Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-19
Old Soldiers on the Field of Chicka-
mauga.
SCENES OF HATE A PLEASURE PARK
A Notable Occasion Where the
Battle Was Fought.
RIV AL GENERALS SPEAK
Special From STAFF Correspondent.

tember 19.-The dedication Of the Chicka-
mauga National Park was made today
amid surroundings Of military pomp and
civic splendor. In the presence Of thou
sands of men who, as humble soldiers, par
ticipated in the great fight, and before
some of the most prominent men of the
nation, the park was declared open. The
goverrme mt, whose perpetuity was aided
ty the death of the heroes who fell here,
has placed its hand upon the spot and de-
clared it forever sacred and hallowed to the
country. No profaEe plow can now turn
the soil tt at drank the blood of the Union
slain; no reckless hand may fell the trees
through whose branches hurled the storms
of leaden hail; but all is to be preserved
and remain untouched, as a monument to
Americas heroes. 1t is an innovation in
this country, the setting aside of great
battlefields by national act. AS in olden
times the seal of Caesar upon a place
warned impious hands from molesting, SO
now the magic letters ''U. S." speak in
plain words here, Hands off,
OF all the thousaI ds in attendance here
there is probably not a man who does not
think the establishment of the park a fit
ting act. Those Ccrgressmen present who
voted for the bill are congratulating them
selves upon it and feeling that some day
their names may grace a roll of honor; and
If the man who voted against it were here
today he would want to hide his head in
shame. The men who originated the idea
and to whose efforts is largely due the
successful fruition of the plans are graft
fled and pleased beyond words.
As one of them, Gen. H. V. Boynton of
Washington is probably about the happiest
m Hav To 10 he
lishment of the park likely to be of more
interest than the coming generations Of the
south. In land where the traces of the
war are being rapidly effaced by the rising
tide of prosperity, and where even its very
history is too scantily written, except in
the hearts of the people this preservation
of the record of one of it's greatest events
will be appl eciated in future years by those
who lead upon the tablets raised by the
government the tale of their fathers deeds
and view the ground where they were ac-
complished.
81 The incidents of today's dedication were
dramatic in the extreme. The veterans
who participated were wrought I'D to
high tension of emotion. The majority of
thcse who were present today had visited
the park yesterday ard the day before. had
walked over the field, traced throughout
the battles. found where they had charged
this battery and resisted that onslaught
of bayonets. and had revived all the stir
ring memories of the war time. They were
timent.
The days ceremonies commenced with
great display of military force, which
further served to arouse them. The in
spriting calls of the bugles, the merry rat
tie Of the drums, the clank of accouter-
ments as marching battalions Of infantry
filed past and squadrons of cavalry swept
down the roads, the heavy rumble of ar
tilery over the ruts, and the flash and
brilliancy of thousands of glittering uni
forms stirred them and sent the sluggish
blood of age coursing through their veins
with the fever of youth.
At the foot of Snodgrass Hill, that fear
full eminence whose slopes were covered
on the second days battle With the bodies
of dead men, whose ravines were running
b,cod. and yet whose summit was crowned
through ali the long hours of battle with
the stars and stripes. the veterans gather
ed for the services of the day. There, in
natural amphitheater, in valley truly at
one time the valley Of the shadow, they
heard the speeches, and when the stirring
tones of America" were sung, the soldiers
took up the chorus, and the grand old an
them never rang in more glorious sym
pkony.
The speakers of the day caught the in.
spiration of the hour, and eloquent as they
are well known to be, seemed to find re-
newed power to thrill the audience and
cheered and threw their hats in the air,
while once in a while some little group
would give the old familiar wartime yell
On the hillsides surrounding the amphi,
theater were gathered the wives and
daughters of the veterans. They felt
proprietary interest in the proceedings
also, and showed their appreciation after
the manner of womankind.
During the course of the speeches, When
reference would be made to the achieve
ments of some particular Indiana, ONO
or Illinois regiment, the Survivors would
respond to the speakers tributes TO them
with cheers and drown his voice for
time.
A noticeable feature in the makeup of the
audience was the presence of so many
crippled old fellows Chickamauga, as
every one knows, was remarkable for the
number of soldiers wounded in both OF the
contending armies, due to the nature OF
the desperate and continued lighting at
close range. There was proof of this on
the person of many a man in that au-
dience. Armless sleeves could be counted
by the hundred, and limping, hobbling old
men were everywhere. But they forgot
empty sleeves and waved aloft their
crutches, and were whole men for the mo-
ment. 1t was a great day, great au-
dience and a great scene.
The congressional party left their hotel
at 7:5O, and at the station took carriages
for the drive to the park. Captain Barnes
Of the Senate force was in immediate
charge, under Sergeant-at-Arms Bright's
orders. Yesterday the party was augment
ed by numerous arrivals, among them
Senator Blackburn, Representatives Grout
Of Vermont Tarsney of Missouri, Mallory
Of Florida, Henderson of Iowa, Henderson
Of Illinois, Keifer Of Minnesota, Price of
Louisiana, Harrison of Alabama, and Lap
ham of Rhode Island.
Terrific Heat, Sitting Dust.
The congressional party were almost
four hours in coming from their hotel to
The park, and the greater portion of the
time were driving in open carriages. The
heat was terrific, equaling a midsummer
Georgia day, and the dust was sitting, but
the distinguished visitors endured the dis
comforts without murmuIing, and arrived
without accident. procession of We
hicles, fully nine miles long, stretched
over the road, and overspread the Lark
upon its arrival.
The trains from the city ran at short in
tervals, and immense crowds were trans |
ported in this way. 1t was estimated |
hat 6o,oocSpersons were in the park during
the day.
Seats were provided for the congressional
party on the stand by the Vice President, |
who presided over the ceremonies. Senator |
Blackburn and Secretary Smith did not |
come with the party, as they did not turn out |
TO make the early start The members of |
the cabinet were delayed on the way to the
park, and at the hour of noon. when the |
Continued on Eighth Page)