Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-09-20
MET AS BROTHERS.
The Blue and the Gray on Chick.
amauga Field.
EEW NATIONAL PARK DEDICATED.

Devcnty-Five Thousands Of Those Who
Thirty Odd Years Ago Met In Terrible
Strife Join In the Ceremonies-A Day
Devoted to the Incubation Of Patriotism,
I'm Which Union and Confederate Vet
Grams Heartily Join-Exercises Described.
CHATTANOOGA, Sept. 20.-The govern
nent Of the United States Is In full posses
sion Of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga
fields. The nation has another public
park which, while it may not be as grand
from a scenic point of view AS that of
the Yellowstone, yet it will be far dearer
to the hearts Of the people. The park dedi-
Gated to the nation yesterday was conse-
Grated with the blood of 5000 heroes in
1853. 1t was consecrated by a battle which,
for desperate fighting and carnage, has
few, il any, equals in the worlds history.
But the unique feature OF this dedication
Is the fact that men who struggled and
fought against each other at Chickamauga
thirty-twoyears ago met again as brothers,
and each did his share towards making the
dedication success. They sealed COM
pact by which the last vestige of venom
caused by the civil war was blottcd out.
The "I;loody Angle" at Chicamauga.
Within the limits of this grand historic
place Of pleasure for the nation yesterday
were upwards Of 5000 people. Among
the throng were sons Of the nations he
!.oes, and there were also some of her high
est officials. OF President Clcvcland's s
cabinet there were Attorney General Har-
mon, Secretary Of the Navy Herbert, Sec
rotary of the Interior Smith and Post
master General Wilson. There were n
bakers dozen of governors and hundreds
of men of renown who took part In the
conflict between the north and south.
The ceremonies took place on Snodgrass
hill, whose sides for mile were SO thickly
covered with dead thirty-two years ago
that the survivors say one could walk all
over it from crest to- base stepping from
one prostratc body to another.
New Army Tactics ExempliHed.
The first event of the day was display
of arms by battery F, Fourth United
States artillery. Then there was n bat
TALON rcgimental department, showing
the new tactics and field movements, un-
der command of Colonel Holland. The
exercises mt arms were of great interest tO
the veterans, both "Rebs' and "Yanks,' ~
though the Olu 1cllOWS expressed tne DC
lief that such tactics would have been of
no use mt Chickamauga. Vice President
a. f.. Stevenson presided over the dcdi-
catory exercises. He was introduced by
General John :. Fullerton, chairman of
the Chickamauga and Chattanooga Ma
tional park. When the vice president
came forward he was greeted with loud
applause.
Great Wave of Patriotic Song.
BY way of "a beginning Of the meeting
there was a national salute of forty four
guns by the artillery, followed by the
''Star Spanglcd Banner" played by one
of the United States infantry bands. 1t
was chccrcd TO the echo by veterans of the
blue and of the gsay, and in their patri.
otic enthusiasm many of the grizzlcd old
veterans shed tears of joy. When the
applause had ceased Vice President Ste.
venson made II brief address appropriate
to the occasion. When he had finished
prayer was offered by the Rt. Rev. Bishop
Gailor of Tennessee. america" was then
sung by the audience, accompanied by tho
bands. and every one of the thousands OF
people asscmblcd-bluc and gray-sang it
rs il inspired. The great volume of sound
rolled up rs great tidal wave, and long
before the song was ended tears were
coursing down the checks Of thousands o
the old veterans