The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-20
BATTLEFIELDS DEDICATED.
GROUNDS WHERE THE RED TIDE
OF WAR EBBED AND FLOWED.

soIemnIy Set Apart, Amid Fitting
Accompaniment of Roaring Guns,
swelling Music and the Cheers of
the Multitude, and With Words of
stirring and Lofty EIOquence, 10
the Memory of Those Who Gave
Their Lives on That Field for
Their Country, and TO a People Now
United in Peace, to War no More
Forcver-The Orators, the Exer-
cises and the Crowds on Snodgrass
HTI.
Chattanooga, Tenn, Sept. 19-After an
interval Of thirty-two years, blue and
gray to-day again met around the cres-
cent Of snodgrass Hin on the battlefield
of Chickamauga, but not as then. Amid
the mist and leaden hail which marked
those dreadful days of 1888, making the
conflict most disastrous in its casual
ties to those concerned, which history
knows. Under one flag. a reunited host.
devoted to the advancement and pros
perity of one common country, the vet
eran foeman of a third of a century ago
met to-day to dedicate, as a national
park, the ground made sacred by the
blood of the heroes who fought at their
side.
This park is one of the most notable
in existence, and is unique in many re-
spects 1t extends from Sherman Hights
in Tennessee to the Glass Mills. in Geor-
gia, a distance of twenty-five miles, over
all Of which, together with the necessary
approaches, the governments of these
states have ceded jurisdiction to the
United States.
At present the government owns be-
tween ten and eleven square miles-6,5OO
acres-of which $500 are cleared of under
brush. A clear view to the Heights is
thus obtained.
In its work of making the lines of battle
and positions of the troops engaged, the
national commission has been assisted by
the commissions Of twenty-five states, in
cluding all of the southern states. About
three hundred large historical tablets are
already in place and other tablets giving
localities and distances, number three
hundred, each battery engaged being
marked by at least two guns. One hun
dred and fifty guns are mounted in the
fighting positions of the batteries and
four hundred guns are on the ground
ready for mounting.
Ohio has fifty-four monuments Illinois
thirty-three, Minnesota five. Indiana thir-
ty-seven, Michigan eleven, Massachusetts
one, Kansas three, Missouri five, Wis
consin nine, the United States, regulars,
nine. These have been authorized and the
commissions are preparing to erect as fol-
lows: New York, twenty; Pennsylvania,
eighteen; Connecticut, two; Tennessee,
four.
Chattanooga was early astir and all
mnrninR (rhiCka-
mauga field were filled with vehicles, car
rying would-be spectators of the dedica-
tion ceremonies. Belt line railroads were
organized for the occasion and by that
agency made it possible for the great
crowd of visitors, to reach the grounds.
The exercises were held on an immense
stand built near the observation tower on
Snodgrass Hill, the center OF the deadly
opening of the day of conflict.
Besides the federal officials, including
Secretaries Herbert and Smith, Postmas-
ter General Wilson, Attorney General
Harmon and congressman, present, there
were the following governors of states,
some accompanied by their staff and mem
bers of the commissions from the several
states appointed to act with the national
markers: w. c. Oates, Alabama w. Y.
Atkinson, Georgia; ]. 3. Altgeld, Illi-
nois; Claude Matthews, Indiana r. NJ.
Morrill,, Kansas; F. T. Greenhalge, Mass
achusetts; J. L. Rich, Michigan; Z. A.
Holcomb, Nebraska; G. I. Werts, New
Jersey; Levi p. Morton, New York; w.
nessee; Urban A Woodbury., Vermont
Gov. Mcintyre, Colorado.
Cows Morton and Holcombe arrived here
this morning, the former just in time to
reach the field and witness the exercises.
MISSOURI, Florida and North Carolina
We're represented by delegations of dis
llhgulshed citizens, and to crown all
was an almost innumerable host of the
survivors of the battle, who had come
70 hght 1t all over again and to rejoice
IN its final issue, and who represented
nearly every state in the country. Es-
pecially noticeable were the veterans
who came from Louisville, wearing their
Early arrivals on the grounds were
entertained by drill of battery f, Fourth
artlllgry, under command of Capt. Sid
hey Taylor, and by battalion and regi-
mental drill under Capt. Poland COM
manding Camp Lamont. These evolu-
tons exhibited to the spectators the new
tactics and field movements suggested
Dy the board of tactics and drill.
promptly at noon a salute of forty
four guns announced the beginning of the
execution of the programme, so long ar
ranged and looked forward TO. Music
by the band of the Fourteenth
regiment, in camp on the field
followed, and at subsequent intervals it
also was heard with delight.
The gathering on the stage as the can
non began its booming-the announcement
OF the beginning of the exercises-was one
that was probably never equalled in the
country, and the gathering of spectators
was worthy of it. They numbered thou
sands, who applauded their favorites as
they appeared.
The most notable arrival and reception
was that which brought together Gov.
Mckinley and Gen. James Longstreet, the
confederate general. "A unique picture
was the greeting between Gov. Morton of
New York and his successor in the vice
presidents chair, Mr.. Stevenson. There
was congestion of greatness on the plat
form, but finally all were duly seated and
semblance of quiet secured.
1 he addresses of Senator and Gen.
John NJ. Palmer of Illinois, and of Sen
ator and Gen. John b. Gordon of Geor-
gla, were preceded by the singing of
America" by the audience, and followed
by "Auld Lang Syne."
Gen. j. S. Fullerton, chairman of the
national park commission, and as such,
secretary Lamonts representative, charg-
ed with the duty of directing the dedica-
tory exercises, introduced Vice President
stevenson, who presided in the absence
OF the Secretary of War.
. wee President Stevenson, upon taking
the chair as President at the dedication
OF the national park. said:
am confident that mortal eye never
before witnessed a more magnificent
assemblage Of fair women and brave men.
am honored by being called to preside
over the ceremonies of this day. BY sol
emn decree of the representatives of the
american people this magnificent park,
Win lJS WondrOuS associations and memo