The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-07-19
TO ERECT A MONUMENT.
RICKETTS, BATTERY ARRANGE TO PLACE
1T ON GErrYsBURG's BATTLE FIELD.

RICKETTS, BATTERY ARRANGE TO PLACE
1T ON GErTYsBURG's BATTLE FIELD.
Representative of Ricketts, cele-
brated battery met in the room of
George III. Thomas Post No. "a, on
Wednesday afternoon. TIE object of
the meeting was to adopt the design
of monument to be erected on the
battlefield of Gettysburg, in which
battle this battery was an important
factor.
Col. r. Bruce Ricketts, was the COM
mander of the batteries known as Bat
terry f and Battery G, First Pennsyl-
vania Light Artillery. The members
were enlisted from all sections of the
state.
BY an act of the Legislature, passed
at the last session, the batteries were
authorized to merge their state appro-
priation granted each of the batteries
for a monument. These batteries have
with their joint appropriations a fund
of $4,000 available for monument.
The batteries at their annual meet
ing appointed committee from each
of the organizations to make all the ar
rangements for the construction of the
monument The members of these
committees are: Battery F: M. b.
Hughes, Shickshinny Thos. Z. Frame,
Coatesville VIM. Blessing, Harris
burg w. III. Thurston, Sunbury; j.
II. Schmehl, Reading; George K.
Heinbach, Lewistown, president and
ex-officio a member.
Battery G: john L. Boehringer,
Adamstown Jacob Myer, Lancaster
VIM. j Troup, Hanover; De Lafayette
Chandler, Lock Haven; Luther Seid-
ers, Reading. Nearly all of the above
members were present at the meeting.
They arrived in this city on the morn
ing train, and made the Stevens house
their headquarters.
The meeting was called to order at
O'Clock and J. H. Schmehl was elect
ed chairman and Luther Seiders chosen
as secretary.
Two drafts of monument were pre-.
sented by Amos S. E4terly, of the
Reading Granite works two from Dean
er & Son, Reading, two from Heis %
Brown, Reading, and four from Fer.
guson & Co., Philadelphia.
All the designs were carefully ex-
amined and by unanimous vote one
of those presented by Mr.. Esterly was
adopted and the contract price fixed al
$4,000.
The monument will be one of the
handsomest on tho Gettysburg battle
field and the following brief descrip-
tion of it will convey aa idea of its ap-
ptarance:
The base resting on the foundation
will be eight by five feet, with rise
of two feet six inches. 1t will be in
two pieces and represents Ashla work.
Above this base will be another
stone six by four feet, with a rise OF
three feet, three inches. There will
be rock work on three sides. Ga the
front will be panel with a cannon
brought out in bold relief.
Above this will be block fye feet
by three feet, five inches, one foot rise,
OF pointed work.
Above this is die four feet, four
inches by two feet ten inches, with a
rise of two feet, eight inches. The
four sides of this piece will be polished
and contain snch inscription as may be
decided upon. Next ia cap, feet,
by 8 feet inches, by feet in dimen'
sions of ten cut work for inscriptions.
Next is a small die, three feet, by
two feet, four inches, with two feet
rise. On the sides will be oak and
laurel wreaths, with the PennyslyaDia
coat of arms in bronze next is q cap
three feet, three inche', by three feet.
with rise of one foot, six inches Of
ten cut work. Above tn 8 the top
piece of the monument proper will be
a figure of an artillery bugler, seven
feet high. The monument with figure
will be 22 feet high aud will weigh
nearly twenty-six tons. There will be
three hundred and twenty cubic feet
of stone in the monument; which was
designed by DR.. Herman Strecker, OF
Reading, who was recently honored
with degree by Franklin and Marsh
all college. Henry Beckard represent
ed Mr.. Esterly, the contractor, and ex'
planned the des gn adopted,
Messrs. Shmehl and Seiders were
appointed committee to appear before
the Gettysburg Battle-h I'D association
with the design adopted for approval
This approval is mere matter OF form,
for Col Ricketts,, their old commander
is a member of the commission and be
will Zee that the choice of his men il
approved.
The monument will be completed
late this fall and placed in position,
when there will probably be a re union
of the batteries on the ba tle-feld
After passing vote of thanks to
G orge H. Thomas Post for the use OF
their room the committee adjourned.
l-LdncaSter Mateliigencer.