Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-19

The Place Where Fellow COuntrymen
Engaged I'm Desperate War.

The Place Where Fellow COuntrymen
Engaged I'm Desperate War.
CHATTANOOGA, September 19.-One Of
the bloodest battlefields the world ever
saw was formally dedicated here today as
a pleasure park for the edifcation and en-
joyment of the American people for all
time 1t was the dedication of the battle
field of Chickamauga, whose beautiful ra-
vines and mountain sides were strewn with
nearly 10000 dead and wounded men
thirty-two years ago. The dedication was
conducted by men who, thirty-two years
ago, fought in that awful strife; men who
at that time sought each others lives;
sought to increase the bloodshed, If neces-
sary, to win the fight. Two generals, with
silver gray hair who headed thousands of
men in the ARRAY on opposite sides, made
the principal speeches at the dedication.
They were Gems. John NJ. Palmer and John
B, Gordon The feud which stirred them to
strife then has been blotted out, and today
they and their followers are as brothers of
one nation and Of one family.
Fifty Thousand Spectators.
It is doubtful If the world ever before
saw another such scene was that at
Chickamauga today. Certainly there never
was one more impressive and at the same
time iCyfully affecting. 1t was witnessed
by no less than $1,000 people Of the north
and of the south, and at least half of them
took part in that bloody civil war, of which
Chicamauga battle was part
The ceremonies took place at SnodgraSs
Hill, whose top and side for a mile or
more were SO th.ckly covered with dead
this day thirty-two years ago that. as the
survivors say, one could walk all over ii
from crest to base stepping from one pros
trate body to another.
Hours before the exercises began the bat
tlefield Was alive with people who had
come to attend the dedication. The first
by battery F, fourth United States artil-
| rery. Then there was battalion regimen
tai drill, showing the new tactics and field
movements, under command of Col Pol
land.
These exercises at arms were of great in
| terest to the veterans. to the "rebs' and
'Yanks," though the odd fellows expressed
| the belief that such tactics would have
fallen as timothy before mower if placed
against those adopted during the battle OF
Chickamauga.
Vice President Stevenson presided over
| the dedicatory exercises. He was intro
duced by Cen John s. Fullerton, chairman
| of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga Ma.
| tional Park When the Vice President came
| forward he was greeted with loud applause
The Exercises.
! The meeting was called to order at /:
o'clock, and at that hour Snodgrass Hill
was covered with people. The great natur'
al area selected by the national commission
on Snodgrass Hill was so arranged thai
rearly all of the tens Of thousands of audi
| tors could hear the speeches and addresses
throughout. BY way Of beginning there
was national salute Of fo .rE, guns b,
the artillery, followed by The Star Span
gled Banner" played by one of the Unite!
States infantry bands. 1t was cheered tc
the echo by veterans of the blue and O
| the gray, and in their patriotic enthusiasm
many Of the grizzled old veterans shed tear!
of joy.
when the applause had ceased, Vice Pres
ident Stevenson made a brief address ap
propriate to the occasion.
| The Vice Presidents Remarks.
Vice President Stevenson said:
II am honored by being called to preside
over the ceremonies of this day. By sol
emn decree of the representatives of the
American people this magnificent park
| with its wondrous associations and memo
RES, is row to be dedicated for all time tt
national and patriotic purposes.
This is the fitting hour for the angus
| ceremonies we row inaugurate. Today, b!