The National tribune., 1911-04-27
VAN,DERVEER vs.. TURCHIN.
The Controversy Over the Mon
uments on Mission Ridge.

tional Tribune will please bear with
me while 1 lay before your readers
an act of national Importance as well
as one of injustice TO thousands of
comrades, dead and alive, who as
lsjsted in storming and capturing that
rebel stronghold, Missionary Ridge,
near Chattanooga, Tenn, Nov. 25.
1853.
Many of your readers know that
Congress, during its sessions In 1897,
passed acts creating the ''ChiCkamau-
ga and Chattanooga Military Park, :"
and providing for its future govern
nent and management.
The House Military Committee OF
the 51st~ Congress, to whom the bill
was referred, in part reported: The
bill under consideration establishes a
national military park, the approaches
of which overlook and the ground
upon which occurred. some of the
most remarkable tactical movements
and deadliest fighting OF the war Of
the rebellion, namely the field OF
IChickamauga and Chattanooga"
THE proposed Chickamauga and
Chattanooga National Park consists of
two features-the approaches and
park proper.
The battlefield OF Chickamauga
proper forms the body OF the park.
AS described in the bill, embraces
about $500 acres.
The approach from Chattanooga
begins at or near Sherman Hights. at
the north end of Missionary Ridge.
This is the battlefield of the Army of
the Tennessee, under Gen. W. 7.
Sherman, during the operations about
Chattanooga, Nov. %, "A and %, 1863.
From this point this approach runs
along the crest OF Missionary Ridge
to RossYille Gap. Throughout its
whole length it overloohs the battle
field of Gen. Hooker's troops from the
Army of the Potomac, on Lookout
Mountain. and terminates where these
troops, after the battle on the noun
tain. reached and crossed Missionary
Ridge. This approach also overlooks
the first days operations about Or
chard Knob, and comedies throughout
its length with the lines, of Gen.
Bragg's army, and thus passes along
the entire front of the famous assault
OF the Army of the Cumberland, under
Gen. Thomas, upon Missionary Ridge.
That the said Chickamauga and
Chattanooga National Park, and the
approaches thereto, shall be under the
control of the Secretary of War.
That the affairs of the Chickamau-
ga and Chattanooga National Park
shall, subject to the supervision and
direction of the Secretary of War, be-
in charge of three CommissionersS
each of whom shall have actively par
ticipated in the battle of Chickamau-
ga or one of the battles about Chatta-
nooga.
That it shall be the duty OF the
Commissioners, acting under the Sec
retary OF War, TO ascertain and sub
stantially mark the locations OF the
regular troops, both infantry and ar
tillery, within the boundary of the
park, and to erect monuments.
That it shall be lawful for the au-
thorities of any State having troops
engaged either at Chattanooga or at
Chicksmaugs, to enter upon the lands
and approaches of the Chickamauga
and Chattanooga National Park, for
the purpose of ascertaining and mark
ing, the lines of battle OF troops en-
gagged therein: Provided, That before
any such lines are permanently des-
ignated the positions OF the lines and
the proposed methods Of marking
them, by monuments, tablets, or oth-
erwise, shall be submitted to the Sec
retary of War.
The first TO administer the affairs
of the Park Commission was Gen. J.
s. Fullerton. as Chairman, Gen. a. P.
Stewart and Gen. II. V. Boynton, all
participants in the great battles that
were fought around Chattanooga,
Gen. Fullerton se5ving on the staff
Of Gen. Granger. and viewed from
Orchards Knob, with Grant, Thomas
and Granger, the several divisions of
the Army OF the Cumberland, in glaiu
view as they advanced upon the en-
enny. strongly. fortified on the crest
of Missionary Ridge. Gen. II. ".
Boynton, d. gentleman OF high attain
ments, was the principal mover in Sc
curing from Congress all its acts that
has made those great battle grounds
as prominent as they are today, and
was in command of the 35th Ohio,
in Gen. VanDevccr's Brigade that
memorable 25th day of November.
1863, until a rebel bullet disabled
him just before reaching the crest of
Missionary Ridge, just south of De-
Longs Point, as pointed out TO the
writer by Gen. Boynton while pro-
ceeding on foot over the very ground
traversed by VanDevecr's Brigade att
the time that the Minnesota Monu-
ment Commission was seeking the
right position to build a creditable
monument. not 10 mark the spot ac-
tualIy captured by the I'd Mimi, but
TO comm omorate the event that a
Minnesota military force, represented
By the I'd Regiment of that State,
aided the Union forces in capturing
the whole line Of rebel works fIom
Sherman's Hights to Rossyil!e.
Gen. Boyntou pointed out 10 Gen.
Bishop, who commanded the Mime
sofa troops in that charge. and the
Commission. plat OF five acres of
land forming promontory project
ing out from the crest of the ridge,
west toward Chattanooga, which, he
said, was owned by the Government,
and we were at liberty TO build oGr
monument, which was afterward sane
toned by the Secretary of War, as
we'll as the inscription which was to
be inscribed. There and then in the
presence of five participants in the
charge of FanDeveer's Brigade, ii was
agreed that the main portion of the
BrigadeJpassed that point TO the right
and south
The Minnesota Commission pro-
ceeded to build FIVE monuments and
markers, four on the Chickamauga
field and one on the so-calied De
Longs Point. costing nearly $4,000.
This proved TO be red rag TO Gen
Turchin. the noted commander OF
Turchin's Brigade, who, it is said.
threatened TO tear down the Mime
sofa monument, because it stood on
ground captured by his brigade.
Application was made to the Park
Commission and the Secretary of War
ia have tho HinnosOfa frnontInaut .nd