Pike County GaArchives News.....One Veteran to Attend Gettysburg Commemoration July 1, 1938 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Lynn Ballard Cunningham http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002535 February 9, 2013, 2:46 pm The Pike County Journal July 1, 1938 Mr. Ferdinand S. Drewry, 90-year-old, Only One to Attend from Pike Ferdinand S. Drewry, 90 year old resident of Williamson, is the only one of Pike County’s two veterans of the War Between the States to attend the 75th anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg, Pa., which began June 29 and will continue through July 6. Mr. Charlie Sullivan of Meansville, is not attending. The commemoration was planned to bring together veterans of both the North and South on the greatest battlefield of the War of the Sixties, before it is too late. They will meet on a friendly basis for a last great celebration which will include a speech on July 3 by President Roosevelt. Government Finances Event The United States government will finance the trip for all veterans of both the North and the South. Expenses of one attendant will also be paid. Pike counties “grand old man” is accompanied by his son, Thomas A. Drewry of Williamson. They left Tuesday for the North. A camp has been built near the famous battlefield and all conveniences will be furnished the few aged veterans who attend. Every effort will be made to make this day an enjoyable one. Opportunity will be given to the man in both blue and gray to visit the thousand or more monuments on the scene where 43, 000 men were killed or wounded in the battle that proved the turning point in the war. It was fought on July 2 and 3, 1863, between the forces of General Lee for the Confederacy and General Meade for the Union. School Mates Killed Mr. Drewry who is in good health for all of his 90 years, had two school mates killed in the action at Gettysburg. He was reared in the upper edge of Spalding county near Fayette. The two school friends who lost their lives were brothers – Hosea and Pink Lynch from Fayette county. They were members of the 13th Georgia Confederates. A company from Zebulon, under the command of Col. John H. Baker also engaged in the famous battle. They were in the 13th Regiment. Some of them took part in Pickett’s famous charge, described as the most famous and futile in military history. Fifteen thousand Confederates charged the federal breastworks on Cemetery Ridge. A few hundred reach their goal, but they were soon captured or driven back. In less than an hour 3,400 Confederates had given their lives for their cause. The next day, July 4, 1863, General Lee decided to go back to Virginia and the battle was over. Describes Effect of the War “The first battle of Bull Run cause the South to go wild on the subject of war,” said Mr. Drewry. “Young and old wanted to join up to take part in the fighting, which it was believed would last only a few months in 1861. But before it was over everything was different. People were ragged, hungry and lousy too.” He told how Jim Driver, another Pike veteran would not come into the house on a visit home until he had a change of clothes. Mr. Driver, who served two years as State General of the Georgia United Confederate Veterans, a while back had planned to go to the Gettysburg affair, but illness placed him in the Crawford W. Long Hospital in Atlanta and spoiled plans he had been making for 18 months. James L. Driver, whose father gave his name to one of the districts of Pike county (also known as the Williamson district), was one of six brothers in the war. Two of them were killed in action near Spotsylvania, in Virginia. Served In Militia Mr. Drewry whose full name is Ferdinand Sylvester, was only about 17 years of age when the war ended. Yet he saw service under Johnson in Company A, 6th Georgia militia. His father saw service in the same organization during the critical years of 1863-64. The militia was different from the Confederate force. Members of it were subject to the Governor of Georgia, while the Confederates were under the command of President Jefferson Davis. When Sherman invaded Georgia in 1864, the militia was placed under General Johnston, who retreated before the federals as his forces were outnumbered more than two to one. Governor Brown, Georgia, brought pressure to bear on President Davis to remove Johnston because he would not fight Sherman. General Hood was placed in charge of the Confederate forces, and the famous and disastrous battle of Atlanta took place. Hood was defeated and withdrew towards Tennessee, seeking to lure Sherman away from Savannah. The Northern commander continued his march to the sea, however, and at the end of the war in April, 1865, he was in the Carolinas, marching to join Grant in Virginia. Life of Service Born in Spalding county in 1848, Mr. Drewry has a long and distinguished record of service. After the war he returned home to face conditions that would discourage the strongest and helped bring his community through Reconstruction days. He has served his community as Justice of the Peace and in many other ways. Mr. Drewry has three children, Mrs. Belle Dickinson and Thomas A. Drewry are residents of Williamson, while William A. Drewry lives in Atlanta. He also has six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren and one great great grandchild. Commends Boy Scouts Mr. Drewry likes to listen to the radio, and especially enjoy speeches, President Roosevelt is one of his favorites. Due to failing eyesight he can no longer read, but nevertheless he keeps up with the times through the help of his children and friends who read to him. “I am expecting no difficulty in getting around to all the places at Gettysburg,” he said, “I will have the help of my son and they will meet us at the station and carry us to camp. After that there will be ways to get about to all the points of interest, and plenty of time to see them all. At past conventions in the South, the Boy Scouts had been very helpful and I expect they will be there, too.” A smile on his face, Mr. Drewry added in conclusion, “one consolation is that if I die up there, they will furnish a nice casket and pay all my burial expenses.” But with his present good health – he can eat anything he wants to – and his cheerful disposition, he should live to pass the century mark at least. Additional Comments: Ferdinand Sylvester Drewry, b. 25 December 1848, d. 22 June 1939 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/pike/newspapers/oneveter458nnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/gafiles/ File size: 6.9 Kb