161 years ago

 On this date 161 years ago - the President of the United States traveled with his Secretary of State - William Seward, from Washington to a small cross roads town in Pennsylvania.  The President was invidted to give some "appropriate remarks " at the dedication of tht Union cemetery. They invited him after they realized that there would be 18 or so Governors but, thee invitation made it clear that they had a keynote speaker - Edward  Everett who was considered to be the Best Speaker in the Land - a Clergyman, former governor , educator , Congressman  - Everett was to give the main address.  

Seward wanted to travel to Gettysburg on the 19th - but Lincoln said - no , I know how these thing work - we will go the day before. Lincoln stayed at the home of David Wills . Wills was a principle driver to getting the Cemetery at Gettysburg built.  By the way - Lincoln was the only person to get a room to himself , even Edward Everett had to share - although the story is that Everett locked out his room mate so tht he could have a room to himself....   

It was in the Wills home that Lincoln completed his address . 

The Cemetery was completed -  the bodies moved from the Battlefield to the Cemetery (mostly by freed slaves )  -  and Union soldiers only I might add.    The Design of the Cemetery was laid out in a semi-circle around what is the soldiers monument. The design meant to show that no one soldier - regardless of rank , wealth , etc was more important than any other soldier - Equal .  Laid out by State and then a section of Unknown.  

Odd fact - that today (added many years later ) there is a marker from Kentucky near  the Soldiers monument with the Gettysburg address in bronze - Odd -  because Kentucky did not send one unit to fight for the Union in the Battle of Gettysburg,   

BUT - Kentucky is the birthplace of the both Abraham Lincoln, and Jefferson Davis . 

At the Base of the Soldiers monument is a plaque from Kentucky.

There is this memorial to Lincoln, with his bust and the address  near the entrance to Cemetery, but thats not where he gave the speech,....  

There is the rostrum at the National Cemetery  where several Presidents have spoken Hayes, Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, Coolidge, Eisenhower, BUT Not Lincoln.....

Lincoln spoke from a platform that was constructed  back near the border of what is the Evergreen Cemetery and the National Cemetery.   There is a fence there now ,  that separates the Cemeteries - note THAT fence came from  Lafayette Square in Washington D.C., which is located near the White House.

Tomorrow - the Gettysburg Address