United States-I wish I had a word that would cover itAmerican bravery. [Applause.]

I believe that the work you have begun will be carried auspiciously through. If it is done, there will be no equal in these United States, nor will there be in the tide of time, fellow-citizens, a record of such a thing as this grand work which we propose to undertake, and which I have just mentioned. I know of nothing in history comparable to it. I know of nothing which would inspire the soul or fire the heart of an American soldier as much as to see this splendid monument to American patriotism.

I am sure that Gov. Gordon has so far expressed the feelings and sentiments of the noble soldiers of the Army of the Cumberland, that it is wasting words for me to undertake to gild fine gold, and I therefore proceed to say: If we can carry out the purpose for which this assemblage has met here, we can make this battle field a

monument to

national courage, pluck, endurance, and bravery. We know, fellow citizens, that this ground was watered by the blood of twenty-seven of the States of this Union, and I feel that it is the Union that will aid in maintaining this splendid memorial to the bravery of her sons.

As an eloquent speaker said, yesterday, in the big tent at Chattanooga, "the project is a good one, if it don't die a-bornin." Now, fellow citizens, I am sorry that I am not able to fittingly express the feelings I have on this occasion, nor to entertain you with the kind thoughts that come before my mind as I stand here. I am sure I have not the words, neither have I the voice, to appropriately do so, but I hope and pray that the future may see the eminent success of our fraternal undertaking.

After the barbecue, a joint meeting of veterans was held in the Baptist Church on the battle field at Chickamauga, at which a full organization was effected and incorporators and

directors elected. Gen. H. M. Cist was elected Chairman and E. T. Manning, Secretary.

In making up the list of incorporators, each State was given representation as nearly as possible in proportion to the troops it had in the battle. These were as follows:

Alabama-William H. Forney, J. T. Holtzclaw, W. C. Oates, Joseph Wheeler, and S. M. A. Wood.

Arkansas-James H. Berry, Clifton R. Breckinridge, Evander McNair, and L. H. Mangum.

Colorado-G. C. Symes.

District of Columbia-Absalom Baird, H. V. Boynton, and W. S. Rosecrans.

Florida-Wilkinson Call, Robert H. M. Davidson, and Jesse J. Finley.

Georgia-Joseph M. Brown, Alfred H. Colquitt, J. B. Cummings, James Longstreet, Lafayette McLaws, and E. B. Tate.

Illinois-S. D. Adkins, Lyman Bridges, A. C. McClurg, E. A. Otis, John M. Palmer, and P. S. Post.

Indiana-Joseph B. Dodge, W. Q. Gresham, J. J. Reynolds, M. S. Robinson, G. W. Steele, and J. T. Wilder. Iowa-Frank Hatton and W. P. Hepburn.

Kansas-John A. Martin.

Kentucky-C. D. Bailey, J. C. S. Blackburn, R. M. Kelly, G. C. Kniffin, Joseph H. Lewis, Alfred Pirtle, and W. J. Stone.

Louisiana-Randall L. Gibson and Felix Robertson. Michigan-H. M. Duffield and A. W. Wilber. Minnesota-J. W. Bishop and R. W. Johnson. Mississippi-Charles E. Hooker, J. Bright Morgan, Jacob M. Sharp, J. A. Smith, and Edward C. Walthall.

Missouri-Joseph S. Fullerton, William Henry Hatch, Robert McCulloch, John S. Melton, and W. H. Wade. New York-C. A. Dana and A. G. McCook.

North Carolina-William R. Cox, David H. Hill, Charles W. McClammey, and Matt W. Ransom.

Ohio-H. M. Cist, W. F. Goodspeed, Charles H. Grosvenor, P. P. Lane, J. G. Mitchell, J. G. Taylor, and Ferd. Van Derveer.

Pennsylvania-William J. Palmer, John Tweedale, and John G. Vale.

South Carolina-Ellison Capers and E. M. Law.

Tennessee-Frank C. Armstrong, William B. Bate, John C. Brown, S. B. Moe, Adolph S. Ochs, Lucius E. Polk, Alexander P. Stewart, Gates P. Thruston, and Marcus J. Wright. Texas-C. B. Kilgore, Roger Q. Mills, and William B. Sayers.

Virginia-R. A. Brock, I. M. French, and George D.

Wise.

Wisconsin-H. C. Hobart and John L. Mitchell.

United States Army-J. M. Brannan, H. C. Cushing, S. C. Kellogg, Frank G. Smith, and Thomas J. Wood.

The following were chosen Directors:

Alabama-Gen. Jos. Wheeler.

Arkansas-Capt. C. R. Breckinridge.

Florida-Gen. T. Finley.

Georgia-Gen. Alfred H. Colquitt, Gen. James Longstreet.

Illinois-Gen. A. C. McClurg.

Indiana-Gen. J. J. Reynolds.

Kentucky-Col. G. C. Kniffen, Gen. Jos. H. Lewis.

Louisiana-Gen. Randall L. Gibson.

Minnesota-Gen. J. W. Bishop.

Mississippi-Col. Chas. E. Hooker.

Missouri-Gen. F. M. Cockrell, Gen. J. S. Fullerton.

North Carolina-Gen. D. H. Hill.

Ohio-Gen. Henry M. Cist, Gen. C. H. Grosvenor, Gen. Ferd. Van Derveer.

South Carolina-Gen. E. M. Law.

Tennessee-Gen. Marcus J. Wright, Gen. Gates P. Thruston, Gen. J. T. Wilder.

Texas-Gen. Roger Q. Mills.

U. S. Army-Gen. A. Baird, Col. S. C. Kellogg.

Virginia Hon. Geo. D. Wise.

Washington, D. C.-Gen. W. S. Rosecrans, Gen. H. V. Boynton.

An election for officers resulted as follows, the vote for each being unanimous :

President,

JOHN T. WILDER, Johnson City, Tenn.

Vice President,

JOSEPH WHEELER, Wheeler's Station, Ala.

Secretary,

MARCUS J. WRIGHT, Washington, D. C.

Treasurer,

J. S. FULLERTON, St. Louis, Mo.

The charter of the Association has a life of twenty years. Such was the organization under which the project of a Military Park at Chickamauga first took shape. While this plan was soon superseded by a more comprehensive project, those active in the former have remained prominent and influential supporters of the latter.

NOTE. The reports of speeches and meetings in this chapter are mainly from the account of the Chickamauga Memorial Association, published by the Chattanooga Army of the Cumberland Entertainment Committee.

CHAPTER XVII.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARK PROJECT-PLAN CHANGED TO A NATIONAL MILITARY PARK.

When the question arose in the winter following the organization of the Chickamauga Memorial Association, of asking the aid of Congress in the purchase of the battle field, the author of the project conceived the idea of enlarging the scope of the scheme so as to embrace the notable fields of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, and the lesser affairs of the battle of Chattanooga, and establishing the whole as a National Park under the control of the Secretary of War.

He therefore drew a bill authorizing the purchase by the Government of the entire field of Chickamauga, and the acquirement of the main roads leading to and through that field, and those along Missionary Ridge, and thence over Lookout Mountain, as "Approaches." Under the bill, the Secretary of War, acting through a commission of his own selection, was authorized to establish the Park. It was to be known as the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.

After consultation with leading men of the Army of the Cumberland, the bill was put into the hands of Gen. Charles H. Grosvenor, an influential member of the House of Representatives, who served with signal distinction at Chickamauga, and is prominent in the Society of the Army of the Cumberland. He introduced the measure, and followed it with unremitting attention through all its stages in both houses, meeting at every step with the most remarkable

success.