Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-22
SEES HOPEF BILL
TOBuy BATTLEFIELD
Mr.. carIin Thinks Measure to
Acquire Bull Run Will Be
Taken Care of in Senate.
FACTS ON HISTORIC SPOT

fACfS ON sHtSIURlC SPUl
y
Representative Carlin of Virginia an
nouncsd today that he expects the
friends of his BIN which would author
lie the purchase by the government of
lands ,IoRs.shs. battlefield of Bull run.
Va. nSar. Manassas, for the creation of
a park, to succeed in having the prof.
ect tackled on TO the military appro-
priatfoh bill In the Senate.
~ The bill. Mr.. Carlin said, has already
beenffavorably reported by the House
military committee. and there is much
interest in 1t. II 1t passes. as its
friends hope 1t will, on its merits it
would mon the creation of a small ma
tional park near Washington-273
acres-within automobile tide of one
and a. half or two hours from the CAPT.
tai
The road to Centerville and Bull run
rs n historic one. Braddock marched
part of his army over it in 1855; Roch-
ambeau marched the French contingent
of Washington's army over 1t in 1881
on the way from New Jersey to York
town, during the civil war, Mcdowell
Mcclellan, Burnside. Meade and Grant
used the road continually. In any CAM
paign for the defense of Washington
in the future. it is said. the same road
would be used. The road as far as
Fairfax Court House is now reported
as being in good condition, and the
ported as placing the remainder in good
order.
Gives History of Battlefelds.
Lieut. George Carr Round of Ma
= Aassas. Va, has prepared and is send
ing to all members of Congress, a brief
giving some of the history of the Bull
Run battlefelds, the monuments placed
thereon, which, it is pointed out, should
be on government property rather than
on private property, where they have
been for half century
The brief, which is headed with the
question, rs the United States too poor
TO own its own monuments?" and with
the phrase, "A national disgrace" ap-
piled by Corp. Tanner to the fact that
the Bull Run monuments are on private
ground. rather than in government
park, recites many interesting incidents
and events in connection with the bat
tlefe1ds.
hmm ediately after the grand review
OF the Army of the Potomac in Wash
lngton, the brief records, a monument
was dedicated. with imposing patri-
cite and religious ceremonies, Sunday,
June II, 1865. on the spot where it suf-
Tered its first defeat. and there was in
scribed thereon. In memory of the pa
triots who fell"
Abiding to this first monument, the
brief says:
1T was built by a detail of veteran
soldiers, pursuant to Special Orders,
No. 49, from Gen. William Gamble of
Illinois. approved by Gems Augur and
Meade and by Q. NJ. Gen. Meigs
second monument was dedicated
the same day where the second battle
began. These two were the only monu-
nents ever erected by the soldiers
themselves. their last service before
1nal discharge.
since 1900 a dozen more monuments
and markers have been erected by
veteran organizations, north and
south. and many more desire to do so
= as soon as the nation acquires title to
the land. The custodians of the Con-
iedeTate cemetery and monument ad-
accent also desire to intrust the care
> OF the same to the government.
Plan Favored by G. A.
The Grand Army of the Republic,
after several years consideration,
unanimously resolved. at their national
encampment at Minneapolis in 1905,
that the United States should acquire
title to the land on which the Bull Run
monuments were erected and such
roadways and adjacent areas as are
necessary to enable comrades and citi-
zens of our country to see the first
battlefield of the great war without
trespassing on private property A
special committee on Bull Run monu-
ments' vas maintained for nine years.
of which Gen. E. w. Whitaker Gen
Lewis Wagner and Col William j.
Wells were successfully chairmen. At
their request Mr.. Carlin, in whose dis
trict the monuments stand. secured
hearings before the military commit
tee of the House On March 3. 1913,
President Taft signed a bill authoriz-
ing the Secretary of War to report on
adVisabnity and price. and in Deem
Der. 1913, Secretary Garrison made a
favorable report.
Addresses were made at the dedica-
ton in 1865 oy Representative Farms
worth of Illinois. Judge Olin of the
Supreme Court and Mai. Gems. Wilcox
and Heintzleman. who led the charges
on Henry hill. So it appears that the
legislative. the judicial and executive
departments were all represented in
this most interesting ceremony.
Forty years after the war the So.
c;ety Of the Army of Potomac me.
on Henry HILL Maj. John w. Daniel
standing on the base of the monument
gave an ardent welcome. in which he
said: The civilization of any people
san be judged by its care OF its dead
Fifty years after the first battle the
DtOS anu 1Eay llneu up In the hel(
where two battles ended and SHOOK
hands in the Manassas national tubi-
lee OF peace'-the first instance of the
kline In the annals of the human race
On no battlefield of the civil war have
there been SO many and SO cordial re.
unions frou. north and south as on thi:
nearest field to the nations capital"
Lieut.. Rounds brief also says:
While expanding billions in pre-.
pare!ncss for the future, submit we
ought TO expend Il few thousands te
preserve these pniQus memorials a:
lessons for posterity.''
Owners Willing to Sell
Representative CarIin has had printed
extra copies of House documen,
80 4s1, 63d Congress, containing the
hearings on the project, the board OF
army officers report. etc. In this docu.
ment it is stated that the owners O,
the Henry farm. composing part of the
projected park. ara willing to sell thei,
property for $4,000. and that the own.
ers of the Dogsn farm, composing III,
remainder OF the proposed park. are
willing TO sell their holdings at s11. 500
b. Representative Carlin's bill propose,