Evening star., 1898-09-17
ON THE ATTLEFIELD
Observation-Disclosures Troops Mon
ument Dedicated.
THE CEREMONIES At ANTIETAM
Governor WoIcott's Impressive Ad-
dress of Acceptance.
a D E S CRIPTION OF IT

HAGERSTOWN Md. September 17.--The
handsome monument erected to the mem
cry of the Massachusetts troops who fought
and fell on the battlefield of Antietam WAS
dedicated this afternoon with impressive
ceremonies in the pre- senCc of a large del.-
cation of prominent men from the bay state
and number of citizens of Hagerstown
and vicinity. Governor Wolcott of Massa-
chusetts delivered the dedcatory address
The monument which was covered today
with handsome floral offerings. stands on
Il mound at the corner of Hagerstown pike
and Corntield avenue, purchased several
years ago by the Massachusetts authorities
1t is exceedingly simple and chaste in de-
sign. is made of Milford granite and in the
renaissance style of architecture. \ wreath
of laurel adorns the front and entwines the
coat of arms of Massachusetts forming a
centerpiece for the following inscription:
Erected by the commonwealth of MasSa-
chusetts to mark the position held by their
troops the battle of Antietam, Septem-
Der XVII, MDCCCLXII."
The Monument.
A buttress on either side of the center
stone bears a bronze tablet inscribed with
the numbers of the regiments from Massa-
chusetts which participated in the fight.
18th, 18th, 18th, 10Th, 21st, 22d, 2sth. 10Th.
32d and 18th Infantry, LIST Cavalry 1st. Sd
and Sth Batteries and 1st and ID companies
of shdrpShoOters.
The reverse side of the monument holds
bronze tablet covering almost its entire
surface and containing a diagram of the
battlefield, showing the positions held by
the Massachusetts troops on the day of the
fight. Messrs. Winslow and Wetherell of
Boston are the architects.
The dedtcatCry exercises We're opened BY
Maj. Gen. Samuel Dalton, adiutant general
of the state of Massachusetts, who, in "A
brief address, on behalf of the committee
having in charge the building of the monu-
ment, formally turned it over to the repre-
sentatives of the state, headed 10y Gov.
Wolcott. Gov. Wolcott, in accepting it, re-
viewed the historical events Immediately
following Antietam's great struggle, ending
in the issuance of the emancipation procla-
nation, and added:
Thus for this nation and for the world
was the battle of Antietam worth the cost
ly sacrifice 1t entailed. Not in vain was
spilled the blood that Redeemed those fields
thirty-sfx years ago today. Not in vain did
you veterans of the Army of the Potomac
struggle and endure. You offered your
lives to your country in the day of her peril
and a united country which holds no slave
Is your fitting monument.
During the lifetime of a generation the
nation has enjoyed profound and .Iuinter-
rupted peace, until this year the forces Of
against a foreign foe. That foe mas been
taught to dread the splendid dash of Amer
lean scamen and soldiers. as well as to
recognize their magnanmity in the hour of
triumph.
Lessons OF the War.
But We, too, have learned soma things
from the present war, now happily ended.
We cave learned that the nation is rn:tcd
as it has not been since the early days OF
u t,la,
alism and that ready obedience 20 the cour-
tn'y's cali to duty is bounded by nc state
lines, but is coextensive with American
citize nship. We have learned, too that
the valor of the sires has not bean lost in
transmission to the sons, that the gallant
youth of today are ready to offer their
lives IN their country's service as have been
the men of this favored lani at every crisis
in its history: that the republic has a sure
defense against all perfls, domestic or for
eigri, i'll the devotion and coinage of her
sons.
In dedicating this monument the COM
monwealth of Massachusetts proudly re-
calls the part which her sons bore in the
great battle which has made this field for
ever memorable. Sixteen regiments of in
fantry, one regiment of cavalry, three bat
teries of artillery and two companies OF
sharpshooters constituted her contribution
to the Union army on that fateful day, and
about one-eighth Of the total loss was hers
May this granite monument symbolic her
gratitude and the permanency of their
fame What the issue of that day wrought
will, however, outlast the granite or the
stored bronze
General Carman, to you as the repre-
sentative of the national government now
convey this Massachusetts monument. TO be
forever guarded and preserved by your as
sociaton with like memorials contributed
by other states of the Union in memory OF
great battle stubbornly contested hv
American soldiers and resulting happily
for humanity and for the nation whose
sors here fought and died.
At the conclusion of his address Gov
error Woicott handed the deeds to the
tract of land upon which the monument is
erected to General A. z. Carman repre-
senting the United States government thus
concluding the ceremonies