Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-10

The following communication mas ueeh au-
dressed to the editor of this column. 1Se
matter explains itself:
Ihave read with much interest the proceed
ings Of Post S. 6. A. R., and its certain resoiu-
tions obiecting to the erection Of Confederate
monuments on the battlefield Of Gettysburg.
These resolutions have been indorsed by one
OF more posts elsewhere.
Ordinarily this would pass without comment,
as an expression of opinion which certainly the
gallant soldiers of Post IS have right to utter
unehaIlenged. I am afraid. however, that It
NAV give rise to a misconcepuon OF TACT
Representing Western Pennsylvania posts as
member Of the official directory of the Gettys-
burg Battlefield Memorial Association, 1t is
proper perhaps, that should state, and all the
comrades should know, what the basis facts
are before the discussion extends further and
opinion is crystalized. Every thoughtful man
who has followed the work done at Gettysburg
b. the Battlefield Association from the begin
ming has long since made up his mind that the
general Government will eventually take 1t up
and suppleme ent Northern with Southern mark
ess No soldier who visits the place to-day
who has the capacity of learning all the lessons
taught there, comes away without sense OF
the incompeteness that will exist when the
last Northern monument has been dedicated,
and he will also have the feeling that, as 1t
took two armies to do the lighting, so two lines
of battle should be marked to show where they
stood.
A GRAND BATTLEFIELD.
The Gettysburg battlefield is larger than
most soldiers of either army suppose, unless
they have studied it, or until they compare 1t
with some other locality, the size Of which is
known. While but eight miles, as the crow
dies, from one extremity of the field to the
other, the actual extent Of the Union battle
lines for the three days, as they doubled and
followed the various positions taken up, aggre-
gated q miles, ana along these lines of battle
strips of land. varying from 40 to 800 feet in
width, have been purchased avenues oDened.
driveWays constructed, monuments and flank
stones erected. Parallel with these, but on the
outer circle, and hence longer, were the rebel
lines, which aggregate q miles for the three
davs vet not one rod of these has been opened
or marked and but one Confederate monument
or marker is placed anywhere on the ground.
In other words. there is nothing to show that
the Union army, with all its avenues and monu-
ments, had an opponent st Gettysburg! If the
Grand Army veterans desire that the fact be
noted that there was an enemy on the ground
this knowledge must be preserved by roads,
avenues and monuments The monuments
must not of course, have carved upon them
any glorifcation of treason, but only record of
fact The one Confederate monument now at
Gettysburg, permitted by the association, is of
q Maryland regiment and that marks fact of
the battle, and 1t has that fact alone carved on
its panels. The legend is in no possible way
offensive A resolution on the books of the
Battlefield Association forbids the erection of
any Confederate marker without its entire
plan, its legend and position first being ap-
proved by the Committee on Legends and Sites.
There is to be
NO WAR OF MONUMENTS.
Asan ornamental battlefield, Gettysburg has
no equal in any country, but as only the posi-
tons Of one side are marked, it really possesses
no tactical value whatever. Pleasure seekers
will visit and enjoy that remarkable field as it
Is; but celebrated tourists and students of his
tory will exclaim, "Was there no opposing force
at Gettysburg?; With both sides marked
Gettysburg would be the most remarkable OBJ
iect lesson in the world Along the Confederate
battle lines. moved 80 bTigades of infantry and
four of cavalry. To properly mark these the
association is urging on Congress an appropria-
tion TO place "a large iron tablets 2Ol regimenral
markers, 10 battery markers and other his
torical tablets to designate lines. changes of
position, avenues, fianks, etc. Are the veterans
of the Grand Army about to oppose this, and
70 create a sentiment against it? Congress will
be sensitive TO the opposition of those who
made Gettysburg glorious
To determine Confederate lines will increase
the value of Union monuments. And there are
not on the combined battlefelds of the world
SO many monuments as now mark our Gettys.
burg. But while Union lines can be traced and
regiments located, and the position of the
Army Of the Potomac known, vet the visitor
or tina: of his hack driver for the Il miles of
rebel battle lines. Shall this knowledge be
preserved to history, shall it be lost toreverP
We have heard the regrettul expression SO
often by visiting comrades, Il wonder what
rebel regiment was fighting MS here? Visitors
daily express surprise and regret that only one
side is represented in the markers. and no at
tempt made to mark the other. This should
be done while it can be DONE while faint
traces ofrebel breastworks yet remain-done
NOT FoT SENTIMENT
but for history. Every day makes it more diff
cult. There are no veteran associations in the
South to preserve records; rebel officers are
scattered over the world; no person in Gettys.
burg can trace the rebel lines. Fortunately,
the association can help the general Govern
ment now; but if our comrades oppose it the
matter may drop; Congress will become in
different, and one Of these DAYS pass some bill
In 3 very different shape passed from Con.
federate standpoint, beyond our power to con
troll, offensive in every detail.
OF the l20 general officers of the Union army
who served aT Gettysburg, 2 are now dead. |
and large portion Of those who remain are
fast becoming incapacitated. The opportunity
passes; men die: the work is half donel
The only Confederate monument at Gettys-
burg is simply marker; il bears no inscription |
which in any way is offensive nor does it Clo-ify
the rebellion. 1t simply shows where that one |
rebel regiment fought Its legend is correct
and accurate history. As Post IS opposes that |
one, l have written this on the ground that it |
would oppose any Confederate markers what |
ever. Are comrades elsewhere ready to pass |
resolutions which may induce their representa-
tlves to vote against an appropriation to open |
out avenues and put up markers to show where |
the rebels stood and where they Fought The |
Army of the Potomac had a strong, reliant, |
well-equipped and brave opponent in the army |
of Virginia Let Gettysburg monuments tell |
the whole story, not half of it.
CHILL W. HAzzARD,