Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-22
on the field, notably Illinois, Ohio and

lllluldud.
One monument appealed pathetical-
ly to the old soldiers roaming over the
battlefield; 1t was that of the Second
Tennessee infantry, confederate; ap-
parently it opened the battle on the
extreme right by the side of the con-
federates, by attacking Buckland's
brigade of Shermans division of the
federal army. The position they as
sailed was almost natural fortifica-
ton, and this mute witness to the
splendid bravery Of this regiment, &C.
cupies the ground over which they ad-
vanced to the attack and tells the
200 wounded, tbs casualties equalling,
as recollect, about one-half Of the
force engaged. E
Owing to the condition Of the roads
following a great rainfall, it was i'm
possible to get vehicles from Corinth
the nearest town of any consequence
on the battle field, twenty-five miles
distant,so that the Immediate country
side was foraged for teams to carry
the party over the battlefield, which
was some miles in extent A monde
script collection of vehicles were soon
procured, consisting of lumber wag-
ons, single buggies, surveys, ETC., with
harness to match, and drawn by every
species of draft animal except oxen.
1t was this picturesque outfit that car
ried the party from one monument to
another.
The afternoon of Thursday was
given to excursions over the battle
field, singly and in parties; this was
not a difficult task, as the government
has reserved the field in splendid
park consisting of thirty-six hundred
acres A great portion of the battle
field is timber, but the underground
has been cleared away by the govern
ment and substantial gravel roads
built all over the field, rendering com.
munication easy
The position Of every battery on
both sides in the engagement is mark
ed by old cannon. now out of date and
disused by the government, and a sub
stantial metal tablet gives the name
of. the battery and describes its SER
vice. These metal tablets are also
erected in all the positions held by the
infantry forces on either side in the
battle, and also mari. the camps occu.
pied by the federal troops previous TO
the engagement.
Friday afternoon, Nov. "a, was
taken up win the dedication Of the
state monument, on which occas,on
the report If the completion of the
monument was made by Col. w. b.
Bell, chairman Of the commission,
who, in turn, formally transferred the
monuments to the care OF Col. Corne-
Illus Cadle Of the ne tional commission,
in charge Of the park.
The principal addresses which fol-
lowed were made by Gen. James B.
Weaver, a survivor of the battle Gov.
Cummins of Iowa, the Hon. Mr.. .Aber-
nathy on behalf Of the governor Of
Tennessee, General Basil Dixie of the
confederate army, and the Hon. N. q.
Kendall Of Abba.
At the close of these ceremonies the
signal whistle from the boat anncunc.
ed our early departure from the his.
toric vicinity thronged with memories
of the past to the survivors Of the con.
test, and soon we were steaming home.
ward down the river from scenes which
many of the survivors had not visited
from the time of the battle, nearly for.
ty-five years before. and which will be
to, many of them their last visit this
side Of eternity. Samuel Mahon.