Part 8 (2/2)
on the afternoon of the third day, which will be exhibited in the princ.i.p.al cities of the country. This is also from my historical design, and has been painted under my immediate direction. Mr. Walker spent weeks at Gettysburg, transcribing the portraiture of the field to canvas, which has been done in the most pleasing and lifelike manner. We have received in this matter the kindest support and co-operation of the officers of the army, engaged on that portion of the field.
Many distinguished general officers, on my invitation, visited Gettysburg, and went over the field with us, and pointed out all the details of this great turning point of the Rebellion; each explaining the movements of their several commands. Among those present at different times, were Generals Meade, Hanc.o.c.k, Gibbon, Howard, Doubleday, Stannard, Hunt, Warren, Humphreys, Graham, Burling, De Trobriand, Wistar, and Dana; together with a large number of Field, Line, and Staff-Officers. Most of these gentlemen have since kindly called at Mr. Walker's studio, and aided the work with their advice.
Many others, who were unable to meet with us at Gettysburg, have, at considerable trouble, visited the studio in New York; among them, Generals Webb, Hall, Newton, Hazard, Sickles, Ward, Brewster, Berdan, and Gates, and Generals Wilc.o.x and Longstreet, of the Confederate Army; the latter taking great interest in the painting, and leaving me a fine letter indorsing its accuracy. This painting has been designed _strictly_ in conformity to the directions of these gentlemen, given on the field for that purpose, and from the Reports of the Confederate Commanders, furnished to me by the Government.
This great representative Battle-scene has not its equal in America, for correctness of design or accuracy of execution. Gibbon's and Hays's Divisions and the Corps Artillery, occupy the immediate foreground. It is on a canvas 7-1/2 20 feet, and represents, not only every Regiment engaged at that portion of the field, but where the formation of the ground would admit, the entire left wing is shown.
It presents such an accurate and lifelike portrait of the country, that on it the movements of the first and second day's operations can readily be traced. No important scene has been screened behind large foreground figures, or, for the want of a knowledge of the details, hidden by convenient puffs of smoke; but every feature of this gigantic struggle has, in its proper place, been woven into a symmetrical whole.
A fine steel plate is also to be engraved of this picture, which will be accompanied by a _Key_, by which the position of every Regiment and Battery can be determined.
PRICE OF ENGRAVINGS.
Print, $10.--Plain Proof, $25.--India Proof, $60.--Artist Proof (limited to 200 copies), $100.
The following gentlemen, intimately identified with the Battle of Gettysburg, and exercising the highest commands at the battle, kindly furnished me these letters, as indors.e.m.e.nts to an application to examine Confederate Reports of the Battle of Gettysburg at the War Department.
”PHILADELPHIA, _Nov. 3, 1867_.
”GENERAL:--
”* * * * Mr. Bachelder has acc.u.mulated a vast amount of official and reliable testimony on our side, and I am of the opinion his work will be as truthful as the data in his possession will admit; I am greatly interested in his application being granted, and would most earnestly recommend permission being given him to examine the Confederate Reports, in case you do not see any strong reasons preventing it.
”Very truly yours, ”GEO. G. MEADE, ”_Major-General, U. S. A._
”GENERAL U. S. GRANT.
”_Sec. War, ad interim._”
PERMISSION GRANTED.
[Extract of a letter from Major-General Humphreys, Chief of the Corps of Engineers.]
”WAs.h.i.+NGTON, D. C., _Nov. 14, 1867_.
”GENERAL:--
”* * * The information which Mr. Bachelder has collected concerning the Battle of Gettysburg, is extraordinary in amount and correctness. So far as I am able to judge, there is no battle of any war respecting which so many truthful accounts, so many exact details, have been collected and compiled. From every source, from the private to the general commanding the army, facts have been collected, and where discrepancies were found, evidence was multiplied, and in this way errors have been dissipated.
Mr. Bachelder has peculiar qualifications for the task he has undertaken, and has devoted four years to it. * * *
<script>