The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-01-18
CAMP GROUND MEMORIAL.
Plan to Erect One at Old Back Lane"
Camp in Hartford.

, sent out to veterans of the civil war
who were members of the several regi-
ments that encamped on the Back
Lane camp ground in Hartford:
Esteemed Friend and Comrade-The
state of Connecticut, through special
legislation (passed in the years 1S93-1S95
and 1890, has provided an appropria-
ton of $1,000 to each reglmental or bat
terry association that served in the War
of the Rebellion towards the erection
of suitable memorials or monuments,
either on some battlefield in which shch
organization was engaged or at such
place in Connecticut as such organiza-
ton shall prefer or decide upon at it's
annual meeting. Already several regi-
ments have erected their respective
monuments on the battlefelds of An
tietam, Gettysburg and other historic
localities.
Under the legislation above mentioned
it is competent for two or more of these
veteran organizations to unite in erect
ing a joint memorial at the same place
and avail themselves of Connecticut's
bounty
Many of the organizations which have
not yet awaited themselves of the states
generosity were among those that or
ganized and were mustered in at the
camp ground on what was then known
as Back Lane, now Camp Field avenue,
| in the southwestern part Of Hartford,
and they there received the elementary
| knowledge of q soldiers duties and
learned the rudiments of the art of war;
The Twenty and Twenty fifth
| Connecticut were among these organi-
cations, and at their respective reunions
in August and September, 1898, the vet
Grams of these two regiments decided
with entire unanimity to join with the
other regimental and battery associa-
tons of Connecticut volunteers, who
served in the War of the Rebellion and
who rendezvoused and encamped on the
| above mentioned field (camp field) and
! who are entitled to the appropriation
already mentioned. At these same
meetings it was also voted that the
\ monument to be erected should mark
! for all succeeding ages the exact loca-
ton of the assembling ground of so
many of the soldiers of the War of the
Rebellion, and that it should also COM
| memorate the particular organizations
that encamped on that field.
John c. Barker of Hartford, the pres
ent owner of large part Of the old
camp field, generously and gratuitously
gave an ample site for monument on
the most desirable part Of the field to
Captain John G. Root of Hartford and
others as trustees for the uses express
ed in said votes.
If our memories are correct, the Fifth,
Eighth, Tenth, Fourteenth, Sixteenth,
Twenty and Twenty fifth Con-
necticut regiments We're encamped on
this field during their early service and
until they were mustered into the ser
vice of the United States; and it is a
natural presumption that every one of
the survivors, and also the relatives Of
the deceased members of all these or
CARNATIONS, desire earnestly that this
field consecrated in their memory, shall
be so distinctly marked for all future
time that it's location can by no posi- |
bility ever become a matter of uncer |
tainty. At the present time there ex-
lists, neither through record or tradition, |
any knowledge of the exact spot in this
capital city of Connecticut where any
one of the numerous organizations of
the Revolutionary war was rendezvous
ed. If in another century the location
of our own home camps shall become
unknown, posterty will justly put the
blame on US. However, we have pro-
coeded so far although necessarily with
some informality) that a similar mis-
fortune to the memory Of our comrades
is scarcely possible. Yet a united ac-
ton on the part of all of US is impera-
lively needed to make our coming work
not only an enduring memorial, but
most worthy also of this historic spot.
The neighborhood and surroundings
of the old camp field are now in a most
beautiful part of the city, and nave
grown into a most attractive residential
district The magnificent park system
of Hartford will naturally enforce this
monument to become an important fea-
ture, since it is located at the converg
ing point of seven different approaches,
and will be directly in range of vision
for a long distance on each.
BY the terms of the deed from Mr..
Barker, the owner of the property, to
the trustees, we will be compelled to
erect monument at least $4,000 in val
ne, but we hope that we will raise $10,
900 for this purpose, and even more In
order to secure it's construction we ear
nestly appeal to all surviving veterans
to contribute according to their ability,
and we will gratefully receive and
acknowledge any and every
amount however small to the end that
the completed work shall be worthy of
our state and of you. We hope that by
next spring we will know how large an
amount of money we can depend upon,
and we will then be prepared to intelli-
gently decide upon it's style and cost.
Please forward all contributions to
Captain John G. Root, president of the
Farmers and Mechanics National bank
Of Hartford, and treasurer of this COM
mittee and we confidently hope that by
June l. 1885, we will be able to report ,
sufficiently large to war
rant the commencement of the work.
1t is of the highest Importance, not
only to us, but to each of you, that in
your letter enclosing your contribution Z
you give us your full present address,
and also the letter of the company and {
number of your regiment and your rank
when in service. All communications
asking for information, etc, addressed
TO General Julius S. Gilman, at these
will receive prompt at
Ln,t;