The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1895-09-26
DEDICAT TED THEPARKE
UNITED STATES IN POSSESSION Of
j,l.o l., u, CHlCKAMAUGA &, ,.- %. liz.

And Chattanooga Rattlefields-The Cere-
monies witnessed by Upwards OF 'o'-
:. 600 People-Patriotic Addresses ny
stevenson, Palmer, Gordon and Long
street.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Sept 2O.-Ihe
government of the United States is now
IN full possession Of the Chlckamauga
and Chattanooga field. The nation has
another public park which, while it may
not be as grand from a scenic point OF
view as that of the Yellowstone, yet 1t
will be far dearer to the hearts OF tho
people. The park dedicated to the ma.
ton was consecrated with the blood OF
81, 900 heroes in 1868. It was consecrat-
ed by battle which, for desperate
fighting and carnage, has few II any
equals in the worlds history. But the
UNIQUE feature of this dedication is the
fact that men who struggled and fought
against each other at Chickamauga ~
wears ago met again as brothers,
and each did his share towards
making the dedication success. They
sealed compact by which the last YES
tige of venom caused by the civil war
was blotted out. Within the limits OF
this grand historic place of pleasure for
the nation there We're upwards OF 49,
600 people, among the throng were some
of the nations heroes and there were
also some of the highest officials.
The ceremonies took place at Snod-
grass Hill, whose sides for a mile were
SO thickly covered with dead 81 years
ago, that the survivors say one could
walk all over it from crest to base,
stepping from one PROSTATE body to
another.
Hours hsefore the exercises begun the
battlefield was alive with those who had
come to attend the dedication.
Stephenson Presides.
Vice President A. E. Stevenson pre-
sided over the dedicatory exercises. He
was introduced by General John S. Full
lerton, chairman of the Chickamauga
and Chattanooga National park. When
the vice president came forward he was
greeted with loud applause.
The meeting was called to order at ~
o'clock, and at that hour Snodgrass Hill
was covered with people. The great
natural area selected by the national
commission, on Snodgrass Hill, was so
arranged that nearly every oneof the
tens of thousands of auditors could hear
the speeches and addresses throughout.
By way of beginning there was ma
tional salute of A guns by the artillery
followed by "The Star Spangled Ban
ner," played by one of the United States
bands. It was cheered to the
echo by veterans Of the blue and of the
gray, and in their patriotic enthusiasm,
many Of the grizzled old veterans shed
tears of joy. When the applause had
ceased, Vice President Stevenson made
q brief address,. ~ S&E e. ,s@ >ati
3 All Sang America. .&
When he had finished, prayer was Of
fered by the Rt. 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 and odd thousand
of people assembled, blue and gray,
sang it as if inspired. The great volume
of sound rolled up as great tidal wave
and long before the song was ended,
tears were coursing down the cheeks Of
thousands of the old veterans. It made
the cold chills run up and down the
back of even the most hardened of the
battle SCARED veterans, and those who
shed tears were proud of it. Not one Of
them were ashamed, nor was any one
who would shame them.
Palmer Great Effort.
General John M. Palmer, the venera-
BILE senator from Illinois, who 80 years
ago risked his life. on the battlefield,
made the first dedicatory address. When
he came forward, his voice was husky
and had tremulous sound. And never
in. all his life, unless, perhaps, when be
was directing his men at Chickamauga
81 years ago, did he speak so earnestly.
He became grandly eloquent as he adj
vanced in his address, and his eloquence
was fully appreciated and at frequent
intervals he was applauded with a vigor
that showed the audience were in touch
with him..
General Gordon's Address.
Another patriotic tune followed Gen.
eral Palmer's speech, and then the bat
tie SCARED veteran of the Confederacy;
whom Lee called his ''right arm," John
B. Gordon Of Georgia, was introduced.
He was greeted with no less applause
than accorded to General Palmer,
and he spoke with fully as
much enthusiasm, feeling and pa
triotism. One may judge by their sem
timents and the sentiments of the
thousands Of Federal and Confederate
veterans who heard them now that the
sectional line between North and South
has been wiped out. Those who have
heard General Gordon before, said it
was the effort Of his life.
: The next person introduced was Gen.
eral James Longstreet; who delivered
a very stirring and patriotic address,
which was frequently interrupted by
applause. p ~ ,~'.5a-.-.s.
The Army of the Tennessee.