The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-07-04
There are gratifying indications that

There are gratifying indications that
the labors of our Battleflelds Park Asso'
citation will be rewarded with success
by the action Of Congress at its next
session. The Free Lance feels the full
est assurance that the three most capable
army officers and agents Of the govern
ment, who recently inspected the
areas Of the four great conflicts at
Fredericksburg and the contiguous sec
ton, will make favorable report, and
that during the next Congress there
will be prompt action on the establish
ment by Congress Of this great
Battlehelds Park. The Free Lance
is assured of the hearty inter
est and advocacy of Senator Martin
and Of Congressman James Hay OF the
military committee of the House.
There are three grand National Parks;
one at Gettysburg. one at Vicksburg'
and one at Ohicamauga. The battle
OF Gettysburg was, all things consid'
cred the most important of the war.
The spot where Armstead fell within
the federal lines on the crest Of Gene
terry Ridge, was the highwater mark
Of the CQpfederacy. and there the re-
fluent wave started that was to finally
expend itself at Appomattox 1t was
most natural that the government should
convert that historic field into mem
orial park. But 1t is to be regretted
that a broader sentiment has not pre-.
vailed in the erection Of that park. and
that the South has not been permitted
to there mark by monuments the local
Titles where the herOism OF her sons
was conspicuously displayed. And
surely never did the ensanguined field
Of Mars. in any sge OF in any land, wit.
ness a loftier courage than was dis.
played in Pickett's charge The truth is
that in almost every great battle Of the
war the daring and devotion Of the
American soldier were signslly shown
whether he followed the Union or the
Confederate colors and the time has
now happily come when there is no dis
position, in the North or In the South,
to disparage the manhood and the pa
triotism Of those who marched TO death,
as lightly as 10 dance. whether they
wore the blue or were clad in the gray
And the four great battles Of Freder-
ioksburg, Charlottesville the Wilder
ness and Spotsylysnia Court House AT
ford the most exalted instances Of
sublime courage in each Of the contend
ing armies. The contemplation Of
these fields is calculated TO exalt the
patriotism and inspire the pride OF
American citizenship, no matter to
which section of our common country
the beholder may belong. The editor
ial Of the Washington Post which was
republished in The Free Lance Of last
Tuesday closed with sentiment which
we cordially repeat In the name Of a
reunited country let these battleflelds
be preserved"
Although Virginia was the principal
theatre Of the four years conflict that
began at Manassas and ended at Apo
mettox, no National Park has as yet
been established upon her blood-drench.
ed soil. A rapidly growing public
sentiment recognizes the propriety OF
the purchase by the government Of
these Spotsylvania battle6elds for the
purpose of preserving to posterity the
visible scenes and signs Of those memor.
able conflicts. The landmarks Ct the
battles the trenches, breastworks and en-
brasures are wonderfully preserved, and
they ought%o be secured at once by the
government so that in the future there
shall be no obliteration. They will thus
afford object lessons for the student OF
strategy. and the military art. as dis
played by the greatest captains whom
the war produced on either side. The
field Of Waterloo is constantly resorted
to by the military students Of Europe,
and frequently also by American stu
dents Of the art Of war. Nowhere can
this science be studied under such
favorable circumstances as upon these
Virginian battlehelds in the vicinity Of
Fredericksburg.
There 10 another and most inhuen.
tial consideration for the appropriation
Of these battlefelds by the government
They will form a spacious. convenient,
accessible, and sslubrious arena for
military encampment. The inadequate
provision for such suitable grounds on
an emergent call was forcibly and