The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-09-04
CHICKAMAUGA BATTLEFIELD
THE GREAT TRANSPORTATION OF THE
FAMOUS FIELD.


iOnaI Park.-TO be Dedicated Sept.
10 and 20 in the Present OF the Presi.
dent.
Chickamauga, Aug, 2S.-The Unit
ed States has wrought great transfer
nation upon the old battle grounds of
Chickamauga. Park to be dedicated
Sept. 10Th and Goth in the presence Of
the President of the United States,
congressman and senators and all the
governors of the various States who
will find itconvenientto to be there, prom
ises to be one of the great events of the
year, in which all the nation will be
interested.
Three years ago bill was passed by
Congress appropriating large sums of
money for establishing National
Military Park on this historic spot. A
commission was appointed consisting
of Gems. J. s. Fullerton, Federal ;
Gen. A. P. Stewart, Confederate and
Mai. Frank G. Smith, of the United
States regular army, and to their care
was entrusted the task of establishing
such memorials upon Chickamauga
battle field as might serve o national
military object lesson illustrative of
American patriotism, American pride,
and American valor.
During the three years that have
elapsed, the work of beautifying this
celebrated spot has steadily progress
ed, and now the commissioners an
nounce ready for the opening of the
park and invite the dignitaries OF the
land and all veterans of the civil war,
who wore both blue and grey, to join
in the celebration of the anniversary
of this historic battle, at the dedication
this year.
More than 5000 acres of ground,
whereon the battle was fought, have
been purchased by the Government,
hundreds of beautiful monuments
erected at heavy expense, observation
towers have been constructed on every
historic hillside, forty miles of turn
pike road have been graded through
the ground. and paved with crush
limestone, and the national flag now
waves from a lofty pinnacle, over
scene of beauty and rare charms:
The undertaking has been colossal,
and executed upon no trifling plan.
At a cost of more than three-quarters,
of q million dollars the Government
has wrought many changes upon this
historic field, every inch of which has
crumpled beneath the tramp OF clash
ing armies and heroes of one OF the
fiercest battles of the late conflict be-
tween the States. In addition to the
amounts appropriated from Time 10
time by the National Congress, thirty
three States have added, through their
Legislatures, large sums of money
donated for the purpose of building
monuments on the particular spots
which mark the deeds of bravery OF
their respective troops in the engage
ment.
The State of Ohio, which contribut-
ed more soldiers than any other State
in the Union to the fight at Chicka-
mauga, appropriated 100000 and ap-
pointed q commission to make expen-
diture of money in the direction
named; the State of illinois appro-
priated nearly $4,000; Minnesota has
erected many expensive monuments;
New York has splendid representa-
ton: Missouri has expended S5,OOO,
building historical markers; and In
diana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Massachusetts, Michigan, PennsYl-
yania, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia,
Wisconsin, Georgia, Florida, South
Carolina and North Carolina have all
appointed commissions to cooperate
with the National Com missions IN the
work of clearing up all disputed points
of history.
Some of the monuments that have
been built by the States are expensive
and elaborate, the work being chlelly
of marble and bronze. The Govern
ment has built eight pyramidal monu-
ments, which are located upon the
spots where fell the eight commanders
of the brigades in this fierce anu
furious battle-storm four or these
brigadier generals fell on the union
side and four on the Confederate side.
There is world of interest in the
old battlefield as it appears touay' 10
the traveller, driving through Tue
park, the monuments confront the eye
here and there throughout the great
area of wild woods, in conspicuous re-
lief. Upon each of these monuments
is inscribed a bit of history of the pat
tie. telling what happened upon that
particular spot during the three terrible
days of the frightful onslaught OF the
two armies.
Brief History Of the Battle.
The battle of Chickamauga. result
ing in the death of 26, 600 soldiers, as
brave as every rushed into battle front
where the sitting smell of smoke and