The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-09-19
AT ANTIETAM.
The Bay State Dedicates Monument to
Her Men.

handsomest monument erected to the
memory of the Massachusetts troops who
fought and fell on the battlefield Of An
tietam, was dedicated this afternoon with
impressive ceremonies In the presence of
a large delegation of prominent men from
the Bay State and number of citizens
of Hagerstown and vicinity. Gov. VOL
colt of Massachusetts, delivered the dedic.
atory address.
day with handsome floral offerings stands
on a mound at the corner of Hagerstown
park pike and Cornfeld avenue. pur-
chased some years ago by the Massachu-
setts authorities. 1t is exceedingly sim
pie and chaste in design, Is made OF Mil
ford granite and is in the renaissance
style of architecture. A wreath Of. laurel
on the front entwines the coat of arms
of Massachusetts, forming a centre piece
for the following inscription:
Erected by the Commonwealth OF Massa.
chusetts to Mark
the Position Held by their Troops at the
Battle of Antietam, September XVII,
M d G G G L K IL
A buttress of each side of the centre
stone bears bronze tablet inscribed with
the mum bers of thesregiments from Massa-
They were the End, 7th, 9th, 10th, 18th,
18th, 18th, 18th, 18th, Goth, 21st. 22nd,
28th, Goth, Sand and 35th infantry; First
cavalry, First, Third and Eighth batter.
les, and First and Second comp anies OF
sharp shooters.
The reverse sidesof the monument holds
a bronze tablet covering almost it's entire
tlefeld, showing the positions held by the
Massachusetts troops on tbs day OF the
fight. Messrs. Winslow and Methereil
of Boston are the architects.
The dedi Jatory exercises were opened Dy
Adjutant General Samuel Dalton, who
in brief address on behalf OF the COM
mittee having in charge the building
of the monument formally turned 1t over
to the representatives of the stale, headed
by Governor Wolcott. Governor Wolcott,
in accepting, spoke in part as follows:
''We are here to perform solemn act
of commemoratlon. We are here to dedt-
cate this monument to the memory OF
great events and of valiant smen. some
Of these men are before me as speak.
What memories must force themselves
upon your minds as you gaze today upon
the peaceful scene on the fair soil of Mary
land. Of the many thousands who per-
ished in this memorable battle, or who
have died since, we may believe that
they too look not with Indifference upon
what we do today, and to them not less
than to the living, we pay the tribute OF
grateful and honorable remembrance.
both armies were led by skilled and
brave commanders. With the Confederate
forces were such men rs Lee, jackson,
Longstreet, Stuart and the two Hills,
whose high personal character and SOL
dierly qualities entitle them to the respect
of all Americans, although we may be-
lieve that in the great crisis OF their lives
they drew their swords in mistaken and
unrighteous cause. The Union army was
by General Mcclellan and
with him were Burnside, Summer, Frank.
lin, Hooker Sedgwick, Meade. Mansfield
and many others whose names are a part
of the fame of this republic
1.-The battle was the bloodest fought
in any single day during the entire war.
The losses were appalling"
Governor Waloott reviewed the historic
cal events Immediately following Antie-
tam's great struggle, ending In the is
suapce of the emancipation proclamation
and added:
ssThus for this nation and for the
world was the battle of Antietam worth
the costly sacrifices 1t entailed. Not in
vain was spilled the blood that Redeemed
these fields thirty-six years ago today.
Not in vain did you veterans of the Army
Of the Potomac struggle and endure.
the day of her peril and o united country
which holds no slave, is your fitting
During the lifetime of generation
the nation has enjoyed profound and
peace until this year the
forces of the great republic have been
arrayed against foreign foe. That foe
has been taught to dread the splendid
dash of American seamen and soldiers,
as well as to recognize their magnanimity
in the hour of triumph. But we, too,
have learned that the nation Is united as
it has not been since the early days OF tne
republic, that loyalty knows no sectional
ism and that ready obedtenoe to the coun-
try's call to duty Is bounded ny no state
lines, but Is co.extensive with American
"In dedioating this monument, the
Of Massachusetts, proudy
recalls the part which her. sons held IN the
great battle which has made this Held
forever memorable.
"GeneraI Carman, to you, as the repre-
of the national government, 1
now convey this Massachusetts monu-
nent to be forever guarded and preserved
Nv youraassociationnw like memorials
by other states of the union
In memory of a great battle stubhornly
infested by American soldiers and re-
,ulting happily for humanity and for the
nation whose sons here fought and
He'd
At the conclusion of his address, Gov
,rnor Walcott handed the deeds of the
iract OF land, upon which the monument
the United States government,
thus concluding the ceremonies.
HOwsa This