The morning journal-courier. (New Haven, Conn.) 1907-1913, 1908-08-01


less than the south, owing to a tepac-
ious red clay subsoil The growth OF
trees has INSTRUCTED the main street
leading In from the north gate, that
midway Of the old prison whore the
chuck a-luck players thronged, where
fake reports of exchange were given
out, and where Sour beer" peddlers
and Soup bone" peddlers cried heir
wares. Facing north the scene
changes and improves. There is a
group OF fine monuments, the flag.
staff and colors, the superintendent's
house and the rose garden In Its
front. What a happy thought that
garden was The roses are the gifts
OF ex-prisoners. or of the friends OF
those who died In prison, Many bear
inscriptions on the supporting trellis
giving the names OF those they com
memorate and representing all parts
OF our country.
Scattered about this north hillside
are the wells dug by the prisoners,
with halves of canteens, old spoons,
etc, some for water but mostly for
the purpose of escape. as Is clearly
shown by the location of many of
them near the dead line. One of the
deepest still shows the toe marks for
descent on Its sides, with the opening
Of the tunnel for escape in clear view,
some eight or ten feet down. stones
thrown into these wells show some OF
than IN ha Oft
deep.
Beyond cotton fields and Pima
woods, nearly half a mile from the
stockade, the natural cemetery il 10
Gated. II comes upon one as CUR
prise, hidden away in this secluded
place, but no one can step within its
substantial enclosure without an i'm
mediate sense of its permanence, the
protection and oversight of national
authority, and its singular beauty and
fitness for its intended use"
Here the dedication exercises were
held. They were simple, sincere and
In harmony with the place, II was n
striking scene rs the shadows length
ened and the sun was low in the west
The fine bronze figure OF the Connect
cut soldier boy standing revealed in
all its dignity and beauty, the gray
haired speakers, the circle Of old sur
vivors, the companionship Of loved
guests and the presence Of the south.
ern people. all made picture that
none will forget. The words spoken
were free from rancor, reverent. low
ing and hopeful. giving pain to none. =
In the notes by guest, Mary Bush
nell Cheney says Of the prlson-pen
In 1864 this land GO acres) was
without tree or shrub to soften the
force of the summer sun. II there
was grass there originally or par
of it. It was soon trodden into the
yellow earth by the tramplng Of 30.
900 men.
THE piece of land (where the rebel
had their fort and earthworks) cam
lately into the possession of the Won
ems Relief corps of the Grand Arm,
and they have built n good hous'
| there and marked with little gran
| lite building in the hollow the 'Provi
dence Spring where in time of drec
need from want of water a bountifu
pure spring burst forth during al
August thunder storm, and has rui
without ceasing ever since. Be you
faith what It may. you cannot yisi
this spot without sense OF mira cul
Gus heavenly bounty. II seems ik
the direct gift of God, and so though
those that had prayed for it,
The book is embellIshed with man
fine half-tone whole-page illustra
tions, among which are two views o
the monument itself; another pictur
ing the large group of former prls
oners who attended the exercises, pic
tured either sitting or standing be
fore the monument: similar view o
the leading men and women of tn
state who made the trip; a portrait @
Comptroller Bradstreet who in M
ting speech accepted the monumer
for the state; one of Rev Josep
Twichell, who delivered an address
one of Comrade Robert H, kellogg
J who spoke for the ex-prisoners; tw
views Of the vast multitude Of tom
stones to Union soldiers In the GENE
terry and group picture of the mem
bers of tho monument commission.