The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-20

ing miles of lines along the hills Tn the rear of the city and along the river front, and although the superior Union army aided by the skill of the best engineers tried in every way to carry the defenses' they never succeeded in taking single position inside the Confederate lines. When the latter surrendered it was from sheer exhaustion, because they had only sufficient men to hold the lines and they had to be at their posts night and day. watching and alert, eating and sleeping in the trenches and ready to jump to the parapets to repel an attack at any mo- ment. They were not starved out and never whipped out, but worn out by their own faithfulness.
 Wherever a Southern State or North f ern one had troops in that great event | markers are to be placed designating them. and each State Is to have a monu- ment to show that it cherishes the mem- ory of the deeds of the heroes who fought there so many years ago that they have | nearly all passed across the lines" and made their surrender to a power to which all must yield.
 So far there is but one monument in place, and that is the handsome bronze figure of a soldier standing on a rough
 powder, which Massachusetts recently placed in position, not far from the loca- | L1OH OI IL0 lOhuAudi SCAO VI OSAASA s@' 1 Grant. Near these positions have been designated for a number of other North ern monuments. The commission will have charge of these, and will, when they are in place, keep the grass green and the flowers blooming about them.
 The headquarters of all the Generals will be marked, as well as those of the troops.
 So far no Southern State has placed a monument or marked the positions Of It's men, but Louisiana has sent commits sion which has located the positions Of the troops from this State, and it only remains for the Legislature to make the proper appropriations for erecting the markers and the monument.
 Perhaps few people realize the promi- hence which Louisiana troops took In that siege, but trip with Captain Rigby will make it clear at once that no Southern State had more men there and that the Louisianians held especially important ano difficult places. which they defended with the greatest heroism. Along eight miles or trenches with forts and other works there are many places made famous by our soldiers, but one in particular deserves the attention of Louisianiane. It Is the position in the Confederate line which commanded an especially exposed and dangerous part of the defenses. A small fort on the apex of steep and narrow hill, from which almost every point In the great battle field. covering more than 1.2OO acres of rugged hills with precipitous sides leading to deep ravines ana mar row valleys, which must have been oeau- tiful in those spring days, and which are now among the South has, may be seen. Far across hills and valleys are the lines from which the Union forces kept up their fire; in the rear the hills between these lines and the city held by the Con federates; in front further extensions or the Union lines and stretching beyond towards and to the river the Confederate trenches and forts.
 It was the Third Louisiana which held that little fort, and it is called the Redan' There more men were killed than at any point in the battle field. The fort was three times attacked and blown up' ana a large portion of the top or tve nlll was removed, but the assailants were driven back every time and when the surrender took place the fort was still securely held. The 9th Missouri occu- pied a position in the rear of the fort, and when Logan's men sapped the hlll and blew up. the fort and rushed Tn to take the position the Missouri men dash ed up to the support of their comrades. and the attack was repulsed. There IS scarcely a more beautiful point to be conceived, nor one where the Louisiana monument would show to better advan- tage. Captain Rigby is enthusiastic about that position. and believes that Loulsl- ana should place her monument there hv all means. It is the most noted place in the battle field.
 There are many other prominent places which Louisiana will mark, but none that are superior to this one. From that posi- ton the road passes on, winding past the point where General Grant met General Pemberton and past the tort Whlch Gen- eral Stephen D. Lee commanded and which the Iowa troops. with which Cap tain Rigby served. attacked, and on the day before the surrender were so close to that the Confederates threw clods down on them. It Is quite coincidence that these two men, who were opposed to each other at that time should now be asso- ciated together on the Park Commission and the most devoted friends.
 The Commission is anxious that every spot made memorable by troops of either side should be marked. It will be years before it is done, and yet it should be done quickly, before those who were there have passed away. if possible. Louisiana has many reasons for doing something that will make her prominent there. She is. next to Mississippi. the closest State to the battlefield, and visitors to New Orleans and people from all over the State may readily visit it. She held inn- portant positions and fought as bravely as any State in the defense of the city. and she lost probably more men there than any other State.
 The Legislature of Iowa has devoted S15O.OOO to the purpose of building a mon-