The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-20
WHERE HEROES FELL
THE FORMAL DEDICATEOE OF
CHICKAMAUGA'S BLOODY
BATTLEFIELD
SPEECHES BY THE OLD VETERANS

SPEECHES BY THE OLD VETERANS
The Principal Addresses Were Made
by two Silver.Haired Generals, Cor
dom and Palmer, who Fought on OPP
posite sides--Vice- President Steven-
sons Speech-sAn Era of Bro herlV
Feeling Tnaugurated Between North.
ern and Southern Soldiers.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Sept 19.-One
of the bloodiest battletfeld3 the world
ever saw was formally dedicated here
to-day as a pleasure park for the edif-
cation aud enjoyment Of the American
! eOple for all time 1t was the dedica-
ton of the battlefield of Chickamauga,
whose beautiful ravines and mountain
sides were strewn with nearly 30, 600
dead and wounded men thirty TWO years
ago. The dedication was conducted by
men who 80 years ago fought in that
awful strife men who at that time sought
each others lives; sought tc increase the
bloodshed, if necessary, to win tb- sat
Two generals. with silver z ray hair, who
headed thousan IS Of men IN tie afray
on opposite sides, made the principal
speeches at the dedication They were
Generals John II. Palmer and Junn B.
Gordon. The feud which stirred them
to strife then has been blotted out and
to day, they and their followers are as
brothers of one nation and of one family.
1t is doubtful if the world ever before
/ n, h1 uT
Chicamauga to day. Certainly there
never was one more impressive and at
the same time ioyfully affecting. 1t
was witnessed by no less than 80
900 people OF The North and of the South,
and at last half of them took part in
that bloody civil war, Of which Chick
mauga battle was part.
The ceremonies took place st Sn0dgrass
Hill, whese top and side for mile or
more were so thickly covered with dead
this day thirty-two years ago that, as
the survivors say, one could walk all
over it from crest to base, stepping from
one PROSTATE body TO another.
Hours before the exercises began the
battlefield was alive with people who
had come to attend the dedication. The
first event Of the day was a display Of
arms bY battery E, Fourth U. 5. ArCll-
lery. Then there was a battalion regi-
mental drill, showing the new tactics
and field movements under command OF
Col. POLAND.
These exercises at arms were OF great
interest 70 the veterans, TO the rebels
and yankees, though the old fellows ex
pressed the belief that such tactics
would have fallen as timothy before
mower if placed against those adopted
during the battle of Chickamauga.
Vice President Stevenson presided
over the dedicatory exercises. He was
introduced by Gen. John S. Fullerton,
chairman Of the Chickamauga and Chat
fanooga 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 nat
ural area selected by the National Com
mission On Snodgrass HRl was
so arranged that nearly all
of the tens Of thousands Of aud
itors could hear the speeches and
addresses throughout By way Of be-
ginning there was a national salute of Al
guns by the artillery, followed By "The
Star Spangled Banner" played By one
of the United States Infantry bands. It
was cheered to the echo by veterans Of
the blue and Of the gray. In their pa
triorie enthusiasm many Of the grizzlad
cid veterans shed tears Of Joy
When the applause had ceased, Vice
President Stevenson made brief address
appropriate to the OCCASION.
He said:
~ am pleased to be called to preside
over the ceremonies Of this dag BY
solemn decree Of the representatives Of
the American people magnificent park,
and its WOndr0us associations and memo
ries, is now to be dedicated for all time
to national and patriotic purposes.
This is the fitting hour for the august
ceremonies we now inaugurate. To-day,
by act Of Congress Of the United States,
the Chickamauga and Chattanooga Ma
tional Military Park is forever set apart
from all common uses; solemnly dedi-
Gated for all the agcs-to all the Amcri-
can people,
THE day is auspicious. 1t notes the
anniversary of one of the greatest bat
ties known to history. Here, in the
dread tribunal Of last resort, valor con
tended against valor Here brave men
struggled and died for the right AS
God gave them 10 see the right"
"Thirty-two years have passed, and
the few survivors Of that masterful day
-victors and varquished alike-again
meet upon this memorable field. Alas,
the splendid armies which rendeyouz8d
here are now little more than a process
sion of shadows.
"On flames eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread;
While glory guards with solemn round
The biyouac of the dead
sour eyes now behold the sublime
spectacle Of the honored survivors Of
the great battle coming together upon
AL.-a L---r.Ll.-- --..-..