Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-06-15
hull Run.

YORK Herald OF yesterday CONTAIN eA-
tended accounts of the dedication last
Sunday of two monuments on the bat
tle-flelds of Bull Run.
The principal material of the monu-
ments is ordinary red sand stone, quar-
ried near Manassas Junction, and hewn
into square blocks. The height of one
is twenty-seven feet, and of the other
twenty one. The latter or Groveton
monument is about two miles distant
from the former, and the last six feet of
the shaft are constructed OF shot and
shell, which were found in great abund-
ance upon the "Second Bull Run" bat
tle-field.
The erection of monuments upon these
fields, which occupy such a prominent
place in history may be said to have
been almost an impromptu affair, as they
were begun on Tuesday, June 6, finished
on the 10th, and dedicated on the 18th.
OF course they are not very elaborate
structures, but nevertheless, highly cred
liable to those who built them, with the
means at their command. The idea was
first conceived by Lieut. James Mccall
lom of the 10th Massachusetts Light
Battery, under whose superintendent
both monuments were erected by details
of men from that battery and the 9Th
Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery.
A train left Washington Sunday NOR
ming at 6 o'clock A. NJ, having on board
about one hundred persons, including
Gen. Heintzelman, Prof Henry and Rev.
Or. McMurdy of Kentucky. At Alexan-.
dria the number was increased to about
two hundred, and by 8 o'clock the train
had reached Fairfax Station, fifteen
miles out on the Orange and Alexandria
Railroad, which is as far as trains can
be run at present. At this point the
party started in ambulances, and hay
ing arrived at the Court House, four
mile distant, they formed into process
siop VIII the mounted band Of the 9Th
nl;no;s cava,'"v, and that of the Sd U. s.
Infantry in waoo,7 This band visited
ihiah'iy III Wagons '.ar interest for
the ground with pecuIi- ,-o1 100,
they were at the battle of July no
and while assisting the wounded W.
compelled to retreat, and thus lost their
instruments.
The company then proceeded for dis
lance of eight or ten miles, viewing
with deep interest the historical grounds
which are still desolate, and arrived at
the first monument at about 10 o'clock.
On one side Of the monument there is
the following inscription cut into the
stone:
,"La Memory of the Patriots Oho fell at Bull
Ran, July q, 1861"
On the reverse:
@ Erected June 10. 1867
The location OF the monument Is on
a commanding crest, about three nun
dred wards southeast Of the Henry
House, and on the identical spot where
Heintzelman's division made their hard
est fight, and from which they were
finally driven back by the arrival Of
Kirby Smiths reinforcements, after hav-
ing flanked and driven the enemy from
Sudley Church, ON Bull Run, where
Heintzelman and Hunter crossed their
divisions. ... . q =
The dedication services were opened
at one o'clock by Rev. DR.. McMurdy,
who officiated in the absence Of Rev. DR..
Moore, of Philadelphia, who was ex-
pected to deliver the address. A por-
ton of the Psalms appropriate for the
day was first read, followed by an invo-
cation to the most high God to witness
the conservation of this pile to the men,
DRY of our fallen heroes.
Gen. Heintzelman was greatly inter-
ested on this ground, and " fought the
battle DER again." with decided advant-
age to the visitors. The line held by the
Brooklyn Zouaves, the woods from
which the mythical Black horse Cav
airy charged, and the spot where Griffin
lost his guns, were all infinitely pointed
out.
The battlefield itself presents few ev-
licences of the engagement. Here and
there a mound indicates grave, but
they are not numerous, and the only
relic found was an old musket barrel.
After lunch under the trees close at
hand, which everybody felt the need of,
for the ride had been weary, most of the
party left for the Groveton battlefield,
about two miles distant, where the sec
ond monument had been erected by the
same hands as the first. As the dedica-
tory services on the first occasion were
intended for both, there was no cere-
mony here beyond the singing of an
original hymn written for the occasion
by Rev. John Pierpont.
The surplice worn by the officiating
clergyman on this occasion was the