The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-19
-IHE BATTLEFIELD PARK.
Formal Dedication and speech of Vice
President Stevenson.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. Sept. 19.-One OF
the bloodiest battlefelds the world ever
saw was formally dedicated here today as
a pleasure park for the edifcation and
enjoyment OF the American people for all
time. 1t was the dedication Of the battle
field of Chickamauga, whose beautiful
rayines and mountain sides were strewn
with nearly 80, ,000 dead and wounded
men 81 years ago.
1t is doutfuib il the wcrld ever before
saw another such an inpressiye Gene as
was at Chickamauga today. 1t was VIII
messed by no less than $1,000 people OF
the North and South, and at lesast half
Of them took part IN tnat bloody civil
war of which ChickamGuga battle was
part.
The ceremonies took place at Snod.
grass HILL whose top and side, Tor mile
OF more were so thickly covered with dead
this day 81 years ago that, as the surviy-
ors say, one could walk all over II from
crest 10 base, stepping from one pros
trate body TO another. The first event OF
the day was display OF arms by battery
4, Fourth Artillery. Then there was
battalion regimental drill, showing the
new tactics and old movements under
command of Colonel POLAND.
Vice President Stevenson presided over
the dedicatory exercises. He was intro
duced by General John 5. Fullerton,
chairman of the Chickamauga and Chat
was as follows:
Vice President Stevenson In taking the
chair said: II am honored by being called
to preside over the ceremonies OF
this day. BY solemn decree OF the
representatives of the American peo-
pie, this magnificent park, with its
wondrous associations and memories, is
now to be- dedicated for all time TO ma
| tional and patriotic purposes. This Is the
! fitting hour for the august ceremonies we
now inaugurate. Today, by the act oil
| Congress of the United States, the Chlcka-
| mauga and Chattanooga National Mill
| tary Park is forever set apart Tor all com
| mon uses; solemnly dedicated for all the
| ages-to all the American people. Inc
| day il ausp!cious. IL notes the anniver-
sary OF one OF the greatest battles known
| Inv history. Here, IN the dread trlpunai
! of last resort, valor contcnced against
/ valor. Here brave men struggled ana died
! for the right, 'as God gave them to see
| the right. -
"TEirty-two years have passed, and tho
few survivors Of that masterful way--vic-
tors and vanquished alike again meet up
| on this memorable field. Alas, the splen-
! did armies which rendezvoused here are
| little more than procession OF shadows.
" con Fame's eternal camping ground,
| Their silent tents are spread, -
While glory guards with solemn round.
The bivouac OF the dead.
"Our eyes now behold the sublime spec-
| tacJe OF the honored survivors OF the great
| battle coming together upon these heights
| once more. They meet, not In deadly con-
| aict put as brothers, under one fiag-fel-
| low-citizens OF common country. All
! grateful to God. that in the supreme
| struggle. the government OF our fathers,
| our common heritage, was triumphant.
and that to all of the coming generations
of our countrymen, II will remain AN IN
diyisible union of indestruct BILE state
Our dedication today Is but Ceremor. :.
In the words of the immortal Lincc "A
az Gettysburg: But ina larger scns +.
we cannot dedicate. We cannot copsecrc.f.
We cannot hallow this ground. Tht Ds,
| men, living and dead, who struggle 49,
have consecrated il far above our pog
TO add or detract.'
81 will detain you no longer from listen
ing to the eloquent words OF those Who
were participants in the bloody struggle J.
the shares alike in its danger sad Its glory.