Evening star., 1933-12-10

pieces OF property. One can't go so far as to
state that arguments about local historical
lore II left to the average citizen can reach the
battling stage. and the Government was obliged
to set up staff of scientifically trained his
torians to preserve the peace, but something
had to be done to get authentic data properly
assembled and filed about the various parks
Verne E. Chatelain is the chief historian, and
Mr.. Spaulding is one Of the technicians on his
roster. He Is Virginia born and bred, a young
college professor who was a member of tho
Rainbow Division in the World War and who
has taught in several Southern States. H9
aspires to get his Phi. D. degree at johns Hop>
kns University on Civil War research. While
the men in Camp 1875 we're practicing erosion
control, building fire break round Fort Har<
nson or removing debris from former log%
ging operation the historical technician waa
making exhaustive inquiry into the official
war records of the Civil War to discover all
possible facts about the Notifications around
Richmond
Despite general belief to the contrary his-
torical research has its exciting moments. The
photographs of the Richmond defenses fur
nished thrill to the Fort Harrison techni-
clan. He was studying maps made by the
United States Government after it came into
possession of the Confederate forts. These
were stored away in the Office of the chief Of
engineers of the War Department since it was
the job of this branch of the service to make
surveys Of such enemy territory. Lieut. Mich;e
~. .. IA,
division and had appended note that further
items about the fort could be found in drawer
143 glance there showed the item desig-
mated was missing. Finally clerk remem-
bered seeing some photographs in an old cabi-
net and these turned out to be the ones Lieut..
Niche had sent in to illustrate the map5
The fact that he had written on the back Of
the pictures description of the exterior and
interior Of the buildings made them the rich
est research treasure yet to come to light about
the Fort Harrison project
Mo FORT is to be completely rebuilt. This
would violate the policy Of limited resto-
ration to which the staff is committed But
bombproofs, ammunition dumps, chevaux de
frise. dummy guns and banquettes will be
erected at the points of special interest in the
area The character of each instance Of such
restoration is to be different from the others
SO as to sustain the attentive interest of the
visitor. This is to be aroused at the very
entrance to the park by locating the head
quarters and the gate at Chafin's Bluff, among
the first of the forts constructed in the Rich
mond line. The key to the whole scheme to
lead the visitor into new approach regarding
his attitude toward historical spots Is to be
found in this headquarters building. Here
personable and intelligent attendant and plac-
an examination of colored relief map mount
ed on q table. Since the visitor only knows
the location of headquarters up to this point Of
his tour, the map is to have a clear orientation
OF the relationship of Chafin's Bluff to the
battlefield as whole. Beside it will be map
showing the present condition of the war ter
rain. On the wall will be progressive series
OF maps showing in colors the troop positions
and fortfhcations as nearly as they can be
established for five vital periods from 1861 to
1864. Still further supplementary information
will be found in series of three booklets,
graduated in their content to meet the require.
ments of three classes of visitors expected.
These are the casual tourist, the visitor con-
cerned with deeper insight into the historical
and educational phases of the park and the
student seeking an exhaustive study of the
military engagements.
This system of maps begun at headquarters
Is to extend throughout the project bronze
relief map being placed at each point of major
interest. Mounted on stone base one foot
high in the very same position of command
formerly used on the ramparts, these mapd
are to be oriented with the direction in which
the fort faces. regardless of the compass errt
entation. A bronze tablet nearby will describe
the events at this point, more about which the
visitor may read from his booklet To reach
this map and tablet, the visitor will mount
stairs to stone platform measuring IL feet
long and wide enough to breast the earth4
works. This is the only time that the visitos
Will be allowed on top of the Notifications al
the wear of human footsteps on their sides
would be as fatal as soil erosion to their
preservation.
Points of major interest to be seen to catch
the highlight whole Of the picture have been
chosen as eight in number. They are in the
order in which they will be shown to park
guests:
I'D Chafins Bluff, with its fort river view
and museum, including an artillery park.
(2) The fort Immediately by the Osborne
turnpike where it intersects the Battlefie;d
route, importast for its view of the Federal
march.
(3 Fort Hoke whose name was ascertained