The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-19

and disastrous two-days' battle. We come Dack
after these long years, which have been years
OF momentous import to our country and
civilization, to unite in the dedication of this
great battlefield as a National park, which
shall forever memorialize the valor of the
American soldier and testify to the strength
and glory of the American Union.
The opposing forces here were fairly
matched. The Confederate somewhat outnum-
bered theUnion forces, but in courage and deter
rmination neither was at disadvantage-botn
were equal in persistence and proves. The
commanders on both sides were among the
most skillful and distinguished OF their re-
spective armies. They were military giants
in command of mighty forces, and the eonilict
here waged was one which has few parallels
in the annals of history.
In many repects the battle of Chickamagua
was unlike any other battle OF the civil war.
The gateway in the mountains was to be elther
won or lost here. While the success OF the
Union army here was extremely important 10
the Union cause, the overthrow OF the Union
arms here and the holding of this territory
were indispensable to the Confederate cause.
1t was a desperate struggle for the mastery;
and standing now upon this field, the former
scene of so much blood and carnage, recalling
all that happened here and all that was done
here we are filed with increased interest and
establishment and stirred to the depths with
admiration for the courage valor and endur-
ance of those engaged
Ohio is here to-day because her citizen
soldiery was here then. We are here, not as
then with arms in our hands, but with fraternal
affection in our hearts. We are here the in
vited guests of the Nation here to dedicate
the field, not to war or passion, but to peace
and union. Well may Ohio feel n patriotic
pride in these dedicatory ceremonies. Her
soldiers were here in great battle p&gent, rep
resenting every arm of the military service.
Her soldiers constituted quite one-ffth OF all
those engaged on this bloody field in defense
of the Union. In all there were forty-two reg1-
ments of infantry, three regiments of cavalry,
a battalion of sharpshooters and nine batteries
of artillery, making total OF fifty-fve organl-
cations. This was Ohio's contribution to this
historic battle fought on this historic field.
General Rosecrans, a graduate OF great dis
tinction in the United States Military Academy
in 1912, and who served in the army until
1854, was the commander-in-chief of the
Union forces and was an honored citizen OF
our own State. He entered the volunteer sery-
ice as colonel of the Twenty-third Ohio Imam
try l recall him with peculiar tenderness and
respect He was the first colonel of the regi-
ment to which I belonged; my boyhood ideal
of great soldier; and 1 gladly pay him my
tribute OF love for his tender qualities, which
endeared him to me, and the high soldierly
qualities which earned him the gratitude OF
the State for his magnificent service to the
Union cause. Ohio is proud OF him. and in his
old age and declining years beg him TO know
that he enjoys the afect1onate regard of his
old State which viii guard his fame forever.
General Garfield, his chief OF staff, was also
from Ohio. The noble part he pore here shines
in history. General James Barnett, another
Ohio man, wes chief of artillery The famous
fighting McCook family were here. General
Alexander Mcdowell McCook commanded the
Twentieth Corps; Colonel Dan McCook COM
manded the Second Brigade, Second Division
Reserve Corps; Colonel Ed McCook, the First
Division, First Cavalry Corps; General Philip
Sheridan the Third Division, Twentieth Army
Corps, whose service here and upon other
noted fields covered him with imperishable
fame. General John Beatty, the honored pres
ident OF the Ohio Commission, was here, and to
him that State owes much for this patriotic
dedication.
In the battle OF Chickamauga Rosecrans' loss
was l6,I74. This includes 4774 missing, q
large number of whom were killed and
wounded. Bragg's loss, as estimated by the
war records at Washington, was IL ,S04. The
total loss for each army was more than % per
cent of the entire force, and about 80 per cent,
on each side, of the troops actually engaged.
In the number of men actually engaged, in the
the splendid gallantry with which they as
saulted and met assaults, and finally in the ap-
palling losses which both sides suffered, this
great conflict has few equals in the history of
the wars of the world, 1t was said by distin-
guished Confederate soldier in his official re-
port that he had ''never known Federal troops
to fight SO well and that he never saw Confed-
crate soldiers fight better"
The devastating armies have vanished; their
ho1-o nod. tl1air cto bod
The passing years have brought in their train
the balm of healing and reconciliation. The
wounds of war have been soothed and healed,
but the men who fought here will be remem-
bered for their bravery and heroism, and the
men who saved the Union will never be forgot
ten. Future generations will read the story of
Chickamauga on the pages of history already
written, and hereafter to be written, and on the
enduring granite which we unveil to-day.
Others will recite the story of the battle with
its narrowing incidents, its heroism and its
sacrifices; others will tell of the conflict OF the
first day-of the skill of Rosecrans and Crit
tenden and their associates, of Bragg and
Longstreet and their associates. They will tell
how on the second day the issue wavered in
the balance, and was almost lost to the Union
arms, when Thomas-glorious old soldier
stood as the Crock of Chiokamauga" Indi-
yidual valor viii be praised, and should be- on
DOtl SlQeS. courage anu ueVOLlOu anu euU ur-
ance of Union and Confederate soldiers will
receive just eulogy from other lips. The master
full genius of the commanders, and the logged
determination of the soldiers will be repeated
and Il cannot be too often told.
Other speakers were General Granville
NJ Dodge, president of the Army of Ten
nessee. and General Dan Butterfield,
Hooker's chief of staff who eulogized
Thomas and Hooker and General Horace
Porter of Grants staff. The latter paid a
glowing tribute to the private soldier, the
| real hero of the war.
Owing to the absence of Secretary La
mont the monuments were presented in
each instance to General Fullerton, presi-
dent of the National Park Commission.
| Michigan led off in this pleasing and
patriotic service, the com missioner occu-
plying for that purpose the platform of
Snodgrass Hill, on which the general dedi-
cation exercises will take place tomorrow.
| The monuments and markers erected
upon the battlefield of Chickamauga, Chat
tanooga, Missionary Ridge and Orchard
Knob were presented to Governor Rich by
Captain and ex-Congressman C. E. Belk-
nap, president of the State Park Commits
| sion.