Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-09-23
ON HISTORIC GROUND.
National Military Park Is Formally
Turned Over to the Gov
eminent.

Military park commenced IN earnest To-
day, and Chattanooga was the host of the
grandest gathering of soldiers of the
North and South that has occurred since
the war; The memora BILE saying that
Peace hath her victories no less re-
nowned than war; was strikingly illus
trated here today when North and South,
reunited forever, joined hands in dedicat-
ing the park which was to perpetuate the
memories and to mark the scenes of the
two great battles of the Civil war. Thir-
ty years have gone by since peace was
declared, but today white-haired veterans
who, while in the prime of youth, fol-
lowed the lead of Grant, Sherman, Rose
er, and the boys in gray who fought for
the stars and bars under Bragg and
under Longstreet, are gathering around
the campfires and fighting their battles
over again.
The dedicatory exercises are the termi-,
nation of five years work on the part
Of the government in the making of this
appropriated by Congress fer the purchase
of the land, the park comprising 1000
acres. Tennessee and Georgia also coded
to the government ten of the roads con-
Meeting the different fields of battle,
amounting to forty-two miles. Of the
monuments, Ohio heads the list with fif-
ty-five at a total cost of $50, 600. New
York made an appropria ton of 1000,
of which all but $1,000 was to have been
spent on an observation tower, which was
intended to be the finest individual monu-
ment in the field The national govern
ment. however, objected to this, for the
reason that the tower was to have been
placed on Lookout mountain, while none
but Confederate soldiers fought on the
summit of Lookout. For the present,
therefore, New York is represented by
nine tablets. Illinois will have thirty
seven monuments at total cost of $751;
600; Indiana thirty-three, at a cost of
$4,000; Wisconsin eleven, at a cost of
800; Michigan twelve, at a cost of
$4,000; Minnesota five, at a cost of
$4,000; Missouri five, at cost Of $4,000.
The total number of state monuments
will be III and the aggregate cost $780,
OOO
The old soldiers have found touch of
realism in the field in the shape of $50
mounted cannon, which have been dis
tributed so that they mark the positions
of the various batteries. Chief of ord
nance, d. w. Flagler, and his assistant
captain, V. McNally, ransacked all the
arsenals of the country to procure old
cannon used in these fights, obtaining
guns used by the thirty-fye union and
thirty-nine Confederate batteries. They
are mounted on cast-iron carriages, paint
ed so as to represent those used in the
battle
The ceremonies took place at Snod-
grass hill, whose sides for a mile were
so thickIy, covered with dead thirty-two
years ago, that the survivors say one
could walk all over it from the crest to
base, stepping from one PROSTATE body
to another.
Hours before the exercises began the
battlefield was alive with those who had
come to attend the dedication The first
event of the day was display of arms
NV Raff L NTH II fo1 Sfafo
artillery. Then there was a battalion
regimental drill, showing the new tactics
and field movements. under command
of Col. Holland. These exercises at
arms were of great interest to the vet
Grams, both the ''rebels" and "Yanks,"
though the old fellows expressed the be-
lief that such tactics would have fallen
as timothy before a mower if placed
against those adopted during the battle
of Chickamauga.
Vice-President A. e. Stevenson pre-
sided owed the dedicatory exercises. He
was introduced by Gen. John s. Fuller
ton, chairman of the Chickamauga and
Chattanooga National park. When the
vice-president came forward he was greet
ed with loud applause.
The meeting was called to order at IL
o'clock and at that hour SnOdgrass hill
was covered with people. The great nat
ural area selected by the national commits
SIOI1 OH SUOOSrdSS I'LL WAS So dTTduScO
that nearly everyone OF the tens of thou
sands Of the auditors could hear the
speeches and addresses throughout. By
way of beginning there was a national
salute of forty-four guns by the artillery,
followed by 1.-The Star Spangled Banner
played by one of the United States in
fantry bands. 1t was cheered to the echo
by veterans of the blue and the gray, and
in their patriotic enthusiasm many of the
griZzled old veterans shed tears of joy.
When the applause had ceased, Vice-Pres-
ident Stevenson made a brief address, APP
propriate to the occasion. When he had
finished, prayer was offered by the Rt
Rev Bishop Gailor of Tennessee.
America" the beautiful national an
them was then sung by the audience, ac
companied by the band, and every one
of the fifty and odd thousand people as
sembled, blue and gray, sang it as if in
spired. The great volume of sound rolled
up as if tidal wave, and long before
the song was ended tears were coursing
down the cheeks of thousands of the old
veterans 1t made the cold chi!!s run up
and down the backs of even the most
hard ened and battle SCARED veterans,
and those who shed tears were proud of
it. Not one of them was ashamed, nor
was there anyone who would shame
them.
The addresses of Gems. Palmer and
Gordon, printed elsewhere, followed.
When Gen. Palmer, the venerable sena-
tor from Illinois, who thirty-two years
ago today risked his life en- the battle
field, came forward his voice was husky
and had tremulous sound. And never
in all his life, unless perhaps when he
was directing his men at Chickamauga
thirty-two years ago did he speak more
earnestly. He became grandly eloquent
as he advanced in his address and his
eloquence was fully appreciated. At fire.
quent intervals he was applauded with a
vigor that showed the audience were in
touch with him. ~ Ns.
Another patriotic tune followed Gen.
Palmer's speech and then the battle
SCARED veteran of the. Confederacy,
whom Lee called his right arm" John
3. Gordon of George, was introduced
He was greeted with no less applause
than that accorded to Gen. Palmer and
he spoke with fully as much enthusiasm,
feeling and patriotism.
One may judge by their. sentiments
and the sentiments of the thousands of
federal and Confederate veterans who
heard them that sectionalism between
the North and South is now wiped out
Those who have heard Gen Gordon be-