The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-09-19
ON A BLOODY FIELD.
National Military Park Dedica-
ton Exercises Are Continued.
Generals Palmer and Gordon
Speak at Chickamauga.
$4,000 SING AMERICA.
Old Soldiers Are So Affected
That They Cry.
Blue and Gray Mingle and For
get the Past.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Sept. 19.-One
of the bloodiest battiefelds the world
ever saw was formally dedicated here
today as pleasure park for the edifica-
tion and enjoyment of the American
people for all time. 1t was the dedica-
ton of the battlefield of Chickamauga,
whose beautiful ravines and mountain
sides were strewn with nearly 10000
dead and wounded men thirty-two years
ago.
Two generals with silver gray hair,
who headed thousands of men in the
affray on opposite sides, made the prin-
cipal speeches at the dedication. They
were Generals John NJ. Palmer and John
B. Gordon.
It is doubtful If the world ever before
saw another such scene as was that at
Chickamauga today Certainly there
never was one more impressive and at
the same time joyfully affecting. 1t was
witnessed by no less than $4,000 people
of the north and of the south, and at
least half of them took part in that
bloody civil war, of which Chickamauga
battle was part
The ceremonies took place at Snod-
grass hill, whose sides for mile were
SO thickly covered with the dead thirty
could walk all over ii, from crest to base,
stepping from one PROSTATE body to an
ether
Hours before the exercises began the
battle field was alive with those who
had come to attend the dedication. The
first event of tho day was q display of
arms by battery F, Fourth United
States Artillery. Then there was d
battalion regimental department
shown tho now faofioS and field nova.
ments under command of Colonel
Holland. These exercises at arms were
of great interest to the veterans, to the
rebels'' and "Yanks," though the old
fellows expressed the belief that such
tactics would have fallen as timothy be-
fore mower, if placed against those
adopted during the battle of Chicka-
mauga
Vice President A. E. Stevenson prssid-
ed over the dedicatory exercises. He
was introduced by General John s. Full
lerton, chairman of the Chickamsuga
and Chattanooga National park. When
the vice president came forward he was
greeted with loud applause.
The meeting was called 10 order at 12
o'clock and at that hour Snodgrass hill
was covered with people. The great
natural area selected by the national
commission on Snodgrass hill was so
arranged that nearly every one of the
tens of thousands of auditors could hear
the speeches and addresses throughout.
By way of beginning there was a
national salute of ID guns by
the artillery, followed by the
Star Spanrled Banner. plaved by
one of the United States Infantry bands.
It was cheered to the echo by veterans
of the blue aud of the gray, and in their
patriotic enthusiasm many of the grizzled
veterans shed tears of JOY. When the
applause had ceased. Vice President
Stevenson made a brief address.
Vice President Stevenson in taking the
chair said: To-day by act of the congress
Of the United States the Chickamsuga
and Chattanooga national military park
is forever set apart from all common
uses; solemnly dedicated for all the ages
to all the American people.
''Thirty-two years have passed. and the
few survivors of that mssterful day
victors and vanquished alike - again
meet upon this memorable field. Alas,
the splendid armies which rendezvous
here are now little more than a process
sion of shadows
On flames eternal camping ground,
Their silent tents are spread
While glory guards with solemn round
The biYouac OF Ghe dead.
sour eyes now behold the sublime
spectacle of the honored survivors of the
great battle coming together upon these
heights once more They meet, not in
deadly conflict, bur as brothers under one
flag, fellow citizens of a common coun-
try. All grateful to God that in the su-
preme struggle. the government of our
fathers, our common heritage, was tri-
umphant and that to all of the coming
generations of our countrymen, it will re-
main 'an indivisible union of indestruct-
able states
"Our dedication today is but cere-
mony. In the words of the immortal
Lincoln at Gettysburg: Put in larger
sense, we cannot dedicate. We cannot
consentrate. We cannot hallow this
ground. The brave men living and dead
who struggled here have consecrated it
far above our power TO add or detract' :"
America" the beautiful national an
them, was sung by the u1ience accom-
panied by the band, and every one
of the fifty and odd thousand people as
sembled, blue and grey, sang it as if
inspired The great volume of sound
rolled up as great tidal wave, and long
before the song was ended, tears Vere
coursing down the cheeks of thousands
of the veterans. It made the cold chills
run up and down the backs even of the
most hardened of the battle SCARED vet
erans. and those who shed tears were
proud of Is. Not one of them was
ashamed, nor was there any one who
would shame them.
Gen. John M. Palmer, the venerable
senator from Illinois. who thirtv-
years ago today risked his life on the
battlefield, made the first dedicatorv ad-
dress.
Gen. JohniM Palmer told the story of
SAe battle Of Chickamauga, saying the