Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-09-27
A Memorable Trip.

Tuesday. From one of the number we
gather the following interesting sketch
of the trip:
Our party consisted of l. E. Gibson,
wife aud daughter; Commander, G. D..
Gibson; N. NJ. Puffer and wife, VIM. E..
Murphy and wife, NJ. A. Morgan, A. M.
Downs, j. p. Daley, Samuel Holt, Ed
ward Riley, George Brown. VIM. Cas-
well, ID. B. Haynes, and left Bennington
Sept. 5th bound for the G. A. r. Nation
al Encampment at Louisville, KY, TAX
ing the night boat from Troy. A full
moon and clear sky made most enjoy
able trip down the Hudson. We found
that our early start for the Mecca of all
veterans, Louisville, was none to soon.
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and
New York veterans were on the road
with us. We were two hours late into
New York, missing the 8 a. m. train.
We took the 1 80 p. m. train for Harris
burgh, Pa, arrived at Sp. m. and spent
the evening on the Capitol grounds visit
ing also the Soldiers monument. Sat
urday morning we started for Gettys-
burg upon arrival we procuring teams
and a guide, started for a trip over this
famous battlefield, taking in the scenes
of the first days fight, visiting Gen.
Lees headquarters from which he di-
rected his plan of operations, located on
Seminary Ridge. On this part of the
field are many fine monuments dediCat-
ed to the memory of those who fell in
this days fight, one of the finest being
a single block of granite weighing eight
tons on which is engraved fine figure
of a mounted cavalryman. After dinner
the grounds of the second and third days
fight was visited. This included Wheat
Field, Peach Orchard and Devils Den;
Little and Big Round Top. At the Dew
lis Den we were halted and shot at by
the battlefield photographer A visit
was also made to Gen. Meade's head
quarters from which he directed his
plans of battle, and worsted Gen. Lee.
Lastly we visited the National Cemetery
where are buried g. SIS soldiers. Here is
situated the National monument sixty
feet high of light gray granite; near by
stands the New York State monument,
the most elaborate on the field, costing
$4,000, Vermonts monument stands
on an eminence overlooking the second
and third days fight. 1t is surmOunted
by a statue of Gen. Stannard and is a
credit to the State.
Leaving Gettysburg at 6 20 p. M, we
arrived at Cherry Run at 8 p. m. Here
we spent a very uncomfortable night in
the depot awaiting the ar
rival of the o'clock train for Cincinnati,
where we arrived at S p. m. Enroute we
passed through % tunnels and over ~
bridges and trestles. Leaving Cincinnati
s o'clock the next morning, we arrived
at Louisville at p. m. The remainder
of that day and the day following was
-, ,;,,+ INT &c ;rf ~ nd
about the city, the most attractive being
Cave Hill Cemetery, containing 265 acres
with more than 500 elegant monuments.
1t requires the services of fifty men to
care for this cemetery, which is, without
donbt, the finest in the United States.
Adjoining is the National Cemetery
where are buried 400 soldiers.
On the 18th. came the grand parade.
More than 10000 veterans again touched
elbows. Vermont made a most credit
able showing, with 20 men. The day
was so intensely hot that not more than
half of the veterans participated in the
parade. More than 100000 strangers
were in the city. To escape the crowd
we started for Chattanooga the morning
of the 18th, arriving at 1870, having
crossed two of the highest bridges in the
United States, one 2S6 and the other 2S7
feet above high water mark. Saturday,
the 18th, we visited Chicamauga Park
and also Lookout Mountain, 1900 feet
above the city and $4,000 feet above the
sea level. Chicamauga Park consists of
$500 acres; area acquired, IL square
miles; total authorized to be purchased,
16 square miles; number of miles of
road improved, 50; partially improved,
20 miles. There are 800 large sized his
torical tablets already in place, 300 other
tablets, and five observation towers.
Each battery is being marked by at least
two guns, $50 guns have now been mount
ed and there are 400 on the ground ready
for mounting. Number of monuments:
Ohio "a, Illinois At. Minnesota 5, Indi
ana 81, Michigan II, Massachusetts l,
Kansas 3, Missouri 5, Wisconsin 8, U. S.
Regulars 9-total III. The following
States authorized the erection of addi-
tional monuments and have appointed
commissioners: New York 20, Pennsyl-
vania Is, Connecticut 2, Tennessee 4.
These will make total of 215 mOnu-
Hents in the park.
We started Tor Atlanta Monday morn
and arriving there at a. M, visited the
Exposition grounds and Othet points of
interest. Departure was made at p.
H., arriving III chattanooga III Jne even
ing.
Next morning we met Governor Wood
bury's party at the depot and had a hearty
shake with them. We left on the 100
train for Richmond, stopping over night
at Salisbury, N. c., where was situated
one of the rebel prisons during the war
There are II, 1877 Union soldiers buried
here, but 102 of the graves being marked.
Leaving Salisbury at 9 a. IN. the next
stopping place was at Hot Springs for
dinner. where we drank hot springs
water The start was then made for the
famous Land of the Sky" the most ro-
mantle scenery east of the Rocky Noun
tains, arriving at Richmond at o'clock,
and the remainder of that day and the
next was passed in visiting the points of
interest-Washingt headquarters,
the old Virginia State House 103 years
old, Jeff. Davis grave, Lees, JacksOn's,
Stewards, Pres. Tyler's and MOnrOe's
monuments, st. Johns church, the old
est in the United States, and the Con-
federate Soldiers Home.
We reached Fortress Monroe at 6.45 p.
IN, and took boat for Washington via.
Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac, ar
irving in that city in the early morning
of the Dist. The Capital was visited as
well as all points of interest. Arriving
safely in New York, we took the boat for
Troy and arrived in Bennington, Tues
4 L - 49,,