The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-23

ericksburg. the Wilderness. Salem Church
and Iod's Tavern II has been said that
the actual compass OF these six battle.
fields was only about 10000 acres. and yet
upon that small area nearly 10000 men
were at different times engaged in a
struggle that deluged this historic spot
with blood. and probably about 1a.O0
men were Killed, wounded and missing in
these memorable conflicts"
Northern and Southern soldiers who
fought IN those famous battles arc de
sirous that the old landmarks shall be
preserved, and TO that end the Fred
cricksburg and Adjacent Battleaclds Me
mortal Park Association" has been or
ganized. with General Horaiio c. King as
chairman The Legislature OF Virginia
has taken action necessary TO authorize
the United States government 10 acquire
the territory and the proposition is that
these sacred grounds shall be purchased
by the government and converted into a
national park.
IL is not a land boomers project. None
Of the men concerned. save one owns a
foot OF the land and the land necessary
to the project can be purchased al an ave
rage Of $50 an acre. Most of II II is
said. will cost less than s. an acre. II Is
not proposed to retire all these lands from
cultivation, but the farmers who sell ont
to the government will continue 10 one. |
rate their farms. paying a small rental and
viii agree not to disturb such landmarks |
as stll exist and will also agree 10 the |
erection of suitable monuments at anv |
points which may hereafter be designated
The whole purpose is to preserve intact
the famous baNlehelds and this seems 10
us a most worthy object.
map OF the territory has been pre-.
pared by the association above mentioned
and the sum OF money acquired from the
government TO carry out the project will
be a mere trine, comparatively speaking
The Times Is in hearty sympathy with
tho spirit and purpose of this association
We think that the battleheds should be
preserved and the notable points pronerlv
marked and we think. moreover tho, ,ho
time Is most opporune for this work.
mere was time, perhaps. when the nro-
position would have been resented nv
some OF the Southern people. 1t is well
that when it was proposed
few years ago for the government n
purchase Appomattox and convert It into
b battle park, objection was raised that
his would be to make a spectacle Of the
'outh's downfall, thus showing the sen.
iment of the Virginia veterans. But no
uch objection could be raised to the
scheme. for there was no
urrender there, but the bravest and most
eroic resistance on the part OF the Con. :
ederates and the victory was theirs.
Apart from all this. we say that the
line Is opportune because secuonausm
8 dead and now that Southern soldiers
nd Northern soldiers have fought to-
ether under the Stars and Stripes against -
common foe. all the dead soldiers. who
q buried in American soil without dis -
notion as TO section are the nations Z,
onored dead. Therefore it seems 10 us
rect and right and peculiarly appro-
rate that this great and important fact II
lould be celebrated by establishing here IN
Virginia at point half way between n,
10 capital Of the United States and the al
ty which was tho capital of the Con- II
deracy national park. which shall be DC
of some of the most gal e'
Mt struggles I'm the war between the
ates and emblematic of the new Union. WI
We cannot but think that the members If,
Congress viii take this view and ap-
opriate the money necessary 10 carry
% effect the plans Of the Fredericks- II
re- and Adjacent National Battlefield va
d Memorial Park Association. tel