Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-21
Pillar ut the Spot Where Armistcad
FeII-Metaiiic Monuments, Avenues,
State Memorials Should Follow.

bH' pOalllONS ana .IutICehNIeS OF tue
southern army on that historic occasion.
what are you doing at Gettysburg,
and what are your aims?' asked him.
"Well, soon after the civil war. you
know, the Northern States and people
began to take steps to have the positions
and movements Of each and every body
Of Union troops in the battle Of Gettys-
burg ascertained and commemorated by
suitable monuments and markers. Funds
were raised by means Of voluntary con-
tributions, and by liberal appropriations
from most Of the States. Prominent sol
diers and citizens organized what was
called The Battlefield Memorial Asso-
citation, with headquarters at Gettys-
burg. TO secure title TO the needed lands,
and to carry out and supervise the whole
design, assisted by commissioners APP
pointed by several States. The first
monument was erected il 1879 TO the Sc
cond Massachusetts Regiment, at the
southeastern base of Culp's Hill; and
within about ten years thereafter monu-
ments (many Of them very handsome)
marked the respective positions of nearly
every Union command in. the battle.
WHERE WERE THE CONFEDE-
RATES?
In the beginning, there was.a strong
and controlling prejudice against allow
ing any Confederate monument or me-
mortal TO be erected on the field. But, as
time wore on, and visitors by the thou
sands began to make pilgrimages TO Get
tysburg many Of them from abroad, as
they viewed the splendid array OF monu-
ments along the Union lines, the uni
versal exclamation was fWhy, this is
only half the picture-oniy one side Of
the story. Let the other side be shown,
and the picture made completei II is
absurd 10 show such a phalanx OF fight
ers. with their adversaries invisible" In
short, everybody soon saw the eminent
propriety Of having the other side mark
ed, and thereupon the Congress Of the
United States, without regard TO party
or section, took hold Of the subject, and
I'm 1893 passed an act authorizing the Sec
rotary Of War TO take charge Of the
work, through a commission, appointed
by him, and made an appropriation for
the purpose (as the act, In substance,
says Of ascertaining and correctly mark
ing the positions and evOlutiOns Of every
command in the battle in both the Army
Of the Potomac and the Army OF North
ern Virginia, with suitable markers and
should simply state historic facts and
be compiled without praise or censure;
the necessary lands to be purchased, or
condemned, If need be; substantial and
durable roads and avenues TO be con-
structed, so as 10 render the various inn
portant and interesting points Of the bat
tle-fieid easily accessible TO visitors, and
the terrain of the battle to be preserved
perpetually. so far as possible, both as
TO field and forest. and other natural
features, including buildings. as it was at
the time of the great battle. The sub
sequent act making it a national park is
TO the like effect, with somewhat wider
scope.
ALL ON ONE SIDE NOW.
So that's what we are doing at Gettys-
burg Our commission copsists Of two
Union soldiers and one "old Reb"-my-
self-aN of us having fought in the tat
tie here. We get along together very
peaceably now. Indeed, l find that all
the old Union soldiers up there, who real
w did good fighting, are as friendly and
fraternal as If we had all been on one
side. We are all on one side now-"in
favor OF the Old flag, and an appropra-
ton" It's the bOmb-proofs and the poll
ticians who keep up what prejudice and
EndTllnE
North take an honest pride in the match
less heroism Of our glorious boys in
gray. as well as In the prowess Of their
own soldiers. and treasure it acl as part.
of our common American heritage of
sturdy manhood.
Most of the Union positions having al
ready been located and marked, the
principal part of our work has been, and
is TO fix those Of the COnfederates; and
the United States regulars also, which
were previously lift out. We have con-
structed an avenue along some three
miles OF the main Confederate line of
battle on Seminary Ridge, and are now
engaged in proceedings TO acquire the
right Of way over the lands needed to
complete this avenue along that whole
line; and shall then take up the line
running around north and eastward Of
the town. occupied by EwelPs Corps.
This avenue IS built on the Telford
plan. which Is TO grade well, pave with
S-inch stones. well chincked. cover this
with four inches of broken stones,
averaging about one and a half inches
I'm size. and on top put a coating Of
screenings and gravel two inches thick
the whole thoroughly rolled with a
14-ton steam boiler till II is as solid
as a stone. nearly. This avenue IS 20
feet wide and well-drained, and will last
without much repair for an indefinite
period.
METHOD OF MARKING.
The method adopted for marking the
positions of troops is similar for the
troops OF both armies. except that for
the present we Confederates have 10
be content with metallic tablets and
not monuments-which the United States
does not erect for either side, though
our States. like those of the North. may
do so when they like The plan is as
follows: For batteries, Two guns Of
like kind to those used in the battle are
placed In the principal position occupied
nv each battery. with a tablet giving
its name numbers, losses, and other
matters of interest briefly, including the
day and time II occupied such position,
with a reference TO the movements II
made and other positions II occupied
which are also marked by subordinate
tablets. giving day and hour. &c. For
infantry. a tablet is placed TO mark the
position Of each command-that Is, each
division. brigade, and regiment, where
il formed line and whence II moved for
ward when entering into actual engage
ment. This tablet gives similar data con-
corning each command to those speci-
fed above with respect TO a battery.
And this tablet particularly refers to
subsequent positions Of the command,
and subordinate tablets, with appropri-
ate Inscriptions, mark each of these sue
cessive positions, with record OF the
time and achievements at each place.
II have been able TO make myself un-
derstood. you will perceive that we are
engaged in making on the field itself a
complete photograph of the battle as II
went on from day 10 day and hour 10