_But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth._ ABRAHAM LINCOLN. GETTYSBURG, NOVEMBER 19, 1863. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENTS _Page_ I. JULY THE FIRST 1 II. THE HOME-COMING 21 III. VICTORY 45 IV. THE BATTLE-GROUND 65 V. GUNNER CRISWELL 87 VI. THE SUBSTITUTE 109 VII. THE RETREAT 133 VIII. THE GREAT DAY 157 IX. MARY BOWMAN 181 NOTE. Grateful acknowledgment is made to the editors for permission to reprint in this volume chapters that first appeared in _Harper's_, _Lippincott's_, _McClure's_, and _Scribner's Magazines_. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ILLUSTRATIONS A BATTLE IS TO BE FOUGHT 13 HERE _Frontispiece_ From the drawing by Sidney H. Riesenberg, reproduced by courtesy of Harper and Brothers "I CAN'T STAND IT," HE 26 SAID THICKLY From the drawing by Frederic Dorr Steele reproduced by courtesy of McClure's Magazine HE STOOD WHERE LINCOLN 104 HAD STOOD: From the drawing by C. E. Chambers, reproduced by courtesy of Harper and Brothers THEY SAW THE STRANGE OLD 152 FIGURE ON THE PORCH From the drawing by F. Walter Taylor, reproduced by courtesy of Chas. Scribner's Sons