Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-05-13
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SLEEPING HEROES
in! IL SHILOH PARK.
Nations Gratitude Expended Upon Those Who Wore the
Blue While the Bones Of Their Antagonists Who Fell Have
in Many Instances Been Left to Encounter the Elements
A Suggestion and Appeal to Southern Women.
A suggestion and Appeal to Southern Women.

SeS.ytSs isS s1l s3S ssss ss NIX gN
brought forth from their hiding
places, you have only to drive |
out on the various country roads
to see the wagon loads of rustic
SWANS roll by, each youth adorned
with our national emblem floating
from his hatband, while each mai
den waves aloft tiny flag as they
gaily laugh over the way they out
witted the superintendent. Even
the horses and mules bearing
sedate elderly men and women
tlaunt the star,spangled banner
from their rope brides. In the
cabins of the various excursion
steamers, as they begin their home
ward journey, similar exploits are
being recounted, and the travellers
compare their air.breadth es.
capes from being detected in the
act of theft with great glee. Flags
are slipped from sleeves, parasols,
hat crowns and bodices, and the
cabin is soon decorated in truly
patriotic style. The people have
taken up the idea that Uncle Sam
should donate these flags as SOU
venirs of the occasion, and doubt
less he had as we'll ac0uiesce
gracefully.
AN ENDURING SOUVENIR.
But he has given to the people
a gift more enduring than millions
of silken banners, q souvenir of
Shiloh that shall last as long as
the rock ribbed hills, the
gift of all this historic land for a
public park forever. A national
military park, which will include
within its boundaries the cemetery
and river bank, thence will roll
back over hill and ravine and val.
ley full of interest and historic
associations. 1t will include the
site of the little log Westinghouse.
The humble house Of worship that
saw O fercer baptism than that OF
water, a baptism of blood and fire
ana death, and had the tile crack
ed bell tolled on till now, it would
hardly have finished its requiem
for the dead who fell in CHASTITY
heaps within the sound gifts tones
Though the original log structure
has succum5ed to the hand Of
time and of relic-hunters, neal
frame church marks the spot to
day.
In this vast park so full of asso
Citations to both North and South
the landmarks of nature will re
: main unchanged, and the land
scape will present beauties of bill
! and valley, messy gale, rivulet an(
; stream, as fashioned by the hant
of nature, except that ravines viii
: be spanned, rustic bridges vii
, arch over ripping brooks, under
growth and canebrakes will b'
} cleared away, and the visitor cal
inspect the scene of so mucl
, bloodshed without let or hin
I drance. 1t is not the purpose o
the government to enclose tn,
l park, but lovely drives will reacl
5 from point to point. The roadway
will be graded and macadamized
$ and will wind and turn in such
D way as to give the best view of al
interesting spots.
The national committee has sc
j cured $50 cannon, which are o.
0 the grounds and will be used 70
1 markers. Some will be mounte,
| on wheels to mark the position O
I batteries. Their voices are hush
ed, their throats are spiked, We
they are warlike in appearance
There are also on the field II 90
cannon balls, which will be use
in pyramidal monuments to mar
the spot where general officer
fell. 1t is stated that the thor
sands of men engaged in this bal
! tie represented 25S different OF
i, CARNATIONS and Il states.
+ Maj. Reed, the secretary of tn
? park commission, has designate
9 on the battlefield, and also en- tn
4 maps prepared by the park civ
q engineer, the positions of the di
ferent regiments, both Federal an
Confederate. These positions al
g determined by the reports of tn
p officers who engaged in the battl
!, But these locations, as shown o
, the map, are subject to change b
% the state commissioners, if the
- are found to be incorrect. |
4 most instances, Maj. Reeds loci
=, tons are approved. The Illlno
~ commissioners have visited til
q scene. inspected the locations
- Illinois regiments and approve
9 them.
h AREA OF THE PARK.
4 The park will contain a6ol
&c 1000 acres, 1000 of which hay
If been bought and paid for. Tb
G commission is acquiring titles
the lands as fast as the abstract
s. and deeds can be obtained an
!. approved by the encouragement
@ Of the United States.
d All states which had troops Ell
n gagged in the battle are expected
o appoint commissioners to desiI
?. nate the positions occupied b