The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1903-12-17

t'f tht STATE nlVhunAtNta ~ tue Neif
Gus parks.
The largest sum 81 money $500
0o0l has been spont BY the govern.
ment IN the great park Of Cfiekamau.
"a and Chattanooga. which actually
comprises no fewer than seven battle.
ieldE--those OF Chlckamauea. WHu.
hatchle. Lookout Mountain. Orchard
Knob. Missionary Ridge. Tunnel Hiil
n Ringgold. Extraordinary pains
have been taken 20 restore this area
10 the condition In which Il Was at
the time OF the hghtlng. Roads opened
since that date have been closed,
and the battle roads been opened
aud improved. Tracts which since
the battle had become covered by a
heavy growth Of timber have been
cleared. and farmers are permitted 70
continue in occupancy Of their hold
ings only on condition that they shall
alter no buildings and cut down no
woods Of underbrush.
The great park comprises one large
area. the Chickamauga battlefield (ten
square miles Ia extcntl and several
smaller patches. connected by roads
All the roads over which the contend
ing armies moved have been eeded 10
the government by the State OF Geor
gia The Chattanooga portion consists
largely OF roads along the lines Of
battle on Missionary Ridge. and over
the point OF Lookout Mountain. which
have been similarly ceded by Tennes.
SEE the system being connected with
the ChickamauEa part OF the park by
the Lafayette road. leading through
the middle OF the principal scene OF
operations.
The Crest road on Missionary Ridge
extending eight miles affords one Of
the finest drives IN the country, over.
looking throughout It's extent the
plain OF C-hattanooga and the battle
field OF Lookout Mountain. From tall
steel towers erected at two prominent
points on the road the whole theater
OF the campaign can be overlooked. A
tract Of several acres has been Sc
cured about the former headquarters
Of Gen. Bragg on Missionary Ridge
Orchard Knob. headquarters OF Grant
and Thomas. Is part 81 the park. as Is
also the north end Of Missionary
Ridge. covering the ground Of Gen.
Sherman's assault. The roads and de-
tached reservations AFFORD excellent
facilities. through monuments, re-
stored batteries and historical tablets.
Tor the complete illustration OF all
movements on beth sides.
The loss 81 Chickamanea GO per
cent Ia two daysl vas greater than in
any other nght In the war. Al Get.
tysbnrg the loss vas 2S per cent in
three days. while AntietAm ~as doubt.
less the bloodlest battle of ona day
The government owns eighty miles Of
Improved roads IN this greatest Of bat.
tleaeld parks, the sire OF which may
be realised when Il 10 stated that tho
lines of battle about Chattanooga had
a front Of twelve miles, the main
Lriye from the north end Of Mission.
AIRY Ridge Ia the left Of the hghrnE
ground as ChiekamAuRa covering a
distance Of twenty miles and passing
through or overlooking the scene o.
severe connict between veterans Of
nearly all the great armies on both
the Union and Confederate sides.
A policy Of strict impartiality has
been pursued In the marking out %
the battlefield parks All the states.
twenty eight In number. Whirh we're
represented by troops ~ Chickamau.
"a. have bad commissions working
with the government commission In
the % the held Of seven
battles. All Of these states are now
erecting monuments. which the '
eminent ls experimenting with huge
pyramidal piles OF shells 20 mark the
/ places where brigade commanders,
federal or confederate. were KILLED or
mortaily wounded Rene Bache In
! Chicago Record-Heraid.