The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-07-27
Fredoricksburg Battleaelds PARK.

The fredericksburg Battlehelds PARK.
The Washington, ID. o, Post, Of
Tuesday says:
"Ool ID. ID. Wheeler and Col Ohas
Bird, the two army officers who re-
Gently visited the battleheds in and
around fredericksburg. have submitted
their report 10 the War Department
Their report, Of course. is merely sup
Elementary 10 the efforts which have
already been made by the Battlefield
Memorial Park Association, but its val
nc lies in the fact that the inspection
by the officers saves much time previ-
Gus TO the expected passage Of the bill.
When the matter again comes before
Congress, it will not be necessary TO refer
il 10 the War Department for action,
as the views Of competent officers have
already been secured There has been
the utmost harmony between the Off
GERS and members Of the association,
the result being a new bill which will
be presented TO Congress at the next
session The changes omit the pro.
posed purchase Of land in Stafford
county and streets in Fredericksburg,
and extend the Salem Church battle
field some distance 10 the south The
boundaries Of the Charlottesville field
have been modified and the point
where Lee and Jackson held their last
interview has been omitted
The report first mentions the cordial
reception given to the officers at Fred
ericksburg and then makes the follow.
ing recommendations
First. that the provision for the
purchase Of ground in Stafford county
be stricken out for the following rea-
sons: While the Army Of the Potomac
was encamped for one winter in front
Of Fredericksburg, in Stafford county,
and the Philips place was occupied
by Gen Burnside, while commanding
the army, as his headquarters, and
great number of batteries Of artillery,
consisting Of reserve artillery and bat
teries detailed from different organiza'
tions, were massed on Washington
Heights and in the vicinity Of the
Lacy House and on the hills back Of
Falmouth taking part in the attack on
fredericksburg and the height in the
rear Of that city. no battles were fought
no lives lost in action, it is thought,
in Stafford county, at the point men
toned in the bill before Congress.
These heights and hills can be
studied and seen from almost any di-
rection in that vicinity The land and
buildings in Stafford embraced In the
bill are, from their situation, expensive
and would cost more than, in our opin
ion, would be justitiable at this time.
CITY STREETS TOO EXPENSIVE.
"As to the city streets mentioned in
the bill. we do not see the necessity Of
including them in the park. They are
at present lined with private resi-
dences, and it seems 20 us better that
they should remain under the jurisdic
ton of the city and be improved and
kept in order by the city, as other
streets are, and we recommend that
they be stricken from the bill This
does not, however, include the roadway
described in the bill as the telegraph
road, from the gate Of the National
Cemetery to the sunken road, and from
the latter hence 10 Hanover street,
which is not within the city limits
and not subjected therefore, to city
jurisdiction. This short piece Of road
lying along the historic stone wall and
at the foot Of Marye's Heights. should
DO enclosed in the park. "
The report describes certain minor
changes proposed in the park territory,
and concludes as follows: We found
the earthworks on the various fields in
an excellent state Of preservation and
think there will be no difficulty in clear
ly defining the various lines Of battle.
The whole region proposed to be en-
braced within the limits Of the park is
full of historic interest, not only for
the memorable battles which took place
there during the civil war, but for the
many important events that have &C.
cured there during and long antedating
the Revolution. At the old courthouse
in Spotsylvsnia we saw records going
back to 17l2. The first settlement
Of that region was made shortly after
Jamestown. "