The National tribune., 1901-11-14

- VI 'AN.AA'2i' .AN'''
! tive struggle fact that tes,ifies more
! than mere words to the herosm and valor
/ of the garrison.
Such, in brief and imperfect outline. is
the chapter of history that has made the
name of Vicksburg as well and widely
! known as that of any of the worlds great
/ battlefelds. Its result was unqucstion-
ably more potent in effect upon the pend
/ ing struggle than that of any single opera
! ton of the war. For not only was an
army of more than 10000 men destroyed
| for present usefulness and very large ca u
/ lures made of munitions of war QT2
pieces of artillery and 10000 stands of
| small arms at Nicksburg alonel. but the
/ great inland waterway came permanently
| into Federal use and control, the Confcd-
eracy was cut IN twain and the east shut
! off from the desperately needed food pro-
ducts of western Mississippi, Louisiana,
! Texas and Arkansas.
INITIATION OF PARK PROJECT.
Under these circumstances it almost
seems strange that it was so late as 1895
before the matter of establishing a Ma
! tlonal Park here was even agitated To
Capt. John L. Merry, comrade of the
Grand Army from Dubuque, Iowa. well
known throughout the West and South,
belongs tue honor Of finally taking the
initiative in the matter, as well as Of
lending most valuable aid in carrying it
10 success. 1t was during farmers CON
! yention in Nicksburg in February, 1899
that the presentation to Capt. Merry for
signature Of petition asking Congress
to appropriately mark or designate some
of the more notable lines and forts" Sug-
ecsted to his mind the greater project.
| 10 think was TO act, and through the
Iowa delegation to the National Encamp-
ment, g. A. r., at Louisville. that wear.
the passage by that body of a resolution
asking Congress to establish such park
was secured. Through the directions and
efforts Of Capt. Merry, meetings were
called and held at Nicksburg in October
and again IN November of the same year
| attended by prominent participants in the
campaign from both North and South and
resulting III the organization and incOr-
poTatiOn under the laws of NIississinpi of
the Nicksburg National Military Park As
SoclatIon for the express purpose OF pro-
noting the desired action by Congress
The first officers of the Association were
as follows: President, Gen. Stephen ID.
Lee. of Mississippi; Nice-Prcsident, Mai
c. l.. Davidson, Of Iowa: Secretary,
Capt. VIM. T. Rigby, of Iowa: Treasurer,
Col. {. 9. fIOweree. of Mississippi
Directors. the officers already named and
Governor John NJ. Stone, Capt. w. w.
Stone and Capt. f.. $. Butts. of Missis-
Sppi; Ex-Governor W. ID. Hoard, Gen.
Lucius Fairchild and Gen. A. e. Wcis-
- IT, VI w iSiyiNili. ven. NTpDfEp T.. Nc
Ginnis, Gen. ]. y. Walker and Rear-Ad-
miral George Brown, Of Indana Gen A.
J: Vaughn and Gen. w. II. Jackson, of
Tennessee; Col. Fred Grant, of New
York; Cen. Robert Mccullough, Of Mis-
souri,; Gen. e. A. Alger, of Michigan:
Cen. t. \. Wanl, Of Texas; Col. J. X. 2.
Thompson, Of Iowa; Gen. John b. Cor
don, of Georgia; Col. ]. G. Everest, Of
Illinois; Gen. +. w. Pettus, of Alabama;
Col John z. Rae. of Minnesota.
Subsequently the BOARD OF Directors
was enlarged, and in this way and to fill
vacancies caused by death or resignation
the following were from time to time
Arthur, Gen; John McNuta and Gen.
Poseph Stockton, OF Illinois; Gen. ]. s.
hountz and Gen. A. HickenlOoper. of
Ohio; Col. Nelson Cole. Gen. f. NJ. Cock
rel and Maj. Leo Rassieur, of Missouri:
Maj: b: NJ. Harrod. of Louisiana; Gen.
Humphrey, of Michigan; Gen. John NJ.
Wilson. of the District of Columbia
Hon. William NJ. Olin, of Massa-
Ghusetts; Maj, s. A. Losch and Gen.
J; p; S. Goblin, of Pennsylvania;
Gen: John Il. Sanborn. OF Minnesota
During all this time vacancies were
caused by the designations of Directors
jackson, Alser, Walker and Mccullough,
ana by the death of Directors John NJ
Stone, Leggett, Vaughn, Fairchild,
Davidson Rae. McNuIta, Humphrey,
Cole and LOsch.
..
March !. 1899, Lieut. Gen. Stephen d.
Lee, of Mississiuui Capt VIM. T. Rigby.
OF Iowa, and Capt. James G. Everest, of
Illinois, We're appointed Commissioners
under the provisions of the act of Feb,
y, 1899. establishing this park. The
Commission at once organized by the cleo
ton of Gen. Lee as Chairman, Gen. John
s. Kountz as Secretary and Historian.
and G. l.. Longley as Clerk-the last two
selections being approved by the Secre
tary of War. March -. 1899 the Com
mission met again in Vicksburg and en-
tered actively upon the great work be-
fore it.
PRESENT DAY APPEARANCE.
No place on the Mississippi River be-
| tween st. Louis and New Orleans has a
more beautiful and healthful location than
Vicksburg. Situated upon range OF
hills from 100 to 300 feet above the wa
ter level, in the olden time the river swept
twice at Its feet-the channel first running
nearly northward and then turning south.
ward, W. iv.S .RrroW peninsula be-
tween the two. IA 16YA durino hioh me-