The Newtown bee., 1894-10-12
Affairs About Town.
COL KN0wLTON AT ANTIETAM.
A NOTABLE GATHERING OF VETERANS.

A NOTABLE GATHERING OF VETERANS.
 On Monday, the sth, an excursion par ty of about 400 people, left Connecticut for a trip to several Southern battle- fields, including Gettyburg, Antietam, Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, the Wilderness and Petersburg. The party remained intact until the fields of Gettys- burg and Antietam had been visited, after which the other fields will be visited by attachments, so to speak. Two days were spent at Gettysburg, and the party arrived at Antietam on Wednesday at o'clock.
 On Thursday, the 11th, at 10 in the morning, the whole party went to that portion of the field where the 14th regi- ment had it's first battle, only three weeks after it left Connecticut, on Sep- tember 17, 1862. Here the state has erected a massive monument of Wester- ly granite, 20 feet in height and weigh ing about 13 tons. It is grand memori- al to regiment that had unusual ser vice during three years, and stands among the P regiments in the whole service that lost, by killed in action, over 200 men.
 The. 400 excursionists, and hundreds of the citizens of Maryland, gathered at the monument of the 14th at 10 o'clock, for the dedicatory services. The service opened with an patriotic air by the band; an appropriate song by double quartet of male voices assisted by a chorus of over 50 mixed voices; prayer address of the regiment, as follows:
 Comrades and Friends: On this con- secrated field, hallowed by the sacrifice of blood, and human life, there was en- acted the tragedy of war. Thirty-two years ago, opposing factions submitted the question of Nationality, as against the right of secession, to the arbitrament of the sword. This peaceful field, those billowy tracts, heard the clash of arms, felt the tread of near 2000 armed men, and the absorbing soil drank the red blood of one out of every eight of that vast host. We'll may this be called a consecrated field, with such a baptism from the font of life. With reverent hearts, we gather here to manifest our gratitude to the living actors of that day, and to mingle our tears, with our praises of the dead, who, by the sacrifice of the heritage of peace and unity. We are here to mark the spot where the 14th regi- ment, an undrilled body of 1000 Con- necticut soldiers, but three weeks from their firesides, met first the foe, and met them bravely. To this spot they came, against bitter storm of lead and shell that poured from yonder sunken road, and the hills beyond, as well as from either flank, a lurid storm that mortals could not breast and live. Death and wounds were in their midst, but those men endured them both until directed to new position less than 300 feet away. On this new line, they settled down to work, as though expecting there to stay and there they did stay, for three long hours, with the whiz of bullets and crash of shell, their constant visitants I shall not, in my brief talk, describe ir detail the several movements of the day, but will leave that to another, only quoting from the report of the division commander, General French, in which he says: 1.-The conduct of the new regi ments must take a prominent place il the history of this great battle. Un drilled, but admirably equipped, every regiment, either in advance or reserve distinguished itself, but according to th' energy and ability of the commanders There never was such material in an, army, and in one month these splendit men will not be excelled by any," Tn, truth of the generals prophecy is showl in the record of the 14th regiments 3. battles, from Antietam. to Appomattox, ,a inscribed on this noble memorial erected by the state of Connecticut to the regi ment. A
 These tons of granite,~ wrought il graceful lines, with marvellous skill, vii stand through the varying vicissitude! of storm and sunshine, telling the grin 1 story to men of every cline, and, me l. thinks, that the warm light of every September moon will awaken soul il . this New England stone, that will g( 3 out and testify to the unmarked dead OCT all these fields, that grateful peo , pie has not forgot, and never will forge , the sufferings or the valor of those wht stood by the Union in those days. Il . will tell them of the myriad school! throughout the land, where daily, tn, stars and stripes now float and teach , : noble fealty to the Nation, instilling , , patriotic glow in the youthful mind. ! will tell the unknown dead, were thei forms clad in the blue, or in the gray that loyalty will not be forgotten, O disloyalty forgiven. Let us believe tha to this story, an answer will come iron all the moonlit September air, glat Amen! So glSd, and so full ,that througl the North and South, there will be nt doubt that the blood of brothers, shed il strife, has become lasting seal to Ma tional unity.
 Comrades, to you who stood here il
 that past, and barred you breasts in you country's defence, this moment is one o commendable pride. To the people o
 our ssate, you were, and are, an honor
 in testimony of which, this shaft stand
 as an enduring emblem, symmetrical, a are your manly qualities; firm, as wa ,,your fidelity to your country; and it
 solidity is fit symbol of your answer,