The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-03-23
FREDERICKSBURG NATIONAL
PARK

Interest has been strongly reawak-
ened in the project for making a Ma
tional park on the scenes of the terrific
fighting around Fredericksburg. This
is eminently sacred ground in American
history, since far more young Ameri-
cans bravely died there for what they
believed to be right than upon any 9TH
er spot in the country. More brave men
died there than in any other similar
area in the world. Since the sword be-
gan to devour-in all the long history
of the worlds mighty wars-there has
never been such persistent and SAN
culinary fighting with such great num-
Der os men actually engaged and such
appalling losses as occurred in the sew
eral times that the Union army at
tempted to force the Confederate line
of the Rappahannock.
In our first effort, under Burnside,
Dec. IS, 1862, the Union loss was 12,-
353, while the Confederate loss is re-
ported as less than 5000.
In the second attempt, May LII
1868. when Hooker crossed to Chancel-
900, while the Confederates reported a
loss OF 12,2S1.
In the third attempt, under Meade
Nov. 26-2S, 1863, usually spoken of as
the Mine Run Campaign. the Union. loss
was 5000, while the Confederate loss is
reported at nearly 5000.
The fourth attempt, in May, 1864.
when Gems. Grant and Meade crossed
into the Wilderness and fought bloody
series of engagements ending with Spot
syIyania Court House, the Union loss is
reported as about $4,000, while the
Confederate loss will never be known
but it must have Appropriated some
what near to the colossal destruction in
the Union ranks.
1t has been estimated by some that
nearly 10000 men fell on both sides
in that terrific fighting. Ground so hal
lowed by the last dread sacrifices of
such numbers of men should be pre-
served forever in the most effective
way as a memorial to those who died
there and as an object-lesson to future
generations. The Grand Army of the
Republic Committee. to undertake the
great work of appropriately marking
these battlefields and erecting monu-
ments to those who fell there, consists
of the following comrades:
John McElroy, Chairman, Washing
ton, D. c. w,a
John D. Black, Valley City, N D.
Daniel r. Ballou, Providence, r. !.
James F. Morrison, Philadelphia, Pa.
Albert e. Sholes, Flushing. N. Y.
Horatio C. King, Brooklyn. N. Y.
Z. c. Milliken. Portland, Me.
John Day Smith, Minneapolis, Mimi.
A bill has been prepared, carrying an
appropriation Of 100000 for the pres
eryation of the earthworks and other
relics of the battle, the making of roaa.ss
from one point to another the pur-i
chase of land for monuments and such
other purposes as may be necessary in
conserving the battlefields in such shape
as will be monumental of the past and
instructive to the future. This bill will
be introduced at the coming session of
Congress and every effort made to Sc
cure its passage.
AS many more men of both sides took
part in these operations than in any
other during the great war, the interest
in the park is Nationwide The sur
vivors and the descendants of those
who fought on both sides are found in
every city, town and hamlet in the
United States, and they have the deep
est interest in this work. Now that
something effective is about TO be done
in this tOo-long-neglected work popu-
lar sentiment will at once develop in
favor of it, and we ask all those who
had personal experience there to assist
in developing this interest and securing
the success of the project.