Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-09-18
THE PRESIDENT
Attends Dedication Of Monu-
ment on Antietam Battlefield
Erected BY State Of New Jersey to
Her Heroic Dead.
President Accepts Monument in Be.
half Of the Nation.

Sharpsburg, Nd, Sept. 17.-Under
lowering skies the monument erected
on the battlefield Of Antietam by the
state of New Jersey was dedicated, to-
day. The occasion was rendered nota-
Die by the participation in the cere-
monies of the President of the United
states and of Gov. Murphy, the chief
executive of the state which was hon
oring its heroes.
The special train bearing the Pres
iGenl, GOV. Murphy and their party. ar
rived here at 80 O'Clock. Gov. MUIR
fhy was accompanied by Senators
Kane and Dryden, by several promi-
nent state officials and by his military
stan Special trains brought nearly a
thousand New Jersey survivors of the
Civil war.
Inc trip of the President from JERSEY
Clty was devoid of any special incident
Alter daylight. crowds assembled at ey-
cry station to greet him. At Chambers
p'lrg' "a, he greeted the crowd cordially.
AZ liagerStown, Md, where the train was
switched to the Norfolk & Western. the
President left his breakfast table to adj
dress throng of several hundred ueon,a
He said:
i am on my way to accept on beba,f of-
the United States government the monu-
ment erected to the New JERSEY troo,s
who fought at Antietam. but in a ,aroar
sense. | go to commemorate the yalor Of
every man who in the days that tried
mems souls proved their true worth of
their endeavor in the service of the ma
uonal government" (Cheers).
~
Murphy, accompanied by Senators Kane
ana Dryden. their entire party and hun
dreds of citizens left Sharpsburg station
Tor the famous old Dunkard church on
the battlefield of Antietam There the
brlgades of veterans formed in columns
OF fours and escorted the President. Gov.
Murphy and their guests to the monu-
ment
Inc monument is in the form of an orn-
ate Corinthian column of granite 40 feet
Hgh. surmounted by a heroic figure In
bronze of an officer with appraised sword
leading his men in charge The figure is
intended as a representation of Captain
irish of the Thirteenth New Jersey vol
uhtecrs who was the only New Jersey
officer killed at Antfetam. After the as
semblage had been called to order by
James o. Smith of the New Jersey monu-
ment commission and an fnvoca ton had
been pronounced by Rev. DR.. Frazer OF
New York, Mr.. Smith reported to Gov,
Murphy on the work of the commission
On behalf of the state of New Jersey,
Gov. Murphy accepted the monument In a
pleasing address.
President Roosevelt, as he arose to ac-
pf hp
Federal government, was accorded an
ovation. He spoke as follows:
Governor Murphy, and you, Veterans Of
New Jersey. and you men of the Grand
Army. and all others here, l greet you:
ment to the troops of New Jersey who
Fought at Antietam, and ON behalf of the
nation | accept the gift. We meet today
upon one of the great battlefields of the
Civil War No other battle of the Civil
War lasting but one day shows as great
percentage of loss as that which oc-
CURED here upon the day on which An
tietam was fought Moreover in its ulti
mate effects this battle was of momentous
and even decisive Importance for when 1t
had ended and Lee had retreated south of
the Potomac. Lincoln forthwith published
that immortal paper, the preliminary dec
laration of emancipation, the paper which
decided that the Civil War, besides being
4 war for the preservation OF the Union,
should be a war for the emancipation OF
the slave, so that from that time onward
the causes of Union and of Freedom, OF
national greatness and Individual liberty.
We're one and the same.
Men of New Jersey, congratulate your
state because she has the right to claim
her full share in the honor and glory of
that memorable day; and / congratulate
you, Governor Murphy, because on that
day you had the high good fortune to
serve as a lad with credit and honor In
one of the five regiments which your
state sent to the battle. -Four OF these
regiments by the way, served in the d.
vision commanded by that gallant soldier,
Henry W. Slocum. whom we Of New York
can claim az our own. The other regi-
ment, that in which Governor Murphy
served, although practically an entirely
new regiment, did work as good as that
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