Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-12-09
THE vIcksRuRe NATIONAL PARK


THE VIckSBURG NATIONAL PARK
Ottumwans especially and Iowans in
general are interested in the prepara-
lions being made for the permanent
identifying of the Vicksburg national
park in commemoration largely of the
soldiers who fought and died during
the long siege and death struggle that
was waged around the Mississippi
stronghold in the sixties. The park
there will probably be the most pic
turesque one In the whole country
Several former members of the army
of blue who live in Ottumwa were
present during those stirring times
and Captain w. H. G. jacques of this
city is member of the commission
from Iowa. The work at the park is
progressing we'll except for the back
wardness of some Of the states to do
their share in the erection of appro-
pirate monuments. Missouri is one Of
the laggards. though 1t was largely
represented in the lines at Vicksburg
both of investment and defense. At
the next session of the Missouri legis-
lature this matter should be acted on
in the liberal spirit that has been
shown in the appropriation by Illinois
of 100000, Iowa $150,OO0, Ohio $751;
900, Wisconsin, 100000, Minnesota,
$4,000, Pennsylvania $15,0O0,New York
$12,500, and Michigan $4,000, while
Massachusetts and New Hampshire,
though they had few troops in the
campaign, have devoted $4,000 each
Pow mn ,%e M Tr,l.
Massachusetts, statue of "The Volun-
teer'' is admitted to be one of the best
works of art in any Of the military
parks. Missouri organizations in the
operations around Vicksburg number
ed twenty-seven on the union side and
fifteen on the confederate side a di-
vided total not approached by any 9TH
er state. There is no discrimination
against any regiment or company that
took part at Vicksburg. The same con-
siderate rules apply to all states that
erect monuments there and all are
thus invited to honor their volunteers
in perpetuity.
Nearly seven years have passed
since congress passed the bill estab-
fishing the Vicksburg national park,
a project first formally approved at a
meeting of veterans of both armies
held at Vicksburg in the autumn of
1895. The area decided on was 1,247
acres and it was purchased for $52,-
$50. little over SAP per acre. 1t in
cludes the ground on which assaults
were delivered and the scene of the
sapping operations that were pushed
with intense energy for more than a
month. Nearly 500 metal tablet in
scriptions have been approved and
125 cannon Of the kind used in the
siege on both sides have been receiv-
ed from the war department, to be
mounted. The Illinois memorial is a
large dome of white marble, with a
portico in front approached by wide
flight of marble steps. Iowa's memoir
ial will include six battle scenes in
bronze bas-relief, and bronze eques-
trian figure, heroic size of soldier
bearing an unfurled flag. The states
that have already acted will suitably
mark the main positions of each of
their commands.
The scenery of the Vicksburg ma.
tional park is more striking and diver
sified than that of any other amphi-
theatre of battle il the United States.
On the fields of Gettysburg, Chicka-
manga and Shiloh the earthworks
were extemporized for a day. but at
Vicksburg the Notifications were i'm
mense and could have been produced
only in a gigantic struggle, long con-
tinued. The river views and the out
looks on the rugged land side are far
extended and most impressive. It Is
the purpose Of the commission to re-
store the entire line of earthworks
and the batteries of both armies with
at least one gun in each battery Of the
kind employed in the siege. Good
military judges have pronounced the
Vicksburg campaign Of Grant from the
time he suddenly crossed the river in
May by means of transports that ran
the blockade until the surrender in
July, the most brilliant strategic and
tactical army movement Of modern
times. The defense was tenacious.
and lack Of rations settled 1t. No state
has reason to withhold its highest
honors from its soldiers in the Vicks.
burg struggle and each should be glad
of the opportunity to thus honor the
heroes who fought in that memorable
summer.
A Nohro clyo 1,doa d.s