Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-14
,nchx InuIaInna MlssIsaIppI. MIasourI.

lucky, Louisiana, Mississippi. Missouri
North Carolina, Tennessee. ana Iexas.
The governors OF three OF these nave not
vet completed their commissions, but they
are at work upon the lists. -Four or these
and portions OF three others have already
visited the field with the NATIONAL COM
mission.
"As you know. the government has
purchased the whole OF the Chicamaugl
field. embracing eleven square miles OF
territory. and the States OF Georgia and
Tennessee have ceded the roads TO ard
about the field, and the State Of Tennessee
has ceded the roads along Missionary
Ridge and over Lookout Mountain.
A FINE BOULEVARD.
"Over thirty miles OF excellent roads
have been graded and gravelled, and be-
fore the close OF the coming summer
there wiz be a continuous drive OF over
twenty miles from the north end OF
Missionary Ridge to the Confederate left
at Chlcamauga over the finest boulevard
in the United States, and, since every
foot Of II passes through notable lighting
ground. It will be. In a military sense, the
finest anywhere.
by the clearing out OF underbrush and
new growth OF a larger size. the closing
OF new roads, and the opening Of the
roads Of the battle. the field has been
restored 70 its condition at the time OF
the engagements.
OVERLOOK THE FIELDS.
Five iron and steel observation towers
seventy feet high. which overlook every
portion OF the two fields. have been
erected.
"Ohio has appropriated 10000 for monu-
ments to her flftysiX. organizations on
the Chickamauga field alone. and Mime
sofa $4,000 for her three organizations on
the two fields. Seven other northern
States are now taking action looking TO the
erection Of monuments This part OF the
work by the States. has only been in
bronzes for a year, and yet nineteen have
already appointed commissioners.
AS you are aware, the law establishing
the park provides for the impartial mark
ing Of both Union and Confederate ines.
and the erection of historical tablets,
"a ich set forth the movements in detail
on each side, and the successes and fall
ures Of each. with rigid impartiality.
Northumberland 4. T. Stewart IS the
Confederate member OF the national COM
mission. As the statistics show that the
percentages of loss at Chickamanga for
each side for the time of fighting exceed
those of any other battle of our war, and
as II was a deadly battle at close range,
with few neld-works on either side de-
serving the name IL Is n field which
affords the best possible illustration OF
American pluck, endurance, and proWess
in battle.
\ BRILLIANT PART.
"Vlrglnia had fewer organizations in
these battles than most Of the other
southern States, but those which were en-
gagged played n very brilliant part The
brigade. commanded by Colonel Robert G.
Trigg. OF the Fifty-fourth Virginia In
fautry. was one Of the most distinguished
ORGANIZATIONS OF the battle. The same ~
true OF the brigade Of Colonel John II.
Kelly. in which the SiXty-third Virginia
fought These two infantry regiments
were engaged both days at Chickamausa,
and also at Chattanooga. The battery OK
CAPTAIN W. c. Jehries was in both bat
ties.
Four other Virginia batteries went west
with General LOngstreet, but did nor ar
rive In time for Chickamauga, ana We're
detached for service in East Tennessee be-
fore the battle Of Chattanooga. Ihese
were batteries Of Captain Tyler {. J"r-
dan. Captain William w. Parker. Captain
Osmond Il. Taylor, and Captain PichegrI
Voolfolk, Jr.
\ -
Tripg's Brigade was most brilliantly
engaged in both days battle at Chlcka-
manga, and the fighting Of the fifiy-
fourth Virginia was highly commended
in orders.
This brigade and Kellys, I'm which was
the Sixty-third Virginia, were especially
distinguished in the final Confederate as
sault on Snodgrass Hin by carrying the
only part Of that ridge which was cap
tured while II was defended by the Union
troops. At dusk these two brigad s
charged and carried the front occupied 10y
three Union regiments and captured the
greater part of them. In tai5 movement
Senator Joseph c. s. blackburn, Of Ken
lucky, then a captain on the DIVISION
staff Prcston's), conducted Triss's Bri-
gade 10 its position, and was many
praised in orders for his dashing conduct
on the field. This action Of TrgSs ana
Kolly's brgades give Virginia some of
the most notable positions on the fi.ld.
JefTress's Battery. which also served IN
preston's division, held the extreme left
II tho Confederate line throughout the
two DAYS battle, and was tho first bat
terry engaged.
AS TO Jordan's Parker's. TayloTs and
Woolfolk's batteries. which went from
ChattanOoga 10 East Tennessee shortly
before the battle OF Chattanooga, the
state OF Virginia could. II It chose. erect
a monument TO them in the tract now
owned by the government including
Bragg's headquarters on Missionary
ridge. -
FOUR MONUMENTS.
Virginia. therefore. should. in order 10
fully honor her veterans in preserving the
history of their brilliant fighting in the
nYfr fpftr g.
each field. At Chicamauga,t there should Dee
one TO Jeffress's Battery on the left Of the
Confederate line near Hunts; one 70 the
FIfty-fourth Infantry in front OF the
Viniard House, and one on Snodsrass
Hi. and ono to the SiXty-third Infantry
on Snodgrass Hill. At Chattanooga there
should be one to each Of those OrgaLi-
tions. and one near Bragg's headquarters
to commemorate tho four detached bat
teries.
A VIRGINIA COMMISSION.
"It IS expected that Hon. George y.
Wise, who served with great distinction
in the campaigns about Chattanooga, VIII
soon present the whole subject 20 mem
bcrs Of the Virginia Legislature with 4
view OF securing authority FOR the ap-
pointment Of a commission TO assist ~
locating the fighting positions OF Virginia
troops and marking the same with mOnJ-
merts.
This Is the FIRST opportunity Of tn
klnd which the national government has
extended TO Confederate veterans. an
the only project OF the KIND ever undor-
taken by any nation. Doubtless Virginia
will respond as cordially as have all tha
other southern states 10 which the SUBJ
ject has been formally presented
STATUS OF THE PARISH COUNCILS BILL
Balfours Denial That the Lords Are Bodnd
to Accept Ills Compromise.