The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-09-09
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SEPTEMBER 9 1895
Virginia Battlehelds.

When congress meets next WinV0i "
will be asked to make an appropriation
for the purchase of lands in the vicin'
ity Of Fredericksburg. Va upon which
several Of the most famous battles OF
the war between the States were fought
Charlottesville. Spotsylvania Court
house, Fredericksburg, the Wilderness.
Salem Church and Todd's Tavern. 1t
has been said that 1.-THE actual compass
Of these six hattlefields was only about
10000 acres. and yet upon that small
area nearly 500 900 men were. at differ
ent times. engaged in struggle that
deluged this historic spot with blood,
and probably about 100 900 men were
killed, wounded and missing in these
memorable conflicts.
Northern and Southern soldiers who
fought in those famous battles are de-
sirous that the old landmarks lshall be
preserved, and to that end the Fred
ericksbprg and Adjacent Battlefelds
Memorial Park Association" has been
organized. with General Horatio o.
King as chairman. The Legislature of
Virginia has taken action necessary to
authorize the United States Govern
ment to acquire the territory, and the
proposition is that these sacred grounds
shall be purchased by the government
and converted into q national park.
1t is not q land boomers project.
None Of the men concerned, save one
owns foot Of the land, and the land
necessary to the project can be pur-
chased at an average Of s. 80 an acre.
Most Of it, it is said, will cost less than
% an acre. 1t is not proposed to retire
allIthese lands from cultivation. bat the
farmers who sell out to the government
will continue to operate their farms.
paying o small rental. and will agree
not to disturb such landmarks as still
exist, and will also agree to the erec-
tion Of suitable monuments at any
points which may hereafter be desig-
mated. The whole purpose is to pre-
serve intact the famous battlefields.
nd this seems to us most worthy OBJ
ect.
A map Of the territory has been pre-
pared by the association above-men.
toned. and the sum Of money acquired
from the government to carry out the
project will be mere trifle, compare
lively speaking.
The Times is in hearty sympathy
with the spirit and purpose of this as
ISOLATION. Westhink that the battle
fields should be preserved and the nota-
BILE points properly marked, and we
think. moreover, that the time is most
opportune for this work There was
time. perhaps, when the proposition
would have been resented by some of
the Southern people. 1t is we'll remem-
bered that when it was proposed few
years ago for the government to pur-
chase Appomattox and convert it int
battle park, objection was raised that
this would be to make a spectacle OF
the South's downfall, thus showing the
sentiment Of the Virginia veterans.
But no such objection could be raised
to the Fredericksburg scheme, for there
was no surrender there, but the bravest
and most heroic resistance on the part
of the Confederates and the victory was
theirs.
Apart from all this. we say that the |
time is opportune because sectionalism |
is dead, and now that Southern soldiers |
and Northern soldiers have fought to- |
gether under the Stars and Stripes |
against common foe, all the dead SOL
diers. who lie buried in American soil |
without distinction as to section, are
the nations honored dead Therefore |
1t seems to us meet and right and Pc
culiarly appropriate that this great and
important fact should be celebrated by
establishing here in Virginia at point |
half way between the capital of the
United States and the city which was
the capital Of the Oonfederacy a ua-
tional park, which shall be commemo.
rstive Of some Of the most gallant strug-
giles in the war between the States and
emblematic Of the new Union.
We cannot but think that the mem.
bers Of Congress will take this view
and appropriate the money necessary to
carry into effect the plans of the Fred
ericksburg and Adjacent National Bat
tlefelds and Memorial Park Associa-
tion. Editorial from Richmond Times
Of August o.