Omaha daily bee., 1895-09-19
ON CHICKAMAUCA'S FIELD
Various State Monuments Turned Over to
the National Government.
ONCE A BATTLE GROUND, NOW A PARK
Formal Dedication of the National
Reserve on the Historic Hills Made
Famous by the Contests he
tween the Blue and Gray.

CHATTANOOGA, Penn, sept. lo.-ll oue
may Judge by the events Of the last ten days
the Mason and Dixon line has been wiped off
the map. The friendly, b~rotherly feeling
that has been displayed here this week and
that was shown at Louisville last week by
the boys of the gray toward the boys OF the
blue shows that the bitter sectionalism that
SO long divided the union no longer exists.
For nearly a fortnight now the doors Of the
south have been thrown open to the men
who came here thirty odd years ago bearing
arms of slaughter and destruction. Not a
single incident that would indicate a feeling
Of hatred on either side has been recorded
yankees and Johnny Rebs" grown gray
with years have gone over the great battle
field together, discussed the events of those
awful days, drank together and even, in some
instances. slept together without stirring up
anything like a hard thought. Generals
who fought for the union have been guests
Of generals of the confederacy and each has
solemnly declared that there is mo north
and no south 1.-THE events OF today have
bound US as nothing else could have done,
and the solemn, yet Joyous, event OF tomor-
row will seal the tie forever" So spoke a
prominent soldier of the north to one of the
south at SnodRrass Hill today, and the latter
replied, with tears in his eyes: "Comrade,
YOU are right; shake hands, and they did.
Chattanooga is an enterprislng town with
HU.UUb lnndDlIdulS. 1Ht psullt uu 90 ~
for the entertainment Of their northern WIS.,
itors as any one could wish. At early dawn,
the town and the surrounding country awoke.
In less than two hours there was a general
exodus from town to the battlefield. There
were bands of music followed by regiments
of militia. There were thou ands upon thous-
ands of battle SCARED veterans and there were
thousands upon thousands of women and chi
dren who personally never knew what war
was. Then there were carriages ana vehlcleS
80 rx,zr, determination ( n hin tho nEnnn f1u >
The cars. electric and steam, were loaded TO
the guard rail.
AWAKENED SAD MEMORIES.
Many of the vast throng looked ov5r the
field of Ch~lckamauga sadly remembering the
awful scenes of carnage and death they mad
witnessed there thirty years ago, but all felt
a thrill Of JOY to know that old wounds mad
healed, ard that the dread of those days
was no more Such were the conditions that
prevailed at the preliminary exercises at
tendant upon the dedication of the historic
battlefield as a national park which Will take
place tomorrow.
The first event of the day was the dedica-
ton of the Michigan state monuments at
Snodgrass hill, a point at which there was
probably more hard fighting during the bat
tie than on any part OF the field. Governor
John T. Rich, with his stan, the MEMBERS
OF the park commission, arrived at the hill
a few minutes after 8 O'Clock. Chairman
C. Il. Balknap, president OF fhe Michigan
commission, In a brief speech in which he
told OF the work done by the commissioners.
called the assemblage to order, and then in
troduced Governor Rich, who delivered a
brief address. Colonel Henry M. Dufheld OF
Detroit responded. When he had finished
there was music by a military band, after
which benediction was said.
MONUMENTS IN KELLY FIELD.
In the northeast corner of that part of the
Kelly field the monuments OF Wisconsin
were turned over to the government at II
O'Clock. The exercises were presided over
by Colonel w. w. Watkins, chairman OF the
state commission. After the audience had
been called to order Rev. U. b. webster
offered prayer. Colonel Watkins formally
turned the monuments over to Governor W.
II. Upham, who received them and then
transferred them to the government. Gem
eral Henry Hardin made a speech In re-
sponse. after which speeches were made by
Colonel b.. T.. Bryant, Ex-Governor w. d..
Hoard and T.. G. Timme' .
The veterans of Ohio took possession of
Snodgrass hill as soon as those from Michigan
had finished. General John Beatty, president
of the Ohio commission, presided. When he
had called the audience to order Bishop
Joyce invoked the blessing of the Deity.
Following the prayer General Charles H.
Grosvenor addressed the gathering. Short
addresses were then made by Ex-Governor
Campbell. who was governor at the time the
commission was created, Hon. j. S. Gill and
Hon. j. s. McElroy. General Aquilla Wiley
then made a short address formally turning
the monuments over to Governor Mckinley,
, 49, a-a 49,, 49,.
who In turn receiVeo men ahu men uans-
ferred them 10 the ha'iohai su'e[hnleh.'
Brief addresses py nun. nnu,rw SaoNsem'
Colonel James watson anu rreu ~. Mohueii'
ember! OF the COMMISSION WIRE maoe'
Mr.. Mckinney saiu;
THIRD OF A CENTURY PASSED
M President ana Mempars OF the ONO
Chickamauga ana ChattanooSa Natlonai
Park Commission ana My feiow Ci'izehs:
receive the ONO monuments from your
hands In behalf or the state OF ONO TO be
dedicated as a perpetual memorial 10 the
Ohio soldiers VINO fought on ms hei1' l can
not iorbear Ill TINS pubic manner 70 express
to the commission the thanks OF the STATE,
whose representative IL mas peeh, lor lhe
able ana satisfactory performance OF us hu-
ties, II has executed the trust connded 10
It with singular intelilgence ana nueity' ana
Will enjoy the lasting gratitude Oh the people
OF the state.
Nearly a third OF a century ago TINS place
was a held OF war ana the scene oil an aWtui
and disastrous two days battle. We come
back aiteT these long years when have been
years of momentous import u our country an
civilization, to unite in the dedication of this
great battlefield as a national park, which
shall forever memorialze the valor OF the
American soldier and testify to the strength
and glory of the American union.