Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-11-16
10000 People at Dedication
of Soldiers Monuments.
Eloquent Words in the Speeches Of
Presentation and Acceptance.
Exercises Around Their Monuments by Seven
Pennsylvania Regiments.

VorS of the 9th, 28th, 9Th, 147th, 46th,
2Ssh and 111th regiments held impress
sive exercises around their various
monuments, formally dedicating them.
Governor Hastings and General Goblin.
with their staff officers, arrived at Or
card Knob at 2 o'clock. at which hour
the principal exercises of the day Were
begun in the presence Of 10000 people.
The vast assemblage was called to or
der by Gen. VIM. a. Robinson. the
presiding officer and DR.. Thomas II.
Robinson Of Pittsburg, delivered a fer
vent prayer Then Col. Archibald
Blakeley, preslden: of fhe Pennsylva-
mia commission. presented the monu-
ment TO Governor Hastings in the fol-
lowing address:
There is but one Chattanooga. and
we are in it, today. We are on Or
chard Knob. one OF the many historic
heights which surround the growing
city now clustering around their feet.
We are in the center of panorama in
which nature exhibits her works on
the one hand in awful and majestic
grandeur and upon the other in scenes
of ineffable beauty, peaceful as peace
and noiseless as the footsteps of Time.
We are on the ground where Grant and
Thomas trod with giant tread the
mountain paths of the art of war and
military science. In the War of the
Rebellion. in the autumn of 1868, for
three months. nearly 100000 armed
men of the armies of the North and of
the armies of the South. engaged in a
death struggle over these towering
mountains and rugged ridges, along
these undulating valleys and plains, by
the, dark waters of the Chickamauga
and by the sparkling waters of the
beautiful Tennessee.
In that contest seven distinct con-
tests were fought. Chickamauga,
Wauhhatchie. Browns Ferry. Orchard
Knob. Lookout Mountain, Missionary
Ridge and Ringgold. all of which re-
suited in victories for the Union army.
And the e-lines upon which they were
fought except Ringgold and part Of
Chickamauga are within the range of
our natural eyes from where we now
stand. These battles were fought for
the possession of Chattanooga, the
geographical center of the Southern
Confederacy and the gateway to the
Central South.
Governor Hastings, we are here to-
day because in that memorable contest
the sons of Pennsylvania We're here,
they were here in all department of the
land service, II regiments of infantry,
three regiments of cavalry and two
companies of artillery; and they were
here in all grades of the service from
~,
shortest man in the rear ranks. With
in week after our appointment, in
July Of 1895. your committee organized
and from that time until the present
day have diligently prosecuted the
work entrusted to their hands. And
although beset with many vexatious
questions and delays it has been to us
a labor of love. and the work being
finished we are here to tender and turn
over to YOU as to the governor of the
commonwealth, the monuments con-
structed under our superintendence.
The great assault on Lookout noun
tain was led by Pennsylvania great
warrior John w. Geary. and the 18th
Pennsylvania was the first regiment to
cross the lookout mountain into the
y
delivered the first shots fired in the
three months fight on the tenth of
September, 1863. at Dug Gap in the
Pigeon mountains; moreover, the
parting shots in the great conflict were
delivered by the 109th Pennsylvania at
Ringgold and to her Pennsylvania
troops as they poured their volleys into
the fleeing army of Braxton Bragg at
Ringgold in the last days of November,
1865.
AS representatives of our committee
and our commission, we tender our
thanks to the regimental organizations
for their efficient and intelligent help
and corporation. We must thank
Captain F. F. Wiehl and the Hon. H.
Clay Evans, natives of Pennsylvania,
but residents of Chattanooga. for facil-
itating our labors. And the thanks of |
the committee. the commission, the
of these battles and Of all |
the people of our commonwealth are
due to your intelligent, great-hearted |
and accomplished adjutant general, |
Thomas j. Stewart, for his work in the |
of the laws for the trans |
portation of those old soldiers to this |
dedication. And to you, Governor
We are deeply indebted for |
your courtesies, your kindness, your
and your help. When the com.
ng years have wrinkled your brow and
your head, and you draw
your mantle around you. waiting the
last call from the great Trinity of
your faith and your religion. there is a
rinity of words which sounded in your
ears will quicken your sluggish pulse
Ind strengthen your weak heart beats
= Observation-Disclosures
rooga
Our thanks are due, and we tender
hem most cheerfully to Edward Ever
1T Belts. the painstaking and skilfull
ngineer Of this National Military Park.
from the time that General Henry v.
soynton fought and bled on these fislds
o this day, he has made them a study
md in addition to his ether world
vide att!ainments he knows more, to- Z,
lay, Of the battle lines. the positions
Continued IN paea s /,