Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-09-19
RENOWNED BATTLE FIELDS.
Bloody Fields of Chattanooga and
Chickamauga Dedicated as Ma
tional Pleasure Grounds.
OF PALMER And GORDON
Doubtful if the World Ever Before Saw
Such a Scene as that Witnessed at
Chickamauga To-day-Stir-
ring Ceremonies.

Chattanooga, Tenn, Sept. 19.-The
bloodiest battle field the world ever saw was
formally dedicated here to-day as pleas
ure park for the edifcation and enjoy
ment of the American people for all time.
1t was Chickamauga, whose ravines and
mountain sides were strewn with nearly
10000 dead and wounded.
The dedication was conducted by the
men who fought in that awful strife.
The two generals, with silver gray hair,
who headed the thousands of men in the
affray on opposite sides, made the princi-
pal speeches at the dedication. They
were Generals John M. Palmer and John
B. Gordon.
It is doubtful if the world ever before
saw another such scene as that at Chick
amauga to-day. 1t was witnessed by no
less than $4,000 people from the north
! and south, at least half of whom took
part in the bloody civil war.
The first event of the day was display
of arms by battery "F," fourth U. 3. ar
tillery.
There was a battalion regimental
drill, showing the new tactics and
uolu uONououteS uuuOI uuC OOAu1hhO
of Col. Holland.
These exercises at arms we're of great
interest to the veterans, who expressed
the belief that such tactics would have
fallen as timothy before the mower il
placed against those adopted during
Chickamauga.
Vice President A. E. Stevenson pre-
sided over the dedicatory exercises. He
was introduced by Gen. John 8. Fuller.
ton, chairman of the Chickamauga and
Chattanooga national park, and greeted
with loud applause.
The great natural area on Snodgrass
Hill, selected by the national commission
for the exercises, was so arranged that
the tens of thousands of auditors could
here the addresses throughout.
By way of beginning there was ma
tional salute of forty-four guns by the
artillery. followed by the "Star Spangled
Banner" played by one of the U. s. in
fantry bands.
It was cheered to the echo by the vet
erans of the blue and of the gray, and
many grizzled veterans shed tears OF JOY
When the applause ceased, Vice Presi'
dent Stevenson made brief address ap'
propriate to the occasion.
Prayer was offered by Right Rev. Bishop
Caller, of Tennessee.
"America" was sung by the audience
accompanied by the bands.
The volume of sound rolled up as
great tidal wave and long before the song
ended tears we're coursing down the cheeks
of thousands of veterans.
Gen. John M. Palmer, the venerable
senator from Illinois, made the first ded
icatory address. His voice at first had
tremulous sound, but he became grandlJ
eloquent as he advanced and frequently
was applauded. -,
Another patriotic tune followed Gen
Palmer's speech.
Then the battle scared veteran of thu
Confederacy, whom Lee called his "righ
arm" John B. Gordon, of Georgia, was
introduced. He was greeted with no les'
applause than was accorded Gen. Palme'
and he spoke with fully as much enthus
iasm, feeling and patriotism.
Those who had heard Gen. Gordon be
fore said that this was the effort of hlt
life.