The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1905-05-24

OF thirteen IONS weight, DIOuSuI al
the way from Massachusetts. 1t was
designed by Mrs Theodore Alice Rug
giles Ktson and was erected and dedi
Gated in 1908
The New York commission has Sc
lected Il high knoll for the memorial OF
that state, which is now being erected
near the site of General Grants head.
quarters 1t was designed by an emf
nent artist
Pennsylvania bought its own site, 4
tract of ground adjoining the park, az
a cost of $4,000, and just beyond Gen
eral Grants headquarters is erecting
a shaft sixty feet high and weighing
fifty tons. Rhode Island. Michigan, In
diana and other states have selected
sites for their memorials, which will
be erected by them within the next few
years.
Grants headquarters will be marked
by a shaft and tablet, and Sherman's
in a similar manner. The commissions
ers want an equestrian monument as a
memorial for Grant, and some time
they will get it. Pemberton's head
quarters in the city of Vicksburg will
be marked with a tablet also.
The Shirley House, which was the
most conspicuous object in the Fed
eraI lines during the siege and was a
landmark to both armies, has been re-
stored exactly as it was at the time
and will be used as. a resthOuse for
visitors and memorial museum. Cap
tain Shirley who lived in the house at
the time Of the battle, was a New
Boston lady, and their daughter is the
wife of General John Eaton of Wash
ingtOn. for many years commissioner
of education and afterward civil serv-
zee commissioner. Mr.. ana Mrs. Shir-
.ey were buried on the battle-ground,
and their graves have been properly
marked. .,s .s,,1de
The positions of the Confederate
troops have all been located by state
commissions under the direction of
General Stephen B. Lee, who defeated
Sherman at Chickasaw bayou, and the
markers have been placed, but no APP
preparations have yet been made for
memorials by any of the southern
states. General Lee has taken a deep
interest in the battle park ever since
the plan was first suggested by Cap
tain j. +. Merry of Manchester, Ia,
veteran of the Twenty first Iowa in
fantry. At his invitation meeting of
veterans of both armies was held at
Vicksburg in October, 1895, and an as
ISOLATION was organized which secured
the necessary action by congress. Cap
tain w. 7. Rigby of Iowa was made
the chairman of the commission and
has been in personal charge of the
work ever since 1t may be said that
he has made the park. He is an au-
thority upon all matters connected with
Vicksburg and familiar with the mi
nuteSt details of the history of the
siege Captain Everest of Chicago is
the other commissioner. General Lee
is president of the association. He
lives at Columbus, Miss, is command
er in chief OF the United Confederate
Veterans, was formerly president of
the State Agricultural college and is
now planter.
There was one Maryland and one
Virginia battery on the Confederate
side in the siege The Virginia battery
was commanded by Captain j. W.
Johnson, father of Mary Johnson, the
novelist, and recently president Of the
Georgia Pacific railroad Captain John
son, having become discouraged be-
cause of the Indifference of the Virgin
ia legislature, is now raising a sub
scription for a monument among the
survivors and their friends.
The river batteries held by the Con
federates are being restored Guns are
mounted just as they were in 1868,
when Admiral Porter's fleet ran by,
and similar gun will be placed on the
spot where stood Whistling Dick,
which sunk the Union gunbOat Cincin-
natl Secretary Morton is having the
record of the navy at the siege looked
up and will recommend an apprOpria-
ton by congress for a monument to be
erected in South fork, the most south
erly of the Notifications below the city
and the most conspicuous point on the
banks of the Mississippi near Vicks-
burg
Although the park is by no means
completed, twenty-seyen miles Of roads
have been made. the location Of ev-
cry regiment and battery has been
marked, thirteen siege guns and 112
field guns have been placed in the pO-
stions they occupied in the siege, and
nearly all of the Notifications have
been restored. 1t is not a landscape
garden. nor is it intended to be pleas
ure park. but it is an exact reproduc-
ton of one of the most famous of the
worlds battlefelds for the benefit OF
students of history and military sci
ence.