave themes varied and sublime for histori 
 cal art, as Rothermel has now shown. The State of Pennsylvania, through its 
 ! iturej has done well in ordering 1 1 » i — picture to i ommemorate the important 
 
 and decisive battle on Its own soil. 
 
 The value of the arts of painting, sculpture and architecture, as giving perman- 
 ence to the n i ords by which a knowledge of how men lived and what they did, 
 can be transmitted to future ages, should nol be disregarded. We see and under- 
 stand ancimt RomebetteT b it her Coliseum, forum, and ancient temples, 
 although in ruins. Farther hack, the Pyramids, obelisks, and sculptured and 
 painted tombs of Egypt, tell us nearly all we know of the high civilization of the 
 remote antiquity of that interesting country. Later than either, the religious 
 edifices, and historical and religious art of the middle ages of Continental Europe, 
 remain to the world, associated with the names of Michael Angelo, Raphael, 
 Giotto and Titian, while the names of many of the civil rulers of that day and 
 
 their deeds are almost forgotten, 
 
 Hymns of praise are being sung almost daily in honor of our abundant energy 
 in developing the material resources of our country, and the glory with which 
 we are crowning the day in which we live. We have tunnelled great moun- 
 tains, bridged mighty rivers, bound the old and new worlds together, and the 
 Atlantic Coast to the far Pacific Ocean, and have carried our Western civiliza- 
 tion to stand face to face, with that older civilization of the Asiatic East. Wc 
 have exhumed hundreds of millions of tons of coal, and have wrought into form 
 other hundred of millions of tons of iron, and we have duly registered and re- 
 corded all this with much self-approval in statistics. And this is noble; but it is 
 not all. Our life here has higher purposes and enjoyments than those created by 
 the blast of the furnace and the rolling of the wheel. The value of a refined and 
 elevated public sentiment cannot be estimated in dollars and cents. In our devo- 
 tion to the material wc may base neglected too much the culture of the true, the 
 good and the beautiful. The one should be done and the other not left undone. 
 Let us see to it that we make some worthy effort in the right direction. We have 
 men in our country, and in our own city, "native here and to the manor born," 
 with large capacity and fervent love of art, who, unknown to the bustling world 
 outside of their quiet Btudies, are coloring the canvas, chiselling the marble, 
 moulding the metal into picturesque and beautiful forms — men capable of giving 
 expression to the heroic sentiment in our national character and history; who, if 
 the citizens of this republic will do their duty to them, will with Rothermel, be- 
 queath to the world the creations of their genius to give delight and instruction to 
 coming generations of men. 
 
30 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE IN REGARD TO MR, ROTHERMElS 
 RIGHT TO EXHIBIT HIS PICTURE. 
 
 LETTER OF JOSEPH HARRISON, JR. 
 
 "221 South ISth Street, Philadelphia, December 24th, 1ST0 
 To Esq., 
 
 My Dear Sir: — A lover of Art myself, and one who thinks its encouragement 
 a necessity, if we wish to keep pace with the civilization of the refined nations 
 of the world, I have felt, with many others, a just pride in watching Mr. 
 Rothermel's Painting from its commencement until the unveiling at the Academy 
 of Music. I think the genius that could conceive, and the hand that could 
 execute such a work, confer honor upon our city, our State and the whole nation. 
 It could not have been ordered like a bale of goods. We must wait, until some 
 one appea rs who can render possible such a result as the Picture now before us. 
 I had great faith in Mr. Rothermel's ability, when the Commission appointed "by 
 our Legislature, ordered the Painting from him; and I now believe that no artist, 
 living or dead, of our own country could have produced so fine a werk. Kay, 
 more, with a knowledge of the best works of the kind abroad, I have no hesitation 
 in saying, that no artist of our time could have painted what Mr. Rothermel 
 started to portray, better, if as well as he has done it. At this moment there 
 seems to be a general desire on the part of the public to see the Picture, and the 
 artist has adopted a course that will enable them to do this. It appears, how- 
 ever, from the remarks of a few persons, and from statements in some of the 
 journals, that there is a question as to Mr. Rothermel's legal and moral right to 
 exhibit his picture for pay or profit, previous to the middle of next July, the 
 term fixed by the contract for its delivery to the state. Those who know the 
 artist best, know that under no consideration could he be induced to infringe 
 either law or morals, in a matter of this kind. If the Painting was sent to Harris- 
 burg at this time, it is well known that there is no place in the capitol building 
 where it can be properly shown, and it might remain rolled up for years, to its 
 probable serious injury, before a fitting place can be provided for it. In the 
 meantime, that portion of the people of our State and city, who would be 
 willing to incur even the expense of going to Harrisburg to see it, would be 
 debarred this pleasure. 
 
 The advent of this Picture marks an epoch, as I think, in American historic 
 art. It should not for a moment be hidden under a bushel. I have never 
 doubted, under the circumstances, the legal and moral right of Mr. Rothermel to 
 exhibit his Picture for his own benefit, when and where he pleases, until the full 
 term fixed for its delivery. But, to confirm my opinion, and for my own satisfac- 
 tion, I have asked the advice of an eminent counsellor of our city, whose letter to 
 me I enclose. I think his letter disposes of the subject. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 JOSEPH HARRISON, JR." 
 
LETTER FROM THEOOORE Cu.'LER ESQ., TO jOSEPH HARRISON. JR. 
 
 •'7(4 Wikhut Street, Deosmbei Mtb, L870 
 
 To Job pii B uirisox, .)k., i 
 
 M\ I >i tr Sir :-- You ask DM whether OUT mutual friend, Mi. II. >t ln-i inel, ill 
 
 vi»w of his relations to the State, baa ■ right to exhibit bis Picture of the Battle 
 of Gettysburg, and I answer, That I entertain no doubt that he is fully entitled, 
 both In law and En morals, to <l>> so. It ought to be deemed a sufficient reason to 
 say, that it was distinctly understood between Mr. Bothermel and the Committee; 
 or more properly Commission, appointed by the Legislature, at the time the] 
 niaili- the contract with him, that he should have this rij,'ht. I am assured by a 
 distinguished Senator (Honorable Geo Connell), who is a member of this Com< 
 mission, that such is the (act I have further and conclusive evidence of it 
 before me, in the form of s Resolution, adopted unanimously by the Com- 
 mission early in last June, in the following words: 'Philadelphia, June 2, 1870. 
 At :i meeting of the Committee upon the Painting of the Rattle of Gettysburg. 
 appointed by the Legislature on behalf of the State of Pennsylvania, it was 
 unanimously Resolved, That in accordance with professional usage and as some 
 expression of our high appreciation of the success of the artist, P. F. Rothermel, 
 in the execution of this < treat Historical Painting, this Committee by this action, 
 consent and authorise the artist to exhibit the Painting of the Battle of Gettysburg 
 in such of the oities of this State, and within the United States, as shall be 
 agreeable to him, and receive the proceeds of such exhibition for his personal 
 benefit Attest, (ieo. Connell, D. McConaughy, James N, Kerns, A. I) Markley, 
 A. EJiertand Glats. 
 
 It would seem to be superfluous to add arguments drawn from the law in 
 support of a right which rests upon an express contract, but if it is important to 
 do so, I might add that Mr. Rothermel's Contract provides for the delivery of the 
 Picture in July, 1871. Until that period arrives, it is his property, and not the 
 property Of the State, and he may do with his own as he wills. 
 
 It had ever been the custom of artists painting great historical works for 
 public authorities, to exhibit their Pictures for a limited time, before delivering it 
 to the purchaser. Trumbull did so with each of his Paintings, which now till 
 panels in the Rotunda of the Capitol at Washington. In his Autobiography this 
 fact is stated, and his correspondence with the Government authorities fully 
 recognizing this right, is given. This was the case also with Weir's great Picture 
 of the Embarkation of the Pilgrims, which tills another panel of the same 
 Rotunda. Such also was the case with Singleton Copley's Picture of the Assault 
 upon Gibralter, painted for the Corporation of the City of London. 
 
 It is believed that such examples might be multiplied indefinitely. Thi> 
 Picture of Mr. Rothermel's represents more than four years' of earnest and absorb- 
 ing thought and study, by a man of genius. Why should the State, and why 
 should any citizen of the State, begrudge him the sum, be it much or be it small, 
 which its exhibition for a little time may realize for him. Let us rejoice that in 
 a country where art and taste are just beginning to be rewarded, an opportunity 
 occurs which enables the citizen to prove his conviction of the fact, that men ol 
 genius in any department of art and taste, are the truest and the greatest treasure- 
 of the State. 
 
 Truly yours, 
 
 THRO. CUYLER." 
 
BOCEEDINGS 
 
 jowpoti mrtirt atul the pjgislahtrc of :9ennsgIcantH, 
 
 RELATING TO THE 
 
 •pICTUF(E OF THE ^/.TTLE OF -CJETTYSBUF^Q. 
 
 (^OVERNOE CTJRTIN, the earnest and reliable friend of the Pennsylvania 
 Qj Soldiers from the commencement to the end of the War of the Rebellion, 
 and at its close, the originator and practical advocate of the wise Legislative sys- 
 tem for the support and education of the soldiers' orphans, suggested an historical 
 painting commemorative of the Battle of Gettysburg. 
 
 In his Annual Message to the Legislature in January, 1866, anxious and 
 thoughtful to preserve in an enduring form, the tbeme of the decisive and victori- 
 ous struggle of the Great battle of the Rebellion, he recommended as follows : — 
 
 "As the Battle of Gettysburg resulted in a glorious victory, and was in fact 
 the beginning of the end of the war, and occurred on the soil of the Common- 
 wealth, I think it would be well that it should be commemorated by an historical 
 painting, to be placed in the Capitol of the State; and I recommend that the 
 Legislature take measures for that purpose." 
 
 The Governor's suggestion and recommendation was promptly adopted by 
 the Legislature, in the following proceedings therein : 
 
 Feb. 7, 1866. Journal H. R., 1866. V. 189. 
 J. N. Kerns offered the following resolution, which was thrice read, considered 
 and adopted, viz. : 
 
 Resolved, (if the Senate concur) That so much of the Governor's Message as 
 refers to the Report of David Wills, Esq., President of the Soldiers' National 
 Cemetery, at Gettysburg, relative to the procuring of a commemorative historical 
 Painting, to be. placed in the Capitol of the State, be referred to a joint Committee 
 of three Members of each House. 
 
 Ordered, That Messrs. Kerns, Markley and Allen be the said Committee, and 
 that the Clerk inform the Senate of the same. 
 
 Feb. 13, Ibid., p. 253. The Speaker announced that he had appointed Messrs. 
 Kerns, Markley and Allen the Committee, to vvbom was referred so much of the 
 Governor's Annual Message as refers to a Memorial Painting, descriptive of the 
 Battle of Gettysburg. 
 
 Feb. 10, Ibid, p. 290. The Senate concurred in the resolution of the House r 
 with an amendment in which the House was requested to concur. The House 
 ■ cncnrred, and the resolution was made to read as follows, viz.: 
 
:;:; 
 
 Itenlved, I it" the Senate concur) That so mocfa of the < iovernor'a Messaf 
 
 rofers to the procuring of a < imemoratiTe historical Painting of the Battle of 
 
 Gettysburg, t" be placed in the Capitol of the State, be referred to a joint Com- 
 mittee <'t" three Members <>i" each I louse ; and thai before entering into any contract 
 upon the subject, the Committee shall report to their respective Houses, a descrip- 
 tion of the painting, it- probable cost, and the name of the artist. 
 
 Ordered, That Messrs. Connell, McConaaghy and Clymer, be the Committee 
 on the part of the Senate. Said amendment was twice read, considered and con- 
 curred in, and ordered that the Clerk Inform the Senate of the same. 
 
 April 10, Ibid, p. 981. J.N. Kerns, from the Select Committee on the subject, 
 made report in relation to the procuring of an historical Tainting, commemorative 
 of the Battle dfGettysburg, which was read as follows, viz.: 
 
 That in pursuance of their appointment, they have, in conjunction with the 
 Governor, consulted with ■ large number of artists and other gentlemen, whose 
 opinions are entitled to great weight, for the reason that tiny have for year- given 
 the 1'iNi Am- special attention in our own country, and also in the old world, 
 where they have spent much time in examining the various galleries of Art; they 
 have also had the views of the distinguished Ck)mmander-in-Chief of our army in 
 the battle of Gettysburg, and of other superior officers, who participated, with 
 illustrious valor, in that ever memorable conflict, which it is proposed to com- 
 memorate by Art. 
 
 The great importance of the subject, the deep interest felt in securing a work 
 which shall be alike creditable to the State and honorable to the heroic com- 
 mander-, whose nanus are indelibly associated with the battle, and gratifying to 
 the tens of thousands of our gallant soldiers, embracing more than seventy 
 Pennsylvania regiments, that upon our soil rolled back the tide of rebel invasion 
 in the turning battle of the war, the great diversity of opinion as to the particular 
 study (the place or event) which should bo selected as the great theme for a 
 picture, all have concurred to cause the Committee to proceed cautiously, and 
 more time must necessarily elapse before a definite judgment can be reached as to 
 what shall constitute the striking features and leading characteristics of the 
 painting or paintings. 
 
 The Committee have been strongly impressed with the view, that as the 
 Bubject embraces not merely a single battle but the battles of Gettysburg, involv- 
 ing the grand martial conflict of three distinct days, each of which takes rank 
 with the first battles of the world, the proper and BUCCessful execution of the work 
 may require three paintings, -o as to embody a theme from some grand epoch of 
 the struggle of each day. 
 
 Since the Committee were in conference with Major General Meade, who 
 kindly offered to accompany any artists of distinguished merit to the battle field, 
 for the purpose of giving all needful explanations as to the particular and striking 
 incident- of the three day.-' struggle, he has been called away on duty to St. Louis, 
 and as an accurate representation of the battle field with its scenery can be 
 properly taken only at the same season of the vear in which the battle was fought. 
 the visit of General Meade and the artists may be deferred until the month of 
 June or July. 
 
 Several Pennsylvania artiste of high reputation, and others from other States, 
 have expressed a desire to be entrusted with the execution of the work. Tlu 
 Committee have been assured, by those whose judgments are entitled to confidence, 
 
34 / 
 
 tln.t in our own State there may be found artists who are fully equal to the pre 
 duetion of the great historical painting or paintings, which should chronicle the 
 battle and adorn the Capitol. As in their selection they should call to their aid 
 studies by artists, they do not propose to confine the invitation for such studies to 
 the State. 
 
 The Committee take great pleasure in expressing their acknowledgments of 
 the deep and active interest taken by his Excellency, the Governor, in the subject 
 committed to them, and for the many valuable suggestions made by him to the 
 Committee, and to which they have largely deferred in the effort to fulfil the 
 object of their appointment. 
 
 They are also under deep obligations to Generals Meade, Hancock and 
 Crawford, for their counsel, which was essentially important, and t for the volun- 
 tary tender of their time and services for the purpose of securing a correct artistic 
 representation of this the greatest battle of the war. They are also much indebted 
 to Joseph Harrison, Jr., Esq., a well known citizen of Philadelphia, for bringing 
 them at his private gallery of Art, the finest in the State, into direct intercourse 
 with a number of gentlemen — with the works of the most eminent artists, and 
 whose suggestions and judgments have been highly serviceable to the Committee. 
 
 In conclusion, the Committee recommend the adoption of a section already 
 inserted in the general appropriations, viz.: 
 
 Section 63. That the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Represen- 
 tatives, appointed for the purpose, in connection with the Governor, are hereby 
 authorised and empowered to procure for the State, Paintings of the Battle of 
 Gettysburg, not exceeding three, with authority to obtain studies, and contract for 
 such Paintings, and the Governor is hereby authorized to draw the moneys 
 required by his warrant upon the State Treasurer. 
 
 All which is respectfully submitted. 
 
 Geo. Connell, J. N. Kerns, 
 
 T>. McConaughy, A. AV. Markley, 
 
 A. Heistand Glatz. H. Allen, 
 
 Committee of the Senate. Committee of the House of Reps. 
 
 The Legislature took no further action on the subject, and on the 12th of 
 April adjourned sine die. 
 
 Thus it will be observed that the Joint Committee of the Legislature was a 
 Commission. The subject matter and the nature of the duties to be discharged 
 necessarily placed the Committee in that character. The act of the Legislature 
 creating the Commission, and the highly interesting report made by the Commis- 
 sion to the Legislature two days previous to the final adjournment of the session, 
 show that the Commission was vested with large discretionary powers, some of 
 which could be advantageously exercised only at that season of the year when the 
 great battle was fought. The authority and labors of the Commission would, of 
 course, terminate when the Pictures of the battle were wholly finished by the 
 artist and ready for delivery. 
 
 The Commission whose names are attached to the above Report, after sub- 
 mitting it, lost no time in considering the various claims of the several artists 
 with whom they had been brought into connection, and their labors in the matter 
 of ordering the picture or pictures, illustrating the three days' struggle at Gettys- 
 burg, resulted in making the following contract with a distinguished artist of our 
 own State : 
 
35 
 M i mi'Kamm m o» a Contract kadi bxtwi i h thi Bt iti 01 Pbkmbylvanu 
 
 \M> P. !■'. RoTHEBHJ i . FOB l'\i\ i inh \ PXCTUBI OB l'u PI i;K- 01 TH] 
 
 I'.ati ii or Gi rn mi bo, 
 
 Mi MuiiAM'i m of agreemenl entered into this thirteenth day of July, A. D. 
 eighteen hundred and >ixt\ -six, by and between the undersigned Joint < lommittee 
 of the Senate and House of Representatives of the ( Sommonwealth of Pennsylvania 
 m connection with the Governor, appointed and empowered by ad of Assembly 
 to contract f<>r and procure f>r the said Commonwealth a historical Painting of 
 the Battle of Gettysburg, fought In July, 1863, of the first part, and P. F. 
 Bother mel, artist, of the city of Philadelphia, ofthe second park It i- agreed by 
 the said Committee and Governor, to engage and contract with the Raid P. F. 
 Etothermel, for and on behalf of the State of Pennsylvania, and by the said P. F. 
 Etothermel, artist, on his part, to undertake to execute a historical painting of the 
 Battle of Gettysburg, fought in July, A. P. 1863, upon tin- terms and condition! 
 set forth In iiu- following specifications, to wit: First, The said artist undertakes 
 to execute the proposed painting of the Battle of Gettysburg in tin- lust style of 
 liis art, dt" a size not loss than thirty feet in Length and fifteen feet in height; the 
 -Mini- embracing a Landscape View, with Battle Scene in large figures, embodying 
 rime great epoch in said battle, and also in connection therewith, a panel border, 
 not less than three feet in width, extending around the principal painting, Second, 
 
 The design for the said principal painting is to he executed by the said artist, first 
 in a study of net less (6) six feet in length by (5) five feet in height; which study 
 is to embrace all the features ofthe proponed painting, on a reduced scale. The 
 
 theme or subject to he selected by the said ( oniniittee and ( iovcrnor, in consulta- 
 tion with the said artist, and to conform in the main to the views of said Com- 
 mission. The said study to he completed within one year from the date of this 
 agreement; which study shall he Bubject to the approval of said Committee, and 
 if satisfactory to them to be accepted, hut if otherwise not to be accepted until the 
 said stuily or another shall he made satisfactory. Three, The said painting is to 
 he, in artistic merit, equal to the best of the said artist's former works, and in 
 point of accuracy to be, so far as practicable, historically true, which requirements 
 shall be indispensable perquisites to its acceptance. Four, The panel border is to 
 contain the great conflictsof the Battle of Gettysburg, and such interesting episodes 
 as shall he determined by the Committee, in consultation with the said artist, and 
 with like condition as to being satisfactory, as in the case of the principal painting. 
 Fifth, The price to be paid for the said painting, with panel verdu, executed as 
 above specified, ami executed in the most finished style of his art, with appropriate 
 frame, and including the delivery and placing ofthe painting in the State Capitol 
 in a place to be designated by the Committee or State Authorities, shall be 
 Twenty-five Thousand Dollars. Sixth, The juice shall be payable as follows, to 
 wit: When all the material shall have been obtained ami the requisite sketches 
 completed by said artist and the execution of the study commenced, Three Thous- 
 and Dollars shall be paid; when the study shall be completed and accepted by 
 :lie t 'oniniittee, the further sum of Seven Thousand Dollar-, ami the residue of 
 the price proportionally with the progress oi the work, reserving Ten Thousand 
 Dollars, to be paid upon the completion and delivery. Seventh, In the contin- 
 gency ofthe death of the said artist during the progress of the painting, or in the 
 ■vent of his failure, from any cause, to commence, to progress with, or to finish the 
 
36 
 
 said painting, the Committee reserve the right to employ such artist as they may 
 select to proceed with and complete the said painting. Eighth, The said painting 
 is to be completed and delivered, as above stipulated, within three years from the 
 date of this agreement; but the failure of the said artist to complete it within said 
 period is not to work a forfeiture of payment, as herein stipulated, without six 
 month's notice after the expiration thereof; that such forfeiture will result in the 
 event of a continued failure to complete. And the Committee reserve the power 
 for a sufficient reason now unforseen, should such arise, to make a reasonable 
 extension of sucli time, so that the whole period for completion shall not exceed 
 Five years from this date. Ninth, The said Joint Committee and Governor 
 contract for the State of Pennsylvania, and obligate the said Commonwealth for 
 the performance of the stipulations above made on its behalf, by virtue and 
 pursuance of their appointment for said purpose, and of the provisions of the Fifty 
 ninth section of the Act approved the eleventh day of April, A. D., 1866, entitled 
 an Act to provide for the ordinary expenses of the Government and other general 
 and specific appropriations, which section is as follows, to wit: 'Section 59. That 
 the Joint Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives, appointed for 
 the purpose, in connection with the Governor, are hereby authorized and im- 
 powered to procure for the State a painting of the Battle of Gettysburg, with 
 authority to obtain studies and contract for such painting, and the Governor is 
 authorized to draw the moneys required by his warrants upon the State Treasurer.' 
 In testimony of which agreement, in accordance with the foregoing specifications, 
 the said Joint Committees and said Governor and the said artist have hereunto 
 subscribed their names, on the day of the date thereof. 
 
 Attest, Signed, 
 
 J. ROBLEY DuNGLISON. A. G. CCETIN, 
 
 J. F. Habtranft. Governor of Penna. 
 
 Attest, Signed, 
 
 J. RoBLEY DUNGLISON. GEOBGE CoNNELL, 
 
 J. F. Haetbanft. D. McConaughy, 
 
 A. Heist and Glatz, 
 
 Senate Committee. 
 Signed, 
 
 James IS". Keens, 
 A. D. Mabkley, 
 H. Allen, 
 
 House Committee. 
 Signed, 
 
 P. F. ROTHEEMEL. 
 
 A resolution was adopted unanimously by the Commission early in last June, 
 in the following words: "Philadelphia, June 2, 1870. At a meeting of the Com- 
 mittee upon the painting of the Battle of Gettysburg, appointed by the Legislature 
 on behalf of the State of Pennsylvania, it was unanimously Resolved, That in 
 accordance with professional usage and as some expression of our high apprecia- 
 tion of the success of the artist, P. F. Rothermel, in the execution of this Great 
 Historical Painting, this Committee by this action, consent and authorize the 
 artist to exhibit the painting of the Battle of Gettysburg in such of the cities of 
 this State, and within the United States, as shall be agreeable to him, and receive 
 
37 
 
 the proceeds of inch exhibition for hi- persons] benefit Lttett, Greo. Cornell, 
 I >. McConaughy, James N. Kerns, \. D. Afarkley, \. Seistand Glata." 
 
 The Commission, mindful of their datiea under the above contract, bad, 
 
 individually ami collectively, frequent interviews with M r I lothemiel, at his 
 
 studio in Philadelphia, daring the several years that the picture was in hand, 
 
 thus giving much time ami thought to the BUbjeot, although their term of i.tliee 
 
 in the Legislature bad expired, with a single exception (Mr Connell) long before 
 
 the picture was finished. They are still giving and intend to give their attention 
 to the work committed to their care, until the artist has completed in a satisfactory 
 manner the smaller pictures included in the contract. How well the < iommission 
 have fulfilled the important and difficult trust which the Legislature had placed 
 
 in their keeping, the finished principal picture under the contract, now before the 
 public, fully bears witness. How well the public are satisfied with their labors, 
 the numbers thai daily visit the exhibition at No. 1003 Chestnut Btreet sufficiently 
 testifies. That the subordinate pictures, yet to be completed by Mr Rothermel ■ 
 
 will he equally satisfactory to the Commission ami to the public, can scarcely 
 admit of a douht. 
 
 V- the picture ncared completion, Mr Rothermel's numerous friends were 
 desirous that it- first introduction to the puhlic should be done in such a manner 
 as would mark the importance of the event, and do credit to our State, whose 
 Legislature had ordered the work, and also to do honor to the artist whose genius 
 had so well fulfilled the task assigned to him. In accordance with this idea, and 
 under the auspice- of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the picture, 
 was unveiled with appropriate ceremonies at the Academy of Music, on the 
 evening of December 20th, 1870, before an enthusiastic and highly appreciative 
 audience. Previous to this merited tribute to Mr Rothermel, Mr Caleb Cope, 
 President afthe Academy of the Fine Arts, and the Committee of arrangements 
 Messrs. Claghorn, Harrison and Struthers, .assisted by Colonel Wylie Mitchell, 
 and Mes-r-. James S. Martin and John Rice, endeavored to find a suitable room 
 to exhibit the picture to the general public, for the benefit of the artist. No such 
 place being available, a site was looked for in a proper locality on which to erect a 
 temporary gallery for this purpose. The vacant lot of ground on Chestnut street, 
 above Tenth, the property of the late Miss S. L. Kcene, was applied for, and Mrs. 
 Ellen Keene Mitchell, the executrix of the estate, with the approval of her 
 counsel, Henry E. Keene, acceeded to the solicitation, and cheerfully gave Mr. 
 Rothermel permission to occupy the lot temporarily for the exhibition exclusively 
 of his painting of the ''Battle of I -etty-burg." 
 
 • 
 
.FROM AN UNPUBUSHtD POEM, BY GENERAL WM. K SMALL 
 
 And now thy crowning labor glads the eyes 
 Of thousands, as in awe or pride they trace 
 
 The Field of Gettysburg, in tints that rise, 
 All life-like from the canvas and the place ; 
 
 The mortal struggle for immortal prize, 
 The agony and triumph, face to face, 
 
 Stand out before us to inspire anew, 
 
 The valor that is ever Freedom's due! 
 
 Who, that once looks upon that fearful scene, 
 Can ere forget the praise and honor due, 
 
 To heroes who were then, as they had been 
 
 Through years of strife, to Flag and Country true: 
 
 Their pictured story shall, forever green, 
 Preserve their actions, and in every hue, 
 
 Hallow the virtues that proclaim and grace, 
 
 The glorious record of a noble race. 
 
 Oh ! who can say what would have been the fate 
 
 Of this great nation, if the bloody tide, 
 Which then rushed headlong on our startled State, 
 
 Had not been bravely checked and turned aside? 
 Our cities wasted, fields all desolate, 
 
 Our Freedom crushed and shorn of all her pride — 
 But for that Army, gathered in our need, 
 Of" matchless valor, led by matchless Meade. 
 
 Then give our thanks to God, and praise to those 
 Stern warriors, who stretched their hands to -live 
 
 Our Union and our Liberties from foes, 
 As wild in faith, as they were madly brave. 
 
 And as we mark the battle, as it rose 
 
 And fell, as rolls the ocean storm-lashed wave, 
 
 Depicted here; let us not fail to yield 
 
 Honor to him who liinn'd the immortal field 
 

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 I 
 
the .Exhibition is open daily, 
 
 J ROM 10 ^. *JVL, UNTIL 10 p. ^4. 
 
 (straEft.*a Esea»TH33.) 
 
 Price of Admission, 
 Children {under 10), 
 Descriptive Pamphlet, 
 
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