The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-09-20

Oh inc plOOulest DattleneldS the world
ever ssw was formally dedicated here
day as q pleasure park for the edif-
cation and enjoyment of the American
people for all time.
1t was the dedication of the battle
field Of ChickamauRs, whose beautiful
rsvines and mountain sides were strewn
with nearly 10000 dead and wounded
men thirty-two years ago. The dedica.
tion 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, II necessary to win the
fight.
Two generals, with silver.gray hair,
who headed thousands of men in the
ARRAY on opposite sides, made the prin.
cipal speeches at the dedication. They
were Generals John NJ. Palmer and
John B. Gordon. The feud which
blotted out, and to- day they and their
followers are as brothers of one nation
and Of one family.
1t is doubtful IL the world ever before
saw another such scene as WAS that at
Chickamaugs to-day. Certainly there
never WAS one more im pressive, and, ct
the same time, joyfully affecting. 1t
WAS Witnessed by no less than SO, 600
people OF the North and of the South,
and at least half OF them took part in
that bloody civil war, of which Chicka-
manga battle was part.
The ceremonies took place at Snod-
grass Hill, whose top and side for
mile or more were 81 thickly covered
with dead this day thirty two years
age, as the survivors say one could
walk all over 1t from crest to base step.
ping from one PROSTATE body to another.
Hours before the exercises began the
battlefield was alive with people. The
first event was a display of arms BY
battery e, Fourth United States artil.
lery. Then there was a battalion regi-
mental drill, showing the new tactics
and field movements under command of
Colonel Pollard.
Vice-President Stevenson presided
over the dedicatory exercises, He was
introduced by Gen. John S. Fullerton,
chairman of the Chickamauga and Chat
tanooga National Park. When the
Vice President came forward he was
greeted with loud applause. The me ct
ing was called to order at 12 o'clock and
at that hour Snodgrass Hill was covered
with people. The great natural area
selected by the national committee on
Snodgrass Hill was 30 arranged that
nearly all of the tens of thousands of
auditors could hear the speeches and
addresses throughout
Ry way of beginning there was ma.
tional salute of fortyfour guns by the
artillery, followed by THE Star:Span-
gled Banner" played by one Of the
United States infantry bands. It WAS
cheered to the echo by veterans of the
blue and the grey, and in their patriotic
enthusiasm many Of the grizzled old
veterans shed tears OF Joy. When the
applause had ceased. Vice President
Stevenson made brief address, appro-
pirate to the occasion.
In closing he said: Our dedication
to- day is but ceremony. In the words
OF the inn m ortal Lincoln at Gettysburg.
But in larger sense we cannot dedi-
cate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot
hallow this ground. The brave men
living and dead. who struggled here
have consecrated it far above our power
to add to it."
When he had finished prayer was
offered by the Right Rev. Bishop Gailor,
of Tennessee.
America" the beautiful national
anthem, was then sung by the audience,
accompanied by the band, and every one
of The fifty ard odd thousand of people,
assembled, bluessan grey, ga it as II
inspired. The great Volume of sound
rolled up as great tidal wave and long
before the song was ended tears we've
coursing down the cheeks OF thousands
OF the old veterans.
Cen John Nj. Palmer, the venerable
Senator from Illinois, who thirty.two
years ago to-day risked his life on the
battlefield, made the first dedicatory ad-
dress. When he came forward his voice
was husky and had tremulous sound,
AND never in all his life, unless, per-
haps, when he was directing his men at
ChickamauRa, did he speak more earn
estly. He told the story Of the battle of
Chickamauga, saying that but few of
the names OF the fallen were known, but
the courage and gallnntry Of all could
be remembered. In conclusion he said:
ihe civil war was caused by the sec
tlonal challenge to American manhood,
ana that challenge accepted and fol-
loved by years of bloody and desolste
war. In that war the American people
learned to properly estimate each other,
which is the only foundation for harmo.
NOUS, national unity. BY that war the
theory Of the right Of the States to Sc
I cede from the union was forever eradi-
GATED from our system OF national con-.
stitutiona] government.
ITO my comrades, you who were
Confederate soldiers during oil the
weary struggle OF the civil war, beg to
say was proud of your gallant, y and
courage. 1 never allowed myself 10
forget that you were Americans, freely
offering your lives In the defense OF
what you believed to be your rights and
in vindication OF your manhood.
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