Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-12-11
THE v,ckssvso NATIONAL PARK

THE vickssuRo NATIONAL PARK
The most picturesque national mill
tary park In the United States will be |
tAat at vicksburg, and it 10 progress !
ing well in all respects except the
backwardness OF some Of the states
to do their share In the erection oil
Appropriate monuments. Missouri Is
one OF the iaggards. though 1t was
largely represented in the lines at
vicksburg. both OF investment and de-
fense. At the next session OF the Mis-
souri legislature this matter snonid be
acted on In the liberal spirit that has
been shown by Illinois OF 3260.oo0.
Iowa $50 900, Ohio $56.0O0. Wiscon-
sin 10000. Minnesota $25,0oo, penn.
syIvania 315, 900, New York $l2.5oo and
Michigan $4,000. while Massachusetts
and New Hampshire. though they nad
few troops In the campaign. have de
voted 5000 each for monuments ana
markers The Massachusetts statue
of "The Volunteer is admitted to be
one OF the best works OF art In any
OF the military parks. Missouri or
ganizatins in the operations around
vicksburg numbered % on the Union
side and fifteen on the Confederate
side, divided total not approached
BY any other states. There is no dis
elimination against any regiment or
company that took part at Vicksburg'
The same considerate rules apply 10
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 estao-
fishing the vicksburg national park,
project first formally approved at
meeting Of veterans Of both armies
held at Vicksburg in the autumn oil
1885. The area decided on was l,24I
acres, and it was purchased for $52,'
$50, a little vore s45 per acre. 1t In
cludes the ground on which the as
} saults were delivered, and the scene Of
J the sapping operations that wers
pushed with intense energy for more
than a month Nearly 500 mental tab
let Inscriptions have been approved
and 125 cannon Of the kind used In the
J siege on both sides have been received
from the war department to be mount
ed. The Illinois memorial is large
dome of white marble, with portict
in front approached by wide high
of marble steps. Iowa's memorial will
include six battle scenes in bronz'
bas.relief. and bronze equestrian fg
= ure, heroic size, Of a soldier bearini
an unfurled flag. The states tina
, have already acted will suitably mari
) the main positions OF each Of thei
commands.
. The scenery Of the vicksburg ma
, tional park in the United States. Oi
b the fields Of Gettysburg, Chickamaug'
and Shiloh the earthworks were eX
temporized for day, bot at Vicks
= burg the fortjhcations were immens
e and could have been produced onl.
I In gigantic struggle long continued
D The river views. and the outlooks Oh
!, the rugged land side, are far extende'
I and most impressive. 1t is the pui
I pose of the commission to restore tn
t entire line Of earthworks and the bal
{ teries OF both armies, with at leas
y one gun In each battery of the kim
g employed in the siege. Good militar
e Judges have pronounced the Vicksbur
!. campaign Of Grant, from the time b
I suddenly crossed the river in May b
. means of transports that ran tn
. blockade, until the surrender In July
the most brilliant strategic and tact
3 cal movement Of modern times. Tn
+ defense was tenacious, and lack of rs
S tions settled it. No state has reaso
a to withhold its highest honors fror
:. It's soldiers in the Vicksburg strus
q gle, and should be glad to know tina
4 the national government is developin
Z the park zealously and literally
r Globe Democrat.