Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1889-04-11
GOING TO GETTYSBURG.
TO ASSIST IN DEDICATING KuCm-
CAMS MONUMENTS.

The Formaiittes Will Occur June 12--AbI0
and Interesting Report of the Doings OF
the Monument chigan's
Heroes VIII he Honored.
Lansing special dispatch.l
Gov. Luce presided at q meeting held
in this city to perfect arrangements for
tho dedication Of the Michigan monu-
ments at Gettysburg. In addition 10 the
members of the commission appointed 10
supervise the erection of the monuments
Col. Geo. G. Briggs OF this city, Maj.
Geo. w. Crawford of Rig Rapids, and
Capt. Peter Lennon of Lennon-the gen.
tlemen present included Gen. Trowbridge.
Maj. +. S. Shook, Quartermaster Gen.
Daboll, Adjt. Gen. Anger, Gen. Par
fridge, Col S. S. Matthews, Capt. Boil
ger, Gen. Pierce, Capt. Moore, Gen. Pull
ford, Secretary of State Osmun, State
Trea> urer Maltz, Auditor General Alpin,
and Representative o. S. Smith and
Curtis. Several of these commanded
Michigan regiments during the battles at
Gettysburg. Col. Briggs, as Chairman
OF the Commission, presented the fol-
lowing report:
This meeting Is the result of events that oc-
Cured more than q quarter of a century ago.
The invasion of the North by the Confederate
burg, which, by reason of the magnitude of the
conflict and the great issue at stake is by COM
mon consent regarded as the turning point of
the war, the @high-water mark of the rebellion"
For three days nearly 900 men were locked in
the death-grapple of battle, and some $4,000 OF
this vast number were either killed, wounded or
captured. The interment there OF nearly 1000
dead led to the conservation and use of por-
ton of the field rs National Cemetery-at the
dedication of which President Lincoln delivered
an address that like its author, is immortal.
To Massachusetts, belongs the honor of inau-
gurating the plan for marking with monuments
the position OF the troops in this battle having
IA ArQf fata IN hnQ mn ia w
her sons died that the Government might live.
Other States followed the patriotic example thus
set, aud so to-day Gettysburg Is the best marked
and therefore the most interesting battlefield in
the world.
Michigan, by reason Of her costly sacrifice in
lives, stands conspicuous in the records of this
great conflict. But two States suffered more.
and in proportion she stands first in the number
slain.
this great battlefield her citizen soldiers reflect
ed great credit upon the State, the common
wealth in return has generously contributed to
do them honor and perpetuate their fame. For
the improvement of the National Cemetery at
Gettysburg, Michigan contributed the sum OF
5000, and, keeping step with other loyal States,
she made provisions in 1887 for erecting monu-
ments to her troops that were there engaged.
Tho act making the appropriation for these mon
uments provided for the appointment OF three
commissioners to carry the Same into effect. BY
courtesy of Gov. Luce, Geo. w. Crawford OF Big
Rapids, Peter Lennon of Lennon, and Geo. q.
Briggs of Grand Rapids, were appointed as such
commissioners.
The labors OF the board are now nearly COM
/ pleted, and 1t was for the purpose OF imparting
/ this and other information to those interested
| that you were invited TO meet here. The monu-
ments in place, with the exception Of three,
and these are well under way. 1t will be safe,
! therefore, TO name date for their formal dedi-
| cation upon any day after June next
The act under which the commission was ap-
pointed provided that from the amount appro-
/ pIiated S2lOO0 there should be paid follows I:
/ To the Battlefield Memorial Association, 5000 (;
compensation to the commissioners for their
i services all expenses incurred by the board,
including clerk hire. These items permitted a
| serious encroachment upon the fund IL indulged
to the limit allowed They were reduced TO the
minimum, es will be shown.
After correspondence and personal interviews
| with the officers of the Gettysburg Battlefield
Memorial Association, that body accepted 81, 500
/ rs being satisfactory, and for which we received
! conveyance in writing for all rights and privi-
| leges needed by our state to fully protect her
! interests. Members Of tho commission cheer
| fully voted to give their services without COM
/ pensation. and in the same spirit the Chairman
! Of the Board has performed the duties OF the
Secretary, thereby saving the amount required
| IL clerk had been employed
The saving to the fund as above indicated en-
abled the board to apportion to each OF the
| eleven regiments for monuments tho sum OF
81 $50; to the battery 81 900 and to the four COM
/ paniea Of shnrpshooJers $500
1t is hoped the results of this labor may be
! satisfactory. The commissioners feel the work
might have been assigned to abler hands, but
| none could have been more devoted or given
more conscientious efforts TO its discharge.
j
| less than 500, and it is believed no Board OF
| Commissioners of any State ever performed
similar work at SO small a cost
With this brief report submitted the board
is now ready TO join in the deliberations Oh this
/ meeting
A discussion rs to the best date for
| dedicating the thirteen monuments ended
in the selection of Wednesday, june IL.
1t was decided that it would be infpos-
sible 10 arrange formal order of exer-
cises at Gettysburg at present, and Gen.
Trowbridge, Col. Matthews, and Gen.
Piercs were appointed Committee on
Programme.
Gen. Daboll was appointed Chairman
of the Committee to Secure Transporta-
tion Rates, with power to select two other
members Of the committee.
A discussion rs to whether the State
should pay the transportation and subsist-
ence of the survivors of the Gettysburg
fight during the trip revealed the fact that
the appropriation of s., 900 asked of the
Legislature for the dedicatory exercises
would be inadequate under any circum-
stances, and it was decided 10 ask that the
amount be increased to $4,000. General
Partridge, Representative Curtiss, and
Captain Bolger we're appointed as COM
mittee to labor with that end in view. 1t
was decided to leave with the Governor,
in great degree, the method OF disposing
of the sum asked for.
The Governor and his staff as many of
the survivors of the great battle as can go,
other veterans, and q number OF invited
guests will constitute the excursion to
Gettysburg in June. The proper commit
tee will issue about 10, 900 handsome pro-
grammes.