The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-01-26
CHICKAMAUGA BATTLEFIELD.
Participants I'm These Battles Invited
to Inspect and Verify the Markings.


The following circular, sent with re-
quest that we notice same, is pub
lshed in full for the information of all
our readers who are interested in the
matter:
War Department,
Chickamauga and Chattanooga
National Military Park Commission,
Washington, January Is, 1900.
The Chickamauga and Chattanooga
National Part commission, in order to
ecure the greatest possible accuracy
in its work, embracing historical text
on tablets and monuments, landmarks
designating lines of battle and impCr-
tant localities pon the seven battle
fields included in the park project, has
selected Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday, October 9, 10, and IL, 1900,
for a general inspection OF the work
of h commission.
AS the substantial memorials erected
on these fields will endure for centuries
all veterans, n the states which sent
them forth, are interested in handing
down a correct history of the deeds of
valor which were there performed. As
the history Of every regiment IN bat
terry is briefly set forth either upon
monuments erected by the government
III - -NcNNS - Ill ~D10o
by the government, IL will be seen that
every SLIDER in the c~ontending armies
has a personal interest in correcting
possible errors, to the end that only
truth may be perpetuated in granite
and bronze.
For these eason the commission de-
sires to Secure the attendance of the
various parties in interest, namely, the
congress, which will be asked to APP
point a committee CT examination: the
governors of all states which had SOL
diers engaged in the BATTLE, through
such officials as they may select; the
state monument commissions which
have ~cO-Operated with the national
commission in the establishment of the
park: the veterans of the regimental
and battery organizations engaged on
either side, and the general and staff
officers of the various armies engaged.
1t is believed that the attendance of
enough of each of the classes named
can be relied upon to render certain the
detection of any errors of m in
the monumental inscriptures, or localf-
It's. or the general historical tablets,
and in the designations of the lines Of
battle. While the n of the veter-
ans of the fields have sOrrowfully dl-
miniShed, enough remain to inspect and
i~nteliigently correct all errors and as
sist, before it becomes impossible to Sc
cure Sucn general anu ullllCu tllOl u,
in insuring historical accuracy in the
restoration of the notable fields of
Chickamagua, Wauhatchie, Browns
I Ferry, Orchard Knob, Lookout Noun
tain, Missionary Ridge, and Ringgold
Gap, all of which are embraced in the
park project, and upon each of which
the lines of battle have been establish
ed and and markers
erected
A. tho tima named tbera will he he
tween 1900 and 1,400 tablets on these
fields for inspection, over half of which
are the large historical plates, and 22S
of which are the historical plates on
monuments. There will De 511 locality
tablets for verificatiOn, $50 regimental
markers of fighting positions besides
those occupied by the regimental
monuments, and lis battery tablets,
making. with 80 to be erected during
the coming season, over 1000 tablets
for examination, besides several hun
dred BATTLE positions of brigade lines.
While no group of visitors can make
a full inspection of the great number
of tablets, monuments, and other mis-
torical markers, it is hoped that each
brigade and division will have enough
representatives present to insure the
correction Of any errors in which they
may be directly interested, and by
combined effort accomplish what. in
the aggregate, will be q comprehensive
inspection of all the work thus far &C
cOmpIished in the establishment of the
park.
The Army of the Cumberland and
the society of that army, embracing
many of it's most prominent officers,
will hold a joint reunion at Chattanoo-
ga upon the dates named, and all the
regimental battery associations of that
army are requested either to appoint
their NEXT reunions at the same time
and place., or to send commjdtees in or
der that the assistance of the veterans
of that army, which Ia thus far been
most enthusiastically rendered during
tn establishment of the park, may be
secured for the proposed inspection,
which will az the same time probably
be the last general reunion on these
fields OF those who fought there.
This invitation. coupled with an ur-
| gent request to attend, is extended TO
the individual members Of all army
societies and posts interested in these
battles, both union and confederate,
and to the individuals of each of the
armies engaged. There is, however, nc
appropriation from which expenses of
visitors can be paid.
Efforts will be made by the park
commission to secure low fares from all
points, and the unbroken record of
Chattanooga in accommodating large
crowds makes it certain that there will
be no increase in hotel, boarding house,
or restaurant rates, and no exorbitan;
charges of any kind. The dates fixed
pon are generally those of delightful
weather for Chattanooga and vicinity.
For the Commission:
H. V. BAYNTON,