Evening star., 1927-05-29
FREDERICKSBURG TO BE ADDED
TO CAPITAL HISTORIC CENTERS
Area of Severe Fighting During Civil War
to Be Preserved as Part of Great
Park Chain.

The area around Fredericksburg
| Va, where some of the decisive bat
ties of the Civil War were fought,
and where reminders of Revolution
| ary days still stand, is to be added to
| the long list of historic centers that
| make Washington and the surround
| ing territory a mecca for thousands
| of Americans every year.
Before the Sixty-ninth Congress adj
journed it placed on the statute books
an act authorizing establishment of a
national military park to commemo-
rate the battles of Fredericksburg,
spotsylvania Courthouse. Wilderness
| and Charlottesville, and the War
Department today would be taking
the preliminary steps to that end, but
for the failure of the second deficiency
appropriation bill, which carried the
initial $50.000 to begin the project.
This is but a temporary setback.
however, for the deficiency bill will
be one Of the first matters taken up
by the new Congress in December.
There is every reason to believe this
item will remain in the bill. AS soon
as the funds are available the Gov
ernment will embark on the task,
which includes the following steps:
|. To mark all points of interest on
these several battlefields, so that the
citizens from every corner of the
land who visit this l1allowed ground
may read for years to come the brave
deeds of the men who fought and died
there for principles they believed in.
Secure Gun Emplacements.
To purchase or lease stretches OF
land here and there, where the breast
works, gun emplacements and other
barriers have survived the passing
years sufficiently to be preserved in
present condition. 1t is proposed to
acquire those strips of terrain that
will preserve the main battle lines.
The plan to be followed is modi-
fed form of the Antietam system of
marking battlefields. which calls for
placing markers and tablets at points
of special interest, constructing roads
where necessary to make every
notable spot accessible and by pur-
chasing a limited Quantity of land, ap-
proximately $50 acres. SO as to keep
intact the trenches 5oap the main bat
tie lines. aans
Since this historic ground is less
than IS miles from the National Cap
ital. a short run in these days Of mo-
tor travel, the Fredericksburg and
Spotsylvania County Battlef1elds Me-
mortal will take its place along with
countless other spots within a wide
radius of Washington that make this
locality great shrine of patriotism
and that help to stir the hearts of
all Americans who visit the seat of
their Government.
80 Miles Covers Points.
In one drive of 3s miles through
the countryside around Fredericks-
burg the visitor may pass practically
all points of importance on these bat
tlefields that are to be preserved and
marked.
On the ground to be thus preserved
there were in all approximately nine
days of fierce combat, in which 708 900
men took part, according to the re-.
port of the House military affairs COM
mittee. More than 100000 were killed
and wounded.
ut is said that more great armies
maneuvered here and engaged in bat
tie than in any other similar area in
America" the House committee told
Congress, in urging passage Of the
memorial legislation.
These battlefelds are regarded as
of value, not alone for historic and
patriotic purposes. but also for pro-
fessional military study. They are
within easy distance of the Marine
| base at Quantico, the Engineer Corps
| post at Camp Humphreys. the Cavalry