Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1893-12-09
LOCATING THE BATTLES.
The 1Ilsss,s Cosal-sscs ssA M nsec,s
Alssssa South.


Gen. Smith d. Atkins, Of rrccport,
who was member Of the recent III.
inois commission to locate tho posi-.
tion OF Illinois troops in the battle
Of Chicamauga. Of which Maj L. N.
Bufsrd. Of this city. was also one,
his written. the following account in
his papcr.of the expedition:
The Illinois commissioners TO To-
cate the lines oil the Illinois trocps
at the battle Of Chicamauga. and in
the battles about Chattanooga, were
Major General John NJ. Palmer, Col.
J. Il. Everest. Maj. l.. NJ. Buford.
Col. II. +. Rivcs. Major Walter +.
Carlin. Gen. Smith ID. Atkins, Gen.
J. Ii. Turchin. Col. +. u. Swain, MAI,
+. A. Blodgett and Maj. J. A. Con-
molly. The commissioners met ut
the Park hotel. Chicamauga. Georgia,
Nov. Is. nj! being present except
General Palmer. The hotel is a very
large one. erected by Gen. J. I.
Wilder. at Crawiish Springs. on the
battlefield of Chicamauga, that re-
fharkablc spring furnishing powor to
run the electric light plant for the
hotel. The commissioners were met
and entertained Nv Gems. j. :. Full
lcrton and II. V. V. Boynton. Of the
national board Of commissioners. and
after spending several days on the
battlefield Of Chicamauga. and trac-
ing the lines of all the Illinois rcgi-
ments aud batteries engaged in that
battle. they went to Chattanooga.
and performed the same service for
the Illinois troops engaged in the
battles Of Lookout Mountain and
Missionary Ridge. that resulted in
raising the siege of Chattanooga. and
driving Bragg's army behind Rocky
Face Ridge at Tunnel Hill. \ ma
tional park, like the one at Gc;tvs-
burg. Pennsylvania. is being csiab-
iishcd on the battlefield of Chica-
manga, including Missionary Ridge
and Lookout Mountain. about 10
| square miles Of land having already
been purchased by the United States.
,ud about - miles of the finest roads
in the world already constructed.
When completed the positions of all
che troops engaged on both sides
will be plainly marked. and pcrma-
hent monuments erected for each
regiment and battery. II will re-
| Iuire 81 monuments To show the
| positions of the Illinois troops en-
| gagged in the various battles covered
py the national park.
Thr Monuments.
They will not bc elaborate monu-
ments. but should I've permanent.
md nm honor To- the troop, engaged.
aud To- the state of Illinois. The
I .tyic of monuments to bc>crccted
| will depend upon an appropriation
80 he made by the ncN, legislature of
Illinois. Ohio has already appre-
| priatcd $4,000. for that purpose.
and the patriotism of the people Of
| the state Of Illinois will induce the
legislature of this state TO guard
thc memcry Of her heroic soldiers ON
those great batilciiclds by erecting
| monuments. not - individuals. but
to each Illinois regiment and battery
engaged. There il one brigade mon.
ument now partially erected to the
memory of Wilder's brigade Of
mounted infantry. The brigade was
,rmcd with the Spencer repeating
! rifles. the most effective small arms
syc- used in battle. and the entire
brigade at Chicamauga fought on
loot rs Infantry. and with their re-
| pcating rifles did fearful execution.
The brigade was composed of the
J2d. 9Sth. 123d Illinois. and 18th
and I'D Indiana regiments. The
monument is round tower of blue
| limestone. with circular staircase
inside. aud when completed will be
l2O feet high. and is on the hill near
the Widow Glenn's house. and the
funds TO erect the monument were
raised by voluntary subscription
among the surviving soldiers Of Will
der's brigade.
Preparing Ia Dcmoiisi, tic Fair.