The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-04-17
FREDERICKSBURG
NATIONAL PARK.
A Plea for Recognition by Congress of
the Claims of the Eastern Armies.
BY GEN. HORATIo c. KING.

The bill for the establishment Of a Ma
tional Park embracing the four great bat
tlefelds of Fredericksburg, Councillors
vile, the Wilderness, and Spottsyfvania,
has passed the Senate twice and been ia
vOrably reported by the House Military
Committee. 1t now awaits again the
pleasure OF Speaker Henderson.
The War Department has recently re-
ported some interesting figures touching
the appropriation for the several parks,
which show an extraordinary Partially on
the part OF Congress for the West In the
East. Antietam, which is practically COM
pleted, has cost S132, 237, and Gettysburg
1923, 800, while the parks at Chattanooga
and Chckamauga, Shiloh and Vicksburg,
have cost in the aggregate, S2,215, 261, or
more than four times as much as has been
appropriated for the East. Two-thirds of
the casualties in the great war occurred
in the Eastern armies while fOur-fifths
Of the appropriations go to the West.
The opposition to this new park by a
minority of the committee is based mainly
on the fact that there are a number OF
like applications from the West, which
should be considered together. But not
one has the claims which Fredericksburg
and vicinity present. The many reasons
in its favor are most interesting, and in
have been almost forgotten. Troops from
every State, North and South were here
arrayed in battle to the number of half
a million; and more troops were here en-
gagged than in any other battle in
the worlds history. The losses in
killed, wounded and missing in both
armies aggregated 129,S3S. The mum
Der of general officers killed was
unprecedented. They included on the
Union side, Maj.-Gens. John Sedgwiek,
Hiram G. Berry, and Amiol w. Whipple;
Brey. Maj.-Gens. James S. Wadsworth
and Alexander Hays; Brig.GeDs. Geo. ID.
Bayard, Conrad +. Jackson, Edmund
Kirby, James G. Rice, and Thomas G..
Stevenson; and on the Confederate side,
Lieut-Gen. Thomas j. (StonewalD Jack
son; BrigaGens. Thos Il. X. Cobb, Junius
Daniel, Abner Perrin. Maxy Gregg, Il. p
Paxton, j. NJ. Jones, Leroy 4. Stafford
and Micah Jenkins.
Here is the largest National Cemetery
in the United States. 1t contains the re-
mains of 1880 Union soldiers.
The battlefelds embrace an area OF
about 5000 acres, which can now be pur-
chased at an average of IS per acre. The
intrenchments are still in remarkable
state Of preservation, but are likely Soon
to be Ubliterated by the destruction of the
forests for timber, already falling prey
to the portable sawmills.
Under the act of the Legislature of Vir
GINA, the land may be condemned at its
fair value, and speculation is thus pre-
vented.
No member of the large commission OF
217, composed about equally of Union and
Confederate veterans. can have any cap
Ital stock or declare any dividends, as this
corporation is not organized for pecuniary
or personal gain or benefit" (Act of Leg
islature of Virginia, Section H.
1t is equi-distant from Washington and
Richmond it is on a great trunk line, and
is accessible from the National Capital in
one hour and 45 minutes. The climate
will permit access at all seasons. No area
in the world will attract more visitors.
1t is nearer the center of population of
both Northern and Southern soldiers than
any other military park in the country
and readily accessible to all. and it af-
fords also the best facilities for the con
l-centration, instruction, and mobilization of
a great army.
Fredericksburg has other attractions OF
an earlier period. Here is the home OF
the mother of Washington, and here she
was buried. Her residence remains in,
tact, and Il handsome monument has been
erected to her memory by the Daughters
of the American Revolution.
1t was near the Falls of the Rappahan
mock, now within the limits of the city OF
Fredericksburg, that Capt. John Smith
anchored his little vessel and fought the
Indians in 1908.
Near Fredericksburg was opened the
| first iron mine ever worked in America
from the products of which were made the
cannon balls and cannon that served tn;
Colonies in their battles for freedom.
| Near this city, also, Virginia's famous
Governor Spotswood, whose name is still
green in the annals of America, had hi.
home.
Near Fredericksburg. also, George
! Washington was born, and in that city
spent his bcyhood days with his mother
growing into the man who was to make
the greatest civil and military record in
history, From that historic town he went
to join the army under BraGdock, and be-
gan the career that made him immortal
| Fredericksburg is the most historic spot
of q most historic State. Almost within
| sight of its steeples were born some OF
| the foremost men of the country-Wash-
| ington, Monroe, Jefferson, Madison, the
| Lees, both of the Revolution and great
| war, and Zachary Taylor.
In Virginia the war began and ended,
and not an acre of this soil, cOnsecrated
by the loss OF more men than on all the
other battlefelds of the great war, has yet
been dedicated us National Park.
1t has received the official approval of
the Secretary of War, of the Grand Army
| of the Republic, of the Society Of the