Trees. It being the object of the commission to restore the timber upon the fields that have been cleared since the battle, some 300 trees have been planted around the boundaries of these fields to mark them and many seeds of different varieties planted in the fields themselves. These trees and seedlings are growing well. Monuments.-The State of Illinois has erected 37 granite regimental monuments upon the battlefield, upon foundations put in by this commission. They have contracted for a cavalry monument, the design for which has been approved by you, and are now preparing a general State monument at a cost of about $25,000. The State of Ohio has prepared 34 monuments which will be erected during this year. The foundations for these have already been erected by us. The State of Iowa is preparing to erect 11 regimental monuments and one State monument, the latter to cost $25,000. The State of Indiana has appropriated $25,000 for their 19 organizations engaged at Shiloh. Their State commission was with us this month and selected the positions for the monuments. The State of Wisconsin, with three organizations in the battle, has appropriated $10,000, and we meet with them in October to decide upon the locations for their monuments. The State of Pennsylvania has appropriated $4,000 for its one organization, the Seventy-seventh Regiment of Infantry, engaged at Shiloh, and we shall meet them in October. Other States are considering appropriations for monuments. Tablets. Three sets, three in each set, of general historical tablets have been erected, one for the Army of the Tennessee, one for the Army of the Ohio, and one for the Army of the Mississippi. Each tablet succinctly states the organization of each army, its general movement during the battle, together with its strength and casualties. One set is placed at the entrance of the park upon the Corinth road, one at Shiloh Church, and one at Pittsburg Landing. One hundred and ninety-nine historical tablets for the first day's battle have been erected. These are placed upon iron posts set in concrete. The face of these tablets is painted white, the letters and borders painted as follows: Blue for the Army of the Tennessee, yellow for the Army of the Ohio, and red for the Army of the Mississippi, so that they may be easily distinguished. One hundred and forty second-day tablets will be required. These will be of different design than the first day for the sake of recognition. The design has already been submitted to you for approval. A design has been prepared, which has been approved by you, for cast-iron tablets setting forth the law in relation to protection of national parks, and also a design for a tablet to mark the location of the "First tent field hospital ever used on a battlefield." Six of the "law" tablets will be placed upon the field at prominent points. Gun carriages. Plans and specifications for cast-iron gun carriages, facsimiles of those in use during the civil war, were prepared and a contract awarded to the Ross-Meehan Foundry Company, of Chattanooga, Tenn., they being the lowest bidders, for 150, with the privi lege of increasing the number 50 per cent, more or less. The total number required will be 250. Twenty-six of these carriages have already been received and placed upon the field. The carriages are painted to correspond with the colors used during the civil war; that is, the body color, or what was the wooden part of the carriage, is painted a dark green and the ironwork black. These carriages rest upon concrete blocks 18 inches square and 12 inches deep, placed so that 2 inches is above the natural surface of the ground, and to these blocks each wheel and the trail are bolted. Maps.-A large number of blue prints of the first and second day have been made and distributed among survivors of the battle for the purpose of obtaining information. A map of the country between Pittsburg Landing and Corinth, Miss., showing all the roads over which the Confederate Army moved, and a map of the "Field of operations," from which the Union and Confederate armies were concentrated at Shiloh, have also been made. Warehouse. There being no warehouse at the park in which to store material used on the park, a frame building 30 by 60 feet, with an iron roof, has been erected. It serves not only as a storehouse but as a shop for wood working. Estimate. The commission has submitted to you an estimate for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1903, of $40,000. Expenditures.-The expenditures since the last report are as follows: Inclosed herewith are certain photographs,' self-explanatory, for file with this report. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, The SECRETARY OF WAR, CORNELIUS CADLE, Chairman. Washington, D. C. 1 Not printed. WAR 1901-VOL 1, PT 1– -25 |