Friend to Friend - A Brotherhood Undivided at Gettysburg

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The month of May brings many reminders of what is important to Americans. We start with the celebration of the women who gave us life, as we honor them on Mothers Day. We conclude with the commemoration, on Memorial Day, of those men and women who gave their lives in the Armed Forces of our Country. In between, of course, we celebrate graduations and not a few Spring weddings.

With so few American families these days with loved ones in the military and, happily, even fewer mourning those who have died for our country in recent years, it is fitting to reflect on the valor and the suffering of the millions who have given what President Lincoln described as “the last measure of devotion.”

The Great Emancipator, served as President during the only war on American soil that saw brothers fighting brothers, cousins against cousins, and even fathers versus sons. It also saw officers and men of both armies that had trained together in our military academies, only to wind up on opposite sides of terrible battles. Quite remarkably, the War saw many incidents in which men lay down their arms to help the wounded on the other side, showing that Brotherhood can transcend political conflict.

In 1993, the Freemasons of Pennsylvania dedicated a special memorial to one well-documented incident in the midst of the fierce battle and unthinkable carnage that was the Battle of Gettysburg. As described below, it involved Union Captain Henry Bingham, a Mason and staff assistant to General Hancock rendering aid to the fallen Confederate General. Armistead, also a Mason, who died of his wounds on July 5, 1863, two days after the battle ended.

The story is summarized in the inscription on the monument, known as Friend to Friend

This is the text of the inscription on the bronze plaque which adorns the monument

Union General Winfield Scott Hancock and Confederate General Lewis Addison Armistead were personal friends and members of the Masonic Fraternity.

Although they had served and fought side by side in the United States army prior to the Civil War, Armistead refused to raise his sword against his fellow Southerners and joined the Confederate Army in 1861.

Both Hancock and Armistead fought heroically in the previous twenty-seven months of the war. They were destined to meet at Gettysburg.

During Pickett’s Charge, Armistead led his men gallantly, penetrating Hancock’s line. Ironically, when Armistead was mortally wounded, Hancock was also wounded.

Depicted in this sculpture is Union Captain Henry Bingham, a Mason and staff assistant to General Hancock, himself wounded, rendering aid to the fallen Confederate General. Armistead is shown handing his watch and personal effects to be taken to his friend, Union General Hancock.

Hancock survived the war and died in 1886. Armistead died at Gettysburg July 5, 1863. Captain Bingham attained the rank of General and later served 32 years in the United States House of Representatives. He was known as the “Father of the House.”

Shown on the wall surrounding this monument are the names of the States whose soldiers fought at the Battle of Gettysburg.

Map of Gettysburg

The Friend to Friend Masonic Memorial is on the south side of Gettysburg. It is in the National Cemetery Annex off Taneytown Road at the intersection with Steinwehr Avenue. (National Cemetery tour map) It was dedicated in 1993.

The monument was created by Ron Tunison. He also created the bas relief on the Delaware State Monument, the statue of General Crawford and the Women’s Memorial at Gettysburg and the bas reliefs on the Irish Brigade monument at Antietam.

Gettysburg Casualties

The battle of Gettysburg, the bloodiest of the Civil War, lasted From July 1 through July 3, 1863. Lee’s Army left early July 5 and was not pursued by General Meade. Units included 70,100 troops from 12 Southern States, with 280 guns, as well as 83,700 and 372 guns from 18 Northern States.

The Union forces suffered 22.8% casualties, including 3.3% dead; The Confederacy suffered 27.7% casualties, including 6.2% dead. The only civilian casualty was Jennie Wade, killed by a stray bullet while tending a sick relative inside her home. Many civilians were sickened and died as a result of disease resulting from the unsanitary conditions that prevailed for weeks as the townspeople and military attended to the bodies of the dead and treated the wounded.

Numbers Brought to Life

These numbers seem cold and sterile from this distance in time. At the time of the Battle, Gettysburg was a town with a population of 2,000. On the first day, July 1, 50,000 soldiers were engaged in the fight, and 15,500 were killed, wounded, captured or missing. That day alone was the 12th worst battle of the War. The second day at least 100,000 men were engaged of whom 20,000 were killed, wounded, captured or missing.

The “missing in action” include troops lost en route to the battles, during troop movements before July 1 and those counted after units were dismantled because too few men survived.

The numbers of wounded and missing-in-action probably understate Confederate losses due to the fact that many remains were never identified and the fact that Confederate forces were in retreat and may have been forced to abandon unidentified victims. Missing men on both sides also count some who may have become separated from their units and perished of wounds along the lines of march. Some of the uncounted wounded wandered away from the chaos and

were found and buried later in unmarked graves in the area surrounding Gettysburg.

Everyone Should Visit Gettysburg

Readers are encouraged to visit the Gettysburg National Cemetery. There is no better place to understand the terrible cost of war and the damage it does to individuals, families, communities and countries. Please bring children old enough to understand that it is hallowed ground and not a playground. Most adults who visit it will experience the profound sadness and sense of loss that hangs in the air.

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