Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-16
Veterans Revisiting the Scenes Of
September, '63.
OLD SOLDIERS ON LOOKOUT HCUNTAIW
Coming Dedication of the National
Park.
ALLEXPECTATIoNs EXCEEDED


Special From n STAFF Correspondent,
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Tenn. sentem-
ber 16.-Gen. H. W. Boynton of Washing
ton, who, as one of the moving spirits in
the establishment OF the National Park at
Chickamauga, has kept constantly in touch
with the preparations for the coming cele-
bration, says it promises to exceed all ex-
pectations. The responses to invitations to
Partlclpate in the ceremonies of the week
nave been SO numerous and such al i'm
H'ense crowd has already put in an ap-
pearance as to insure an attendance which
will make this event one of the most un-
usral interest.
The governors OF twenty-five states, with
tEeir staffs, the Vice President of the
United States and four members of the
CABINET, twenty United States Senator's
END about thirty-iive members of the House
nave engaged quarters at the Lookout
Mountain Inn, and will be here. To this
array of distinguished men will be added
several hundred noted officers of the war;
including surviving generals Of both sides.
and it is said the events occurring at Chick
amauga will bring about the most notable
held in this country.
The selection of Lookout mountain for the
assembling of this host is peculiarly ap-
propriate. From its crest overlooking seven
some of the bloodiest battle grounds of
the civil war. Almost at its feet will be
Chickamaugd, where, for two days the con-
teLding forces devastated each others
ranks with shot and shell. Across the
valley, Missionary Ridge stretches its
bristiing length, where Grant and Sherman
overwhelmed the great army of Bragg, and
IN the vicinity on every hand are fields OF
mil or Importance, as everybody knows.
The Occasion.
The occasion which will produce the
trof fExrf fc
amauga military park upon the anniver-
sary Of the two days battle that occurred
upon its grounds. The government has
bought the land. and under the direction of
surviving federal and confederate officers
has restored the landmarks of the battle,
while the several states whose troops en-
gagged in the fight have marked with monu-
ments the spots haiowed by the blood Of
their sons.
The visitors are likely to be surprised
at what they find. No adequate idea can
be conveyed of the magnitude and interest
or the great work 1t is not 4 park in the
rea! sense of the word, the only approach
to II being the construction OF roadways
and curbings, with bits of landscape gar
dening around the monuments. There are
the same woods-a little bit thicker, per-
hapS. with observation-disclosures which the
armies crashed their way thirty-two years
ago. There are the same Notifications of
logs and stone and the earthworks fiankiug
hillside positions, restored by hand of the
army engineer. To make it more realistic
eannons frown from the embrasures lust
as they did upon those two memorable
days of war.
The area of the park is about ten square
miles. Missionary Ridge has been spanned
along its crest with a boulevard the entire
length of the line. where fighting was done,
ana the veteran can ride in comfort over
the road and distinguish the spot where
ne and his comrades, exceeding the orders
OF their superiors, swarmed Up the rocky
ridge, and after capturing the earthEorks
or Bragg, turned his own cannon upon the
retreating enemy.
The Visitors.
The influx of visitors is already we'll un.
der way, and yesterday Lookout mountain
was thronged with veterans They sat in
groups upon the cliffs. 1900 feet above
the valley, and looked down upon the
hand:work of God spread in glorious piano.
rama beneath them. while they discussed
the time when they were moving figures in
1t. Every old soldier who comes mere had
a personal interest in the doin;ys of that
time. which gives to their presence an
added importance
1t is intensely interesting and often af-
fecting to hear them talk. as their first
view of Missionary Ridge is obtained when
they reached TIE mountain top and its
great altitude brings the battlefield SO
near as 10 make its outlines plain, even
to the dimmed eyes of the boys of 3d.
Their first expressions, they recog-
ME the place and the scenes which are
quickly flashed upon their Elin1S by MEM
ory's camera, give to the hearer an i'm
preston of personal participation in .the
occurrences
Many of them brought their wives along
to point out the SPOTS of their patriotic
achievements, and the wives are mighty
proud. They take as much interest in it
as the old fellows themselves.
A small army of regulars and militia, es-
corts for the ceremonies is already en-
camped upon the field. and more are COM
ing 1t will seem more natural TO the
warrior visitors, perhaps. to see the IA
miliar tents whitening the landscape and
to hear the buglas sound the evening calls
lust as they did tn rty-two years ago when
the sun went down behind Lookout noun
tain on the eve of those two dreadful days
of September. N. y. NJ.