The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-08
VIcKsBURG MILITARY PARK.

While on a visit to Vicksburg recently
| was fortunate enough to be given
drive through the national park by Cap
tain Rigby, the member of the commiss-
sion in charge of the work there Cap
tain Rigby is very enthusiastic regarding
the future of the park. and showed deep
interest in the location of all the fea-
lures of the great siege He is thorough
" familiar with even the smallest de-
tails of the siege, and pointed out nearly
every position in the arena in which the
two armies acted.
The system of roads which has been
constructed and which is still being i'm
proved is so vast and well planned that
it is possible to drive to almost every
point of interest. Where the road does
not actually pass, the rugged character
of the land throws the point into such
strong relief that it may be readily COM
pretended at a distance.
The drive through the national ceme-
terry is an interesting prelude to the trip
through the park The cemetery is beau
tifully kept and a system Of turfing COW
ers the perpendicular sides of the hills
and the grass is kept clipped like lawn.
winch dOOS RTtdlis W cISNt. Iii SUN
a perpendicular mound near the entrance
is the marble monument which was orig
inally placed in the battlefield at the
point where General Grant and General
Pemberton met to arrange the terms of
the surrender. The monument was so
badly mutilated by vandals that il was
found best to place it at the present po-
stion. and the visitor may. after pass
ing by many interesting places, finally
see. through a narrow road cut In the
earthen cliff the bronze gun that is placed
upright where the memorable meeting &C.
Cured The road down which General
Pemberton went to meet General Grant
is there.
The system of turfing the steep sides OF
the cliffs OF clay has been put in effect
throughout the park wherever the roads
cut through them. The extremely dry
weather this fall has killed much Of the
grass that was planted on the sides. but
it will all be renewed. and eventually one
may drive through walls Of upright lawn,
which viii be quite novel.
So far few of the positions in the park
are marked. but various states are con-
sidered the matter. and II is understood
that within a short period Ohio viii place
thirty-nine markers 10 designate the po-
sitions where troops from that state
fought. or which they held during the
siege. Passing from the cemetery the
drive follows the Union Hires. aid Captain
Rigby pointed out the places where the
various batteries were located. mentioned
the number Of guns. and told what troops
held the positions. He also take inter
estingly Of the various movements along
the line The remains Of the trenches
and tunnels and forts are stu 70 be seen
though they would not BE caught BY the
eye of the casual observer. and require
explanation TO be understood When the
commission has completed It's work ard
all these trenches. forts and oiher posi-
tons VIII have been restored. and NAKED
with stones which win tell any ore who
wishes TO read just what TROOPS were
al that point and vhzt guns they had
Better than his. the government has
preserved usosf OF the guns used and ire
commission viii restore them mounted
and arranged. 50 sizat the picture o. tie
hz:tie-fisid VIII be cornp.e.s-
Tie aTrAnxernent % he roacs Is some