The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-09-19
Correspondence Baltimore COUNTY Union.
MARYLAND'S GREAT BATTLE-FIET,D
Anniversary of Battle Of Antietam-Mon-
ument to New Jersey Soldiers on Ma
ryland SoiI-President Roosevelt.
Governor Murphy and Five
Hundred New Jersey Vet
Grams Participate.


SHARPsBURG, Nd, September 10th. 1903.
Messrs. Editors THE anniversary of the battle
of Antietam, which occurred September nth
1862, will be observed here tomorrow (Thursdayj
with more than usual interest and ceremony
The fact that the monument erected by the
State of New Jersey in grateful remembrance of
her gallant sons who fought on this feld, will
be dedicated tomorrow will add additional in
terest to the event. Elaborate arrangements
have been made for the dedication exercises
and if the present good weather continues
doubtless great crowd will gather from vari-
Gus places to witness them. President Roose-
welt, escorted by Gov. Franklin Murphy, of New
Jersey, and his staff and Senators Kean and
Dryden are expected to arrive here about 8
O'Clock tomorrow morning by special train.
About 800 war veterans from New Jersey are
also expected to arrive at Hagerstown about
O'Clock this afternoon, where they will remain
over night, arriving here tomorrow morning in
time for the exercises. 1t is also probable that
Senator Louis L. McComas will accompany the
Presidential party.
The exercises at the monument will consist of
reading of the report of the Monumental Com
mission by President James D. Smith, after
which the monument will be formally turned
over to Gov. Murphy in behalf of New Jersey,
and the Governor in turn will present it to the
United States, and President Roosevelt will de-
liver a speech of acceptance ON behalf Of the
Government. The monument, together with
the New Jersey markers, which cost 81 200 addi-
tional, will later on be transferred to the Gov
eminent by deed of conveyance.
President Roosevelt, Gov. Murphy and their
party will probably leave shortly after the cere-
monies are completed, and the Jersey war vete-
rams will leave at p NJ. en- route to Gettysburg.
where they will remain until ] P. NJ. Friday,
visiting the various points of interest on the
battlefield.
The monument, which is of Westerly granite,
is 45 feet high, surmounted by the life size figure
of a soldier in bronze, his right arm extended
grasping a sword. The shaft is round, * feet
in diameter. and the base is q hexagon. On the
sides of the hexagon are bronze plates on which
are cast in raised letters the history of the New
Jersey regiments at the battle of Antiefam.
This monument is one of the numerous attrac-
tions which adorn this historical locality.
The Government has constructed fine roads
for driving over the entire field and erected
stone observatory, lis feet high, at Bloody Lane,
from the top of which an excellent view of the
entire battlefield can be had. About 500 cast
iron historical markers have been placed, mark
ing the positions the two armies occupied dur
ing the battle.
Antietam National Cemetery. which lies with
in the corporate limits of Sharpsburg, is consid-
cred the prettiest national cemetery in the
United States. 1t is a matter of considerable
regret that this place is not more accessible to
visitors from Baltimore and other parts of the
State. The nearest point on the b. & 0. is Kee-
dysville which is three miles distant, and visi-
tors who come by the Norfolk g. Western Rail-
road to Antietam Station about one mile from
Sharpsburg) must come via Hagerstown, which
is about IA miles from here. Surprise is often ex-
pressed why trolley line is not built making
direct connections with Keedysville, Brunswick
or some other important points on the b. & 0. or
w. M. Railroads. 1t would run through beau
tiful and fertile section and ought to prove
paying Investment.
While the battle which was fought here. al
though CONSIDERED TO De the DlOOdleSG one day
fight of the Civil War, will never rank in his
tOrical importance with the battle of Gettys-
burg, yet in view of the results accomplished
here, and the incidents connected Herewith.
the Antietam battlefield will ever be an object
of true Maryland patriotic pride.
Mr.. J. Griffin Hall of Baltimore city, who was
the orator of the day at the memorial services
held at the National Cemetery here on May 30th
last in the course of his Grafton said: while it
is true that nearly all the battles fought during
the Civil War were replete with important incl
dents and results, yet to my mind the battles of
Gettysburg and Antietam will ever stand forth
in the history of the great rebellion as two
of the most important events in the final settle
ment of the great conflict. 1t was here a6 An
tietam, on the 18th of September, 1862. that Lees
army was successfully stopped in its advance
into the North, and it was at Gettysburg in July,
1863 that he was again defeated and compelled
to recross the Potomac. Had the results of
these two battles been different who can tell
what the final outcome might have been? 1t
was also at Gettysburg that our first martyred
Observation-Disclosures utterance to those i'm
mortal prophetic words, 1.-The world will little
it can never forget what they did here" 1t was
here on this historic ground where the last of
our martyred Chief Magistrates-Will Nc
Kinley-received his first promotion for bravery.
Gettysburg and Antietam Lincoln and McKin-
ley! What emotions of patriotism are awakened
by mention of the places and these patriots2
All how regret the untimely departure of
these noble men at the hands of cowardy as
sassins, but thank God in the words of the lamen-
ted Garfield, who by a strange coincident also
met death in the same manner, God rejgns and
the Government still livesn Still lives Yes,
but what debt of gratitude owe to the old
veteran, both living and dead, for it was he who
fought and died that we as a nation might live.
With grateful hearts today with the poet we can
truthfully exclaim
''Twas not in vain, 0 noble band,
Your blood imbued Columbias sod,
United now her children stand
One Flag, one Country and one Cod"
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