The National tribune., 1901-11-14

in front of the city, so that now the river
proper only touches the town at its
southern extremity; but fine body Of
deep water, called Lake Centennial, still
through this that the great Government
work. now IN progress, expects to defect
the Yazoo River and thus replace the city
upon permanent water front.
The Confederate line of defense in 1858,
consisting oflredoubts. redans and lunets
on the higher points, connected by cur
tains of trenches or rifle pits, followed
high, rugged and almost unbroken ridge
from the river below, having an extension
of eight miles. From this main ridge
spurs set out frequently, separated the
one from the other by and ending abrupt
ly in deep and sharp ravines. No con-
tinuous ridge confronted the one occupied
by the Confederate line and the invest
ment line of the Union army was com
PEELED to cross the steep ridges and deep
ravines above described. The roughness
and ruggedness of this area cannot be ap-
preCiated without being seen. But while
this tended to make the place impregnable
against Grants assaults in 1863, when
taken in connection with the fine water
views added by the lake and river, it now
offers the most intrinscaIy beautiful
and picturesque location for great Ma
tional Park that could be found on the
continent.
THE PARK BOUNDARIES.
As the line or ridge held by the Con
federstes and assaulted and besieged by
the Federals was the battle ground, it will
be readily understood that it is closely
followed by the Park boundaries. These
have been established by the purchase for
the United States of 1,232.2S acres of
land including the entire Confederate
line upon the one side and also, for three
nd h.lf lac tl,n ,f,v. I,, ,nfvn
Federal line of Investment, with all the
ground between. This includes the points
of greatest historical interest and i'm
portance, and constitutes the main Park,
and is from one-third to one-half n mile
in width throughout. Sufficient land to
include the earthworks and to construct
avenues behind them. extend from this
main Park to the river above the city
along both lines, known respectively as
the North Confederate and North Federal
Wings. The South Confederate Wing is
also continuous to the river below, but
the Federal line will be shown by a series
of lOop-rOadways reaching the more i'm
pOrtant positions.
The plans of the Commissioners include
the construction of a macadamized Con
fedcrate avenue behind the Confederate
works from river to river, of a Federal
avenue from the east gate of the Ma
tional Cemetery to Fort Carrot. the south
end of the main Park, and of avenues
along the loops which constitute the
South Federal Wing-in all about 20
miles, not including the country roads,
which radiate from the city through the
Park like the spOkes of a wheel, and
which. within the Park limits, will be
to and improved by the Gov
When this shall have been
done, the works that frown upon each
other from the opposing hills restored
wit Ia hnlr in hn Il.lA
beautitied by memorial structures erected
by the several States to the valor of their
sons and illustrated by tablets showing
t - denI0ymept Of the armies and giving
the history OF each unit with its losses
when this shall have been accomplished |
where can the American citizen, young |
or old, find 50 interesting or inspiring a
scene or one better calculated to stir every
patriotic impulse.
The two and One-half years since the |
appointment of the Park Commission |
may not seem to have greatly advanced |
the purely constructive work that is in /
yolyed. But il has not been a lengthy |
accurate description OF each of Ill /
tracts Of land, varying in area from one |
Iftieth of an acre to 13O acres each and |
IF the most irregular shape; to negotiate /
with the respective owners sometimes q |
half dozen in a single casel. secure ade-
luate title papers. complete the transfers |
and make payments on the same: TO sur
rey and plot the main avenue, with the |
specifications necessary for grading con-
-racts; to study the official reports and |
he ground for the purpose of aiding in
he proper placing Of each individual Or
in its proper position; and to
secure complete Typographical survey of |
he Park, including the contiguous land
lpOn all sides. This last survey is just |
completed and the large typographical |
nap well advanced in preparation.
OF course in the placing Of regiments |
md batteries i'll the positions occupied by |
ZACH of them, respectively, during the |
siege and defense, great dependence must |
je had uDon the assistance Of the Com
missions from the various States inter
'Stcd, which are being sent by act Of the
Legislatures TO Eicksburg for that pur-
pose. These State Commissions have all.
20 far. been charged by the act: creating
hem with the further duty Of making
each to its own State,
Is to what seems necessary and desirable
o suitably commemorate, on this field,
he yalor Of those who maintained her
lOnOr here. Up to this time. under the
.haracter Of legislation indicated, the
Iicksburg National Military Park has
Jecn visited by State Commissions from
he following States, coming. in the order
Iamed: Massachusetts, Iowa. Rhode
sland, Mississippi and Ohio (came to-
,etherD. Minnesota, Missouri During
November and December OF the present
'ear like Commissions are expected from
Illinois, Wisconsin, New Hampshire,
Texas and Tennessee: and the Ohio Com
mission is to make a second visit.