The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-10

eaa!on IL Il very peculiar ana delicate
enc ] am TO follow The distinguished
hpeakers that have just preceded me,
including the eloquent and touching
idcress Of the chairman Of the Ala
hama Chickamauga Monument Com
hnittee OF the State Memorial Associa-
ton. am also TO represent on the
program that ablc and capable mem
Der OF the Chickamauga National Com
mission. the author or the expressive
IDEAL Inscription On the Georgia Monu-
rcnt. TO the lasting memory of all her
sons who fought on the field Those
who fought and lived and those who
fought and died. those who gave much
and those gave all Georgia erects this
monument / am also to represent
another. and that other is no less a
Parsonage than the Honorable .jecretary
q war, who represents the :tovcrn-
mcnt Of the United States in receiving
these monuments ard markers. could
heartily wish the duty had fallen TO the
lot Of the chairman OF the National
Commission for this park, for in that
event it's performance would have bee n
Tar more acceptable than l can make il
To all concerned
Speaking for tho honorable secre-
'ary. however. for the National Com
mission and FOR the government az
tept with the greatest pride and pleas
urc this beautiful memorial com posed
81 Georgia marble, with which the as
location and State commentaries the
hcroism OF her sons displayed on this
held on The 18TH and 10Th of Septcn-
Ter 1863. the memory OF which viii
out!ast tho monuments themselves
The Corroding tooth OF time may
eventually eat away the bronze Of
these monuments and this marble. so
beautiful IN it's Wilderness, may cruu1 bio
into dust. but the memory Of grr;..
heroic deeds will live - long rs men
!.vc and language lis undcrstood'
Tho fighting ALI over this great field
nnd especially that along the crest Of
this heroic ridge and that OF Snod-
grass Win never be forgotten while
tho ridges stand.
Viii also say for the secretary that
i IS hoped the State OF Alabama may
soon place in the hands Of her com
mission TO be appointed for this park
sui.cien; SUM Of money 10 enable
y TO place memorials on all the fields
embraced IN this great park system.
oH which hcr sons sgnalized their
prpwoss. ana that the remaining States
~ the South may follow the examples
~ Missouri. Tennessee. Georgia. North
ard south Carolina, kentucky and
Florida
However W. may differ in our opin-
ions respecting the cause for which tho
men az tho South contcnded during
our great war, the people Of every
ton OF the country cherish profound
admiration for courage, bravery he
=
even 10 the death 10 a cause believed
in and once cspouscd And these great
qualities were displayed during our
conflict 10y the men OF both sides TO
degree that has excited the admiration
Of tho world, and will forever stamp
the Confederate era as the heroic age
Of our country.
This park. the joint proGuc, OF the
States and Of the Federal government
was designed n perpetual rnonu-
inent TO these high and noble charac-
teristics OF the American people. II Is
therefore. earnestly desired that every
State. North and South, whose sons
illustrated their manhood these
fields OF immortal rcnown should mani
fest due appreciation Of their deeds
by placing here suitable monumen hts
TO serve object lessons TO posterity.
When this shall have been done this
great park, besides telling to all the
generations that are TO come the story
Of American valor. and how great
fields are fought and won. will also
proclaim TO all the world that these
States once discovered. discordant
helligercnt. rent with civil feuds and
drenched in fraternal blood" are now
ind!ssoluhly reunited under 4 Consti-
tuition changed indeed from that which
our fathers framed. and under one
flag"
This monument Is accepted and taken
In charge BY the government of the
United States. and will receive the
same solictous care and protection as
viii be bestowed on those OF every
other state. Having now in the name
of the Secretary of War received this
memorial. ! might perhaps with pro-
priety pause and take my seat but
have thought IL might DO desired and
expected that / should say n word for
the troops Of Alabama In this engage
nent and for the Memorial AsSocia-
tion OF the state
Fifty years ago on the Goth of next
September. at the close Of the most
dramatic and cventful day IN my life.
after the Union Army had been driven
and Withdrawn from the field, in
der to express our approval OF their
departure and to hasten their speed,
was member of q party of 10000
young, robust, clear-voiccd soldiers that
Joined in prolonged serenadc of the
rebel yell that surpassed in volume and
sublime effect any demonstration OF
the Army of Tennessee
Twenty four years this spring. as n
member OF a committee of Forest Camp
Of Chattanooga, ] indicated by board
inscriptions all the important move
ments and lighting positions on the
chickamauga heid' rms was more
than year before the park was
created by act of Congress and before
the war records were bound or ready
for distribution. From that day to
the present | have hcen a student of
the park development. and it was in
this way l became familiar with the
many heroic and brilliant achievements
of Alabama troops on this field.
Alabama had moro troops this
field than any other Southern State
except the Volunteer State, and moro
organizations than any Northern State
except Ohio; sustained her full share
or the losses and Is entitled to her
proportionate credit for the great vic
tory. The State furnished in this
battle twenty-threc regiments of in
fantry. eight regiments OF cavalry.