The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-09-20
Gather the Survivors OF That
Great Conflict
TO DEDICATE TO PLEASURE
The Spot Where Thousands Of Their
Comrades Fell
Chicxamauga's fountain Sides and Deep
Ravines Turned Into Pleasure Ground
for the Common People
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Sept. 19.-
One Of the bloodest battle fields the
world ever saw was formally dedicated
here today as pleasure park for the edi-
fication and enjoyment of the American
people for all time.
1t was the battle fielu of Chickamauga
whose ravines and mountain sides we're
strewn with nearly 10000 dead and
wounded men thirty two years ago.
The dedication was conducted by men
who fought that awful strife. Two gen.
erals with silver gray hair who headed
thousands of men in the affray on op-
posite sides, made the principal speeches
at the dedication. They we're Generals
JohngM. Palmer and John B. Gordon.
The exercises were witnessed by no less
than so, 600 people of the north and south
and at least half of them took part in
that bloody civil war.
The first event of the day was the dis
play of arms by battery f, Fourth United
States artillery. Then there was bat
TALON -egimental drill, showing the new
tactics and field movements under COM
mand of Colonel Holland. These exer-
cises at arms were of great interest to
the veterans, though they expressed the
beliuf that such tactics would have fallen
as timothy before a mower II placed
against those adopted during the hat
tie of Chickamauga.
Vice President A. e. Stevenson presided
over the dedicatory exercises. He was
introduced by General John S. Fullerton,
chairman of the Chickamauga and Chat
,or,noo national nark and WAS yraetpd
with loud applause. The meeting was
called to odrer at IL o'clock. The great
natural area selected by the national COM
mission on Snodgrass hill for the exer-
cises WAS so arranged that nearly every
one of the tens of thousands of auditors
could hear the speeches and addresses
throughout. By way of beginning there
was a national salute of forty-four guns
by artillery. followed by. The Star
Spangled Banner. played by one of the
United States infantry bands. 1t was
cheered to the echo by the veterans of
the blue and of gray. ant many griazled
plause ceased Vice-President Stevenson
made brief address appropriate to the
occasion. Prayer was then offered by
Right Rev. Bishop Caller of Tennessee.
America was then sung by the audience.
accompanied by band. The volume of
long before the song had ended tears were
coursing down the cheeks of thousands
of veterans.
THE VICE-PRESDENT' ADDRESS.
Vice. President Stevenson, in taking the
chair, said:
II am honored by being called to pre-.
side over the ceremonies OF this day. BY
solemn decree OF the representatives of
the American people, this magnificent
,,rly itc orf nj noi ia tta, and
memories, Is now to he dedicated for
all time to national and patriotic pur-
poses.
"This is the fittirg hour for the august
ceremonies we now lnaugurate. Today.
by act of the congress of the United
States, the Chickamauga and Chatta-
nooga National Military park is forever
set apart from all common uses SOL
emnly dedicated for all the ages to all the
American people. Today is auspicious.
1t notes the anniversary of one of the
greatest battles known IN Ame.ic lean his.
tory. Here in the dread tribunal of last
resort, valor contended against valor.
Here brave men struggled and died for
The right, AS God gave them to see the
right
''Thirty-two years have passed, but the
survivors of that masterful day, victors
and vanquished alike, meet upon this
memorable field. Alas, the splendid
armies watch rendezvoused here are now
little more than procession of shadows.
"On Fame's eternal camping grounI
Their silens tents are spread,
While glory guards with solemn round
The bivouac of the dead.
"Our eyes now behold tns sublime
spectacle of the honored survivors OF the
great battle coming togethe: upon these
heights once more. They meet, not in
deadly conflict, but as brothers under one
flag, fellow citizens OF a common coun-
try. All grateful to God that IN the su-
preme struggle the government of our
fathers. our common heritage. was tri-
umphant, and that to all of the coming
generations of our countrymen it will re-
main an indivisible union of indestruct-
ible states. ~
''Our dedication today is but a cers-
mony. In the words of the immortal
Lincoln at Gettysburg, put in a larger
sense, we can not dedicate. We cannot
consecrate. We cannot hallow this ground.
The brave men, living and dead, who
struggled here, hvve consecrated it far
above our power to add or detract.
~ will delay you no longer from listen
were participators in the bloody struggle
the sharers alike in its dangers and its
glory.''
PALMER's OBLIGATORY REMARKS.
General John M. Palmer, the venerable
soldier from Illinois, made the first ded-
lcatory address. AT first his voice had q
tremulous sound. He became grandly
eloquent as he advanced and frequently
was applauded.
General John NJ. Palmer told the story
OF the battle of Chickamauga, saying the
names of but few of the fallen were
known, but the courage and gallantry of
all could be remem bered. In conclusion
he said:
The civil war was caused by the sec
tional challenge to American manhood,
and that challenge was accepted and fol-
lowed by years Of bloody war. In that
war the American people learned to prop
erly estimate each other, which is the
only foundation for harmonious, national
unity. By that war, the theory of che
right OF states to secede from the union
wa jforever eradicated from our system
Of national constitutional government.
BY that war African slavery, which was
the root of sectional bitterness, and was
one OF the causes or pretexts for national
controversy. was forever overtbrown, and
the flag of our country became at once
the emblem OF freedom and the symbol
OF national power. As the result OF that
war, the constitution was maintained