Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-09-26

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cy. Eleven monu.
CAPT. BELKNAP. men s of granite
and bronze mark the important positions
| occupied by Michigan soldiers in the
great battle. Six regiments of Michigan
| infantry, two of cavalry, one regiment
| of engineers and mechanics, and two
batteries participated, and that Michigan
| soldiers were in the thickest Of the fray
is amply attested by the fact that GOO
boys from the State were among the
dead. One regiment was almost annihil-
ated, the Twenty Infantry losing
$50 out of 455 men engaged, and others
suffered terribly, the Thirteenth Infantry
losing 107 out of 217 engaged and the
Twenty first 1O5 out Of 81 engaged. The
two batteries lost some of their guns and
many of their men and horses while
holding important positions. and the cav
Airy rendered valuable services at both
wings of the army, checking the enemy
and rallying the panic-stricken Union
forces. The State Legislature of 1893
appropriated $4,000 for the erection Of
monuments to the Michigan commands
in the National Park, and Gov. Rich ap-
pointed as commission to select designs,
award contracts, and to attend to all the
details, Capt. Charles Il. Belknap, Grand
Rapids; f. A. Crane, Kalama zoo: $. IT,
Dwight, Hillsday e; l.. l.. Church, Green
vile; and J. NJ. Whallen, of Fitchburg.
The two battery monuments cost 81 200
each and the others 81 500 each. and are
of white granite and bronze. Upon each
monument is a bronze plate upon which
is inscribed the gallant deeds performed
by that particular command at or near
the site of the monument, and in addition
is the State coat of arms in bronze.
The Ninth Michigan Infantry is n stat
tie in granite of Gen. John G.. Parkhurst,
of Coldwater, the commander of the reg
iment, still living and who attended the
dedicatory exercises. The monument
is placed on the ridge in the southwest
corner of the park overlooking McFar-
lands Gap, the scene of the battle Sun
day morning. near where the regiment
formed line checking the right wing
rout.
The Tenth Infantry monument has n
base five feet square, tapering upward
to a height of twelve and half feet, and
in the die is a bronze plate showing
fully accoutered private soldier in fight
ing attitude The monument is located
at the base of Orchard Knob, the scene
of the fighting of Nov. "a and % in the
battle Of Chattanooga.
The Eleventh Infantry is n statue of
Col William L. Stoughton, who COM
manded the regiment 1t is located on
Snodgrass HILL where the regiment held
the hill against furious charges by the
enemy.
The Thirteenth Infantry is life-sized
private soldier in granite in the act of
shooting over a wall. 1t is located where
the regiment lost 1O7 men.
The Twenty-first Infantry is an irreg
ular mass of granite surmounted with
an eagle with outstretched wings in
bronze, located near the ground occupied
by the command, where 100 men were
lost, and the scene of Gen. Lytle's
death.
The Twenty-second Infantry is located
on Snodgrass Hill, and marks the place
where 3SJ men were lost.
The monument to the Michigan Engi-
neers and Mechanics is located in the
custom-house lot in the city of Chat
tanooga, facing Lookout Mountains; the
regiment was actively engaged in railroad
and bridge work.
The Fourth Cavalry has bronze plate
7x5 feet in size embedded in granite,
picturing platoon of cavalry firing
across the river. 1t is located on the
site of Jays mill, as is also the balance Of
the cavalry brigade.
Battery A, Loomis' battery, Is ten feet
high and on the bronze plate is pictured
the death of Lieut.. Van Pelt while de-
Tending his gun against an overwhelming
onslaught of the enemy. 1t is located
near the Lafayette road, where the bat
terry lost its commander. twenty-five men
killed or wounded, thirty horses kill
ed, and five guns captured.
Battery ID, Churchs battery, is placed
near the Poe house, the scene of its
hardest fighting, and where the battery
lost heavily of men, horses and guns.
In addition to the monuments are thir-
teen markers for the subordinate posi-
tions occupied during the battle. With
a single exception the markers are simple
blocks of granite with brief inscriptions
to the effect that certain commands were
at such places at the time named. The
single exception is the marker for the
Twenty-frst Infantry, which is huge
rough granite boulder rising to the height
Of 0% feet with bose feet wide and
10 feet deep. Ii is located near the
Glenn house. near the monument to
Nilder's brigade. The Eleventh Infan-
try has four markers located respective
" on the Crest road, Missionary Ridge,
near Bragg's headquarters, where the
regiment assembled the hill and where it's
major was killed; in the low ground near
the base OF Snodgrass Hill: ut the Me-
Donald house; and near Leeds tannery.
The Fourth Cavalry has three mark
ers, one at the Reed house, where the
regiment checked the enemy, giving Rose
Grams chance TO move his army 10 the
left; near Vineyard house; and OH the
Rossville and Ringgold road. where Min
tvs brigade checked the Confederate adj
vance.
The other markers. one to each COM
mand nse located: Second Cavalry, at
Crawfish Springs, in private grounds;
Ninth infantry, In Ne Farland's Gap. IN
the gorge where the regiment checked
the stampede Of the right wing; and
Thirteenth Infantry, on Snodgrass Hill.
where the regiment was engaged. Other
markers will undoubtedly be erected in
the course Of time as the plan Of the park
develops more fully.