Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-20
NO UNT0WARD INCIDENTS
Men Whose Names Are High in History Grace
 the Occasion and Speed the Hour.
GEN. LYTLES BLooD-sTAlNED BUTTON
Tenth Mississippi-Eloquent Speeches by Distinguished Participants
 in the Bloody Battle.

Chattanooga, Tenn, Sept. 19.-After an interval of thirty-two years the blue and gray today again met around the cres- cent of Snodgrass hill on the battlefield of Chckamauga, but not as then, amid the mist and leaden hail which marked those dreadful days of 1863, making the conflict the most disastrous in its casual ties to those concerned which history knows Under one flag the reunited host, devoted to the advancement of the prosperity of one common country, vet eran foemen of a third of century ago, met today to dedicate as a national park the ground made sacred by the blood of heroes
 This park is one of the most notable in existence and is unique in many re- spects. It extends from Sherman Heights in Tennessee to Glass Mills, Ga, a distance of twenty-two miles, over all of which, together with necessary ap- breaches. the governments of these states have ceded Jurisdiction to the United States. At present the govern ment owns between ten and eleven square miles, $500 acres, of which $500 are clear of underbruSh.
 In its work of marking the line of bat tie and the positions of troops engaged the national commission has been assist ed by commissioners of twenty-five states, including all of the southern states
 About 300 large historical tablets are already in place and other tablets giv- ing locality and distance number 300, each battery engaged being marked by at least two guns. One hundred and fifty guns are mounted in the fighting positions of batteries, and 400 guns are on the ground ready for mounting. Ohio has fifty-four monuments Illinois thirty-three, Mime sota five, Indiana thirty-seven, Michigan eleven, Massachusetts one, Kansas three Missouri five, Wisconsin nine, United States regulars nine. There have been authorized and commissions are prepar- ing to erect as follows: New York twen- ty, Pennsylvania eighteen, Connecticut two, Tennessee four
 Chattanooga was early astir and all the morning the various roads to Chick amauga were filled with vehicles carry ing would-be spectators of the dedica- tion ceremonies.
 The Belt Line railroad was organized for the occasion, and by that agency made it possible for the great crowd of visitors to reach the grounds.
 The exercises were held on the inn mense stand built near the observation tower of Snodgrass hill, the center of the deadly opening days conflict.
 Besides the federal officials, including Secretaries Herbert and Smith, Post aster-General Wilson and Attorney General Harmon, there were the follow ing governors of states, some accom- panied by their staffs and members of the commission from the several states appointed to act with the national com mission in locating monuments and markers: w. c. Oates, Alabama; w. R. Atkinson, Georgia; J. P. Altgeld, Illinois; Claude Matthews, Indiana; E. M. Nor Till, Kansas; T. T. Greenhalge, Massa- chusetts; J. T. Rich, Michigan; E. A. Holcombe, Nebraska; G. T. Vert, New Jersey; Levi P. Morton, New York; w. M. Mckinley, Ohio; Peter Turney, Ten nessee; Urban A. Woodbury, Vermont; w. N. Upham, Wisconsin
 Governors Morton and Holcombe ar rived here this morning, the former just in time to reach the field and witness the exercises. Missouri, Florida and North Carolina were represented by delegations of distinguished citizens, and to crown all was an almost innumerable host of survivors of the battles, who had come to fight it all over again and to rejoice in it's final issue. and who represented nearly every state in the country.
 Especially noticeable were veterans who came from Louisville wearing their Grand Army of the Republic buttons.
 The early arrivals on the grounds were entertained by the drill of Battery F, Fourth artillery, under command of Capt Sidney Taylor, and a battalion drill under Captain Poland, commanding Camp Lamont These evolutions ex- hbited to the spectators the new tactics and movements suggested by the board of tactics and drill.
 Promptly at noon salute of forty four guns announced the beginning of the execution of the programme so long arranged and looked forward to- Music was made by the band of the regiment in camp, and at subsequent intervals it also was heard with delight.
 The addresses of Senator and Gen. John M Palmer of Illinois and of Senator and Gen. John B. Gordon of Georgia were preceded by the singing of America" by the audience and followed by Aud Lang Syne.'
 Vlce-President Stevenson's Speech.
 Gen. J. S. Fullerton, chairman of the national park commission, and as such Secretary Lamonts representative. charged with the duty of directing the dedicatory exercises, introduced Vice. President Stevenson, who presided in the absence of the secretary of war He said 'I am honored by being called to preside over the ceremonies of this day. By the solemn decree of the repre- .sentatives of the American people this magnificent park with it's wondrous as- sociations and memories, is now to be dedicated for all time to national and pa- triotic purposes
 "This is the fitting home for the august ceremonies we now inaugurate today. By act of the congress of the United States Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military park is forever set apart from all common uses, solemnIy dedicated for all ages to the America n people The day is suspicious. It notes the anniversary of one of the greatest battles known in history. Here, in the dread tribunal of last resort, valor con tended against valor. Here brave men struggled and died for the right as God gave them to see the right.
 'Thirty-two years have passed and a few survivors of that masterful day, vic- tors and vanquished alike. again meet upon this memorable field. Alas, the splendid armies which rendezvoused here