Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-02
THE NATIONAL PARK.
Lee Camp Adopts a Plan to Further tho
Idea.
MAY HAVE A ooMMrssIo,
A Committee VIII Seek the Co-Ope.
ration Of other Confederate orga-
nisations and the g. A. IL. in Get
ting Measure Through Congress.

Lee Camp last night took the Initiative
practical step in the matter OF trans
forming Appomattox into a national park.
The Dispatch was first to suggest the
feasibility OF such a thing, and since
Its Initial publication on the subject
the scheme has met with encouragement
on all sides-even In the North.
Recently Mr.. w. ID. Chesterman.
managing editor OF the Dispatch. has
been In correspondence with Judge ID. A.
Christian. of Appomattox on the subject
and in consequence OF a letter received
from that gentleman he laid before COM
mander Gray. Of Lee Camp. the following
con munication from Congressman tucker
10 Judge Christian:
WASHINGTON, ID. c.. January 20. 1888.
Judge ID. A. Christian:
Dear Sir,-I have been looking into the
matter OF the park. and md tnat the
question Is not without difficulty, ana
/. therefore. suggest this line OF action
to you: find that in the establishment
OF the park at Shiloh, which has been
accomplished in this Congress, that an
organization Of old soldiers took the
initiative in the matter locating the
petitioned for 1t. or course, just petit
ton for a park at Appomattox would
be quite indefinite, so / would suggest 10
you to interest Lee Camp. of Richmond,
and also the. camp Of Federal soldiers
there in the subject; get them 70 ap-
point a commission composed OF men
familiar with the ground 10 locate the
limits of the park, so we Will have the
moral force OF men on both sides.
am told by persons who were Interested
in Shiloh Park that this Is the best
course. Yours very truly,
II. $. @. TUCKER.
INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT.
When the camp met last night there
was an unusually large attendance II
having become known that the park mat
ter would be brought up for considera-
ton.
The letters OF both Judge Christian ana
Mr.. Tucker were read. as well as the
note from Mr. Chesterman transmitting
them to Commander Gray, and after
speeches by General Thomas A. Brander.
Captain Joseph c. Dickerson, Command
er James T. Gray. Captain John
L. Laughton and Adjutant J. Tayior
Stratton, and others endorsing the plan
suggested by Mr. Tucker Mr.. Stratton
offered the following resolution. which
was adopted:
BE II resolved, by II. f. Lee Camp,
No l. Confederate Veterans. that a com
mittee of eight comrades be and they are
hereby appointed a committee on behili
OF this camp to consider the proprlety OF
memorializng Congress to establish ma
tional park at Appomattox Courthouse.
Va. and the said committee Is hereby
empowered and authorized TO request the
co-operation of other Confederate veteran
organizations and the Grand Army OF the
Republic in such manner as they may de-
termine"
THE GENERAL PLAN.
There was much talk as TO the powers
this committee should have. and 1t was
generally the impression that II should
interest other Confederate camps and the
Grand Army of the Republic and have
them send representatives here to con-
slider the question fully. and create a
commission, whose duty 1t shall be to
urge the matter properly before Con-
gress Some of the members seemed to
think that every Confederate camp in
the country would have representatives
to meet with the committee from Lee
Camp in this connection.