The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-06
HOT WEATHER CAMP.
ChicIxamauga Park May BE Used rs a
Rendezvoua for TroOps.

WASHINGTON, April 5.-The War De-
partment and the general of the army are
considering the question of utilizing the
eleven square miles which the government
owns at the Chickamauga Military Park
as the point for concentrating troops In the
South Tor organization and instruction and
also as tive location of such reserves as may
be needed for the gulf and south Atlantic
fortfficatiofs from New Orleans to Charles
ton Such portions of the reserve as might
be needed could reach any of these forth
fications in twelve hours from Chicka-
manga. When not needed they would be in
healthier camps than on the coast in hot
weather. A railroad with two stations at
the parks skirts its western boundary. There
are five thousand acres of open woods from
which all underbrush has been removed and
500 acres of dry fields, the whole suitable
for excellent camps. Immediately after the
passage of the bill making this park ma
tional manehvering ground, the park COM
mission began to consider the question of
securing an abundant water supply and to
distribute it with q view to furnishing the
best camping grounds. In addition to six
excellent springs and five ordinary wells
eight artesian wells have been sunk in such
places as TO afford the best results for
camps. Locations for four more of these
wells have been just erected by the commits
sion and. preparations have been made for
sinking them at once in case the decision
Iqr military contemplation there is reached.
provided with excellent camps. In the clear
ing out of the forests the idea Of the park
becoming the army manuvering ground was
kept in view by the commission and its
orders were to leave room everywhere Suf11-
Gent for teams and batteries TO drive be-
tween the trees. AS result every portion
of the eleven square miles is practicable for
wheels. All portions of the park are
reached by the best roads which the gov
eminent would construct. There is ample
room to camp fifty thousand troops.
AS the Chickamauga river which is fed
by mountain streams. bounds the park for
several miles. there is abundant water for
horses of the cavalry, artillery and trans
portation. The entire park is high and dry.
none of II being subject to overflow. The
surrounding region is largely forest, and
wood for the camps will be cheap. As Il
ground for practical rnanuvering and tacti-
cal instructions on the field of actual fight
ing, the best professional soldiers in the
army regard it's advantages as unsurpassed.
No other location possesses such ground.
over lUVOOc men fought for two days with
in the present limits of the park. All the
lighting Tires and all the lines of tactical
movements have been ascertained. and
marked and are concisely explained on his
torical tablets The roads over which the
opposing armies moved to battle and OPP
government and the more important of these
have been improved. The road mileage of
the park system is one hundred miles and
traverseS seven distinct battiefelds. For
these reasons officers of high rank regard
the park as a military possession of special
Importance at the present time.
General Miles said to-day that the only
regiment thus far ordered to Chickamauga
was the Twenty fifth Regiment of coored
infantry. and. so far as the present inten-
tons are concerned they are to stop there
only temporarily. on their way to Key
West and Dry Tortugas. to which place
ago