Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-06-03
CONTINENT DESCRIBED.
One of the Most Conspicuous Meiuor-
ials ON Famous BnttIcAeIds.

ials on Famous BattIcneIds.
Gettysburg, Pa, May 31.-The mona
ment erected on the battlefield of Ciettys-
burg to commemorate The services Of the
regular army of the United States in the
Gettysburg campaign, is one of the most
Interesting dignifed and conspicuous
| memorials on the famous battlefield. II
is situated on Hancock avenue a little
south of the Bloody Angle where Pick
ett's fearless men struck the Union line
with such disastrous results to the in
vadng army. The memorial is a shaft
SIS feet high from the ground and is
made of light color granite from the
ouarries at Mount Airy, N. C.
The base plinth of the monument Is
Il 12 feet square and II feet high and
ls surrounded by a beautiful granite ter
race AZ l-2 feet square with a two-foot
high fence or wall. Four entrances ca CHI
II feet vide with three granite steps
lead to the base of the monument on
each side of the second plinth which is
II 1-2 feet high, is an eagle cut solidlv
on the face OF the plinth? Ea CHI eagle is
tour feet hirh and all are said to he the
firest modelled eagles ever cut in gran
lite or cast in bronze in America. Upon
the second plinth rests the plain shaft
which is IS feet tall
ON each side Of the plnth Is large
bronze panel said to be the largest and
finest memorial tablets ever cast in the
United states or any other country. Tn"
tablet facing the east contains the fol
lowing inscription:
Erected BY the Congress to Com
memorate tho Services of that Portion
Of tho Army Of the Potomac COMPOSED
Of Cavalry. Artillery. Infantry and En-
ginecrs of the Regular Army Of the
United States in the Gettysburg Cam
paign June-Jily, 1863"
The tablet on the west side is inscribed
as follows:
The Artillery consisting of 26 Batteries
was distributed over the field among
the several Army Corps and placed
in position where their services
were most needed. Brig Gen.
Henry J. Hunt. chief Of
Artillery.
-Four Regiments Of Cavalry under Brig
Gen. Wesley Merritt took position of
the right flank Of the Confederate
line Of battle.
Eleven Regiments of Infantry were on
the field. Ten with the Second Division,
fifth Corps, and one at Head
quarters, Army Of the Potomac.
Battalion OF l.. 5. Engineers.
Capt. George IL. Ilende,l. Commanding.
"Casualtios Killed l2 officers 159 enlisted
men; Wounded, 60 officers, sci enlisted
men; Missing, officers. 20 enlisted
men"
The north ard south tablets contain
the names Of the A. organizations and the
names OF their commanders
Forty-two small monuments one for
ca oh of the commands in the Gettysburg
campaign which were erected at the
location each organization occupied dur
ing the battle, arc Of Jonesboro granite.
p by 50 inches and seven feet high Upon
each is a descriptive bronze tablet and
the coat of arms Of the United States,
The central monument and the ~ regi-
me al memorials were authorized by
act of Congress of February IS 1902, and
March 3. 1908. and cost altogether $61 900.
The Gettysburg National Park commits
sion was assisted in the selection of the
site and adoption OF designs for the me-
NOR lis by n committee Of nine from
among the surviving officers of the com
mands that took part in the three days
battle.
The erection and dedication Of the
monuments 70 the regular soldiers en-
riches a battlefield that already contains
hundreds of beautiful memorials. There
are now on the field ABOUT 800 monuments
and the number OF tablets erected eX
cecds 800. The number of guns mounted
on the field, Union and Confederate, is
bout 3-5. Pennsylvania will next year
erect a state monument at a cost of
$3.50 900. and the States of Alabama and
Virginia will also place monuments on
the famous field in the near future to
commemorate the valorous services of
their sons in that night struggle.