The State of Shiloh Park April 7, 1906

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This speech was delivered at the dedication of the Wisconsin State Monument at Shiloh on April 7. 1906 by a party unknown. I thought that others would enjoy this article as much as I have.
Regards
David

What the Shiloh National Military Park Commission Has Done Since Its Organization.
Given April 7, 1906 at Dedication of the Wisconsin Monument

Under the provisions of the act of Congress to establish the Shiloh National Military Park, approved December 27, 1894, the Secretary of War appointed as
Commissioner: Colonel Cornelius Cadle, of Cincinnati, Ohio, for Army of the Tennessee,
Chairman; General Don Carlos Buell, of Paradise, Ky., for Army of the Ohio Colonel Robert F. Looney, of Memphis,Tenn., for Army of the Mississippi
Major D. W. Reed, of Chicago, Ill., Secretary and Historian and
Captain James W. Irwin, of Savannah, Tenn., agent for the purchase of land

The Commission met and organized April 2, 1895, at Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., and at once entered upon the discharge of its duties under the direction of the Secretary of War. Mr. James M. Riddell was appointed Clerk of the Commission.
Mr. Atwell Thompson, civil engineer
, of Chattanooga, Tenn., was employed to take charge of the work. Under his direction surveys were made and parallel lines run across the field from north to south, every 200 feet, upon which stakes were set 200 feet apart. From this survey levels were taken and a contour topographical map made of all the land within the limits of the park.
General Don Carlos Buell
died on November 19, 1898, and Major J. H. Ashcraft, late of the Twenty-sixth Kentucky Volunteers, was appointed in his place.
Colonel Robert F. Looney
died on November 19, 1899, and Colonel Josiah Patterson, late of the First Alabama Cavalry, was appointed in his place
Colonel Josiah Patterson died February 12,1904. and General
Basil W. Duke
, of Louisville, Ky.. was appointed in his place.

From official maps and reports, information received from residents, personal recollection of survivors of the battle, and other information, roads, field and camps were restored, battle lines and positions of troops located and shown on the map and marked by historical tablets on the ground. Four maps have been made which show the field of operations, the approaches to Shiloh, and a map of each day's battle. Copies of these maps accompany this report.

The Shiloh National Military Park contains about 3,500 to 3,600 acres of land, traversed by about twenty-five miles of macadamized roads, with paved ditches, stone or concrete bridges and culverts with head walls, which have been constructed at a cost of $83,983.18 to date of Commissioners' last report, August 31, 1906.

Dead trees have been cut away and replaced by young trees and the underbrush has been cut out and is kept cut out yearly, so that the whole has the appearance of a well-kept, beautiful park, which in truth it is in every respect.

The United States Government has erected five mortuary monuments to Wallace, Peabody and Raith (Union), Johnston and Gladden (Confederate). They are of the same design, except that of "Wallace, and are placed where the respective officers fell. There have also been erected by the United States, headquarters monuments, all of the same design, at the places where five division — McClernand, W. H. L. Wallace, Hurlbut. Sherman, and Prentiss — and nine brigade — Hare, Ross, Tuttle, McArthur, Sweeny, Veatch, McDowell, Stuart and Peabody — headquarters were located.

There are 226 guns mounted in the park, all in positions where batteries fought on both days and on both sides. They are mounted on cast-iron carriages, the trails and wheels being placed on concrete foundations. These guns mark 127 Union and 99 Confederate battery positions. Iron tablets planted into cement foundations have been erected, showing 226 Union and 171 Confederate positions, with appropriate legends thereon.

In addition to these there are erected 254 more iron tablets, divided as follows: Union camp tablets, 83; general historical tablets, 25: brigade headquarters tablets. 9; explanatory tablets 6: law tablets 6; iron road signs 90; grave markers, 35; grand total of iron tablets, signs and markers, 651, all of a permanent nature. In addition to these, the Government is about to erect one monument to each arm of the service in commemoration of the Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery of the United States Army participating in the battle, an appropriation of $6,000 having been made by the Congress of the United States for that purpose.

The remains of Union soldiers were taken up and placed in the National Cemetery, located on the bank of the Tennessee River, overlooking the same for many miles. It is a most beautiful, well-kept, but sorrowful, spot, with its 3,617 graves staring you in the face, of which 2,377 are marked "Unknown."

The remains of Confederate soldiers were, immediately after the battle, placed in five large common graves on the battlefield, and have since been properly surrounded by concrete walls and coping, and have been appropriately marked. These bodies have never been disturbed.
(I wonder if the Commission did know of additional burial trenches and if so why they were not marked or documented where they were located, even if on private property)

The history of Shiloh campaign and battle, which we deem necessary to publish in this book, was compiled by Major D. W. Reed, the Secretary and Historian of the Shiloh National Military Park Commission, who has given this work the most careful research and labor. He has spared no pains to ascertain the truth, and has presented it fairly and squarely, and this report of the campaign and battle of Shiloh stands today for all time as the true official version thereof.

To Major D. W. Reed, personally, the Wisconsin Shiloh Monument Commissioners are indebted more than they can here express. From the very beginning of our work he has been patient, helpful and courteous, and has done everything in his power to help put us right and to lighten our labors. We render him this tribute out of the fullness of our hearts.

What the Several States Have Done.

Illinois has erected one State monument, one cavalry monument and one monument to each of its organizations (which latter are of one design) participating in the battle, a total of forty monuments, of which we take pleasure in presenting some views herein.

Ohio has erected thirty-four monuments, one for each Ohio organization engaged in the battle, all being of granite and all being of different design. We present some of them on accompanying plates herein.

Indiana has erected twenty-two monuments, all of one design, for the arm of service they represent, and. of course, inscribed with proper legends and dedicated to each organization which had fought in the battle. We present some for the information of readers.

Iowa erected the most conspicuous State monument upon the ground, as well as one monument to each of the organizations from that State participating in the battle, a total of twelve monuments. The organization monuments are of one pattern. We take great pleasure in showing what our neighboring State has done.

Pennsylvania erected a very beautiful monument, of which we produce a picture, for the Seventy-seventh Infantry, the only regiment from that State in the battle of Shiloh.

Minnesota had but one organization engaged in the battle of Shiloh. but has erected a very handsome monument within sight of the Wisconsin monument.

Tennessee is represented by one monument, erected, as we understand, by private subscription. It is neat and appropriate and does the donors great credit. We take great pleasure to here present it to readers.

Alabama is represented by one monument, the gift of the Alabama Society of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and we present a picture thereof. It does the "Daughters" credit.

We are under obligations, and here tender our thanks to. The Illinois and Ohio Commissioners and to the St. Louis and Tennessee River Packet Company for the loan of some of their plates used by us in this book.

There is a grand total of one hundred and fourteen monuments now erected in memory of troops of various States who participated in this battle, one of the most sanguinary, if not the most sanguinary, of the War of the Rebellion. It is to be hoped that eventually all States having troops in that battle will do their memory justice by erecting monuments to them.
 
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