The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-22
DEDICATION or THE sEDGwICK HoxUMEsT.


10 the memory OF the late Major General John Sedg-
wick, United States Volunteers, was unveiled and
polemDly inaugurated yesterday afternoon at the
united states Military Academy at West Point.
Al three O'Clock p. NJ, amid heavy and con-
sinuous RAIN which thoroughly saturated the walks
and grass OF the parade aud the drops falling inces
tsntiy from the trees The military portion OF the
procession formed which included battery OF light
artillery tof SIX guns, the bands of West Point
of Governors Island and OF the First United
States artillery combined grand musical com
pany Of seventy Instruments which preceded the
companies OF cadets, nearly 800 OF whom were
under arms, commanded by Brevet Brigadier GEN
esI Pitcher. The entire procession which included
many distinguished gentlemen, some OF whose
names are historical being placed charge OF Major
General Wright, chairman OF the committee Of four
generals, 81 OF whom had served honor
abby 10 the sixth corps, and entrusted
by formal resolution Of Congress with the
execution OF the splendid statue, which VIII stand
for al the future a memorial OF OF the most be-
loved ana heroic Of the soldiers Of the war for the
preservation OF the Union.
At fifteen minutes past three the procession, which
had formed ON the southeastern side Of the plain,
received the signal 10 march, and Immediately the
soldiery proceeded down the westerly avenue
towards the platform, armed with umbrellas, where
The distinguished guests We're seated together WIN
tDe orator Of the day and the chaplain OF the post.
within u few feel was the monument, IN the en-
irene northwesery corner OF the parade, opposite
the residence of Colonel Black, commandment OF The
corps OF cadets, and about 200 feet from the shaft
erected 10 the memory of Major General Brown. ana
which, until the prayer prepared for the occasion was
read by she chaplain was concealed by the national
Nag, that fell in graceful folds around II.
Al The close OF the invocation Major General
Ricke.I who during the lifetime OF Sedg-
wick had commanded the Third division
Of the sixth Army Corps OF volunteers, al
vanced 10 the pedinent OF the monument, and amid
with ncads uncovered. the cadets having previously
formed IN close column, doubling on their centre,
presented arms the battery at the same time irving
lii cen guns unveiled the statue.
The statue is splendid work Of art. 1t perfectly
represents the man. Ii Is Of life size and Is placed
on pedment which. with The foundation, raises
the whole memorial 10 an altitude Of about ff-
teen feet The figure is happily conceived. The
fneathed sword rests on the ground. The hilt Is
covered WITH right. gauntletted hand the left rest
ing upon H. and his fatigue cap, as II just removed
from the head tn give the wide open eyes clearer
Wow, il held carelessly between the sword and the
body. The sash is tied carelessly abound the waist
the iassels hanging little behind lie miaiie or the
size. The head Is thrown slightly forward If the
eyes were serutinizng some object In the near dis
fance, while the mouth wears y sad yet resoute
Smile.
lie is supposed to be looking ut the rapidly rising
waters OF the ChickahOmny, While standing at the
head OF his corps on the hitler side, while another
corps OF the Army OF the Potomac Is being .anni-
hated By the rebel army under Lee He s ordered
composites the perilous feat. The pose OF the life
IKE hglre, as i Is supposed to be standing on the
raging and rolling river, Is thus eloquently alluded
10 ny Mr. Curtis, the orator OF the OCCASION
Fee how hs s.ory opened for ended Amer
a I ans he n a Ts ass o ns
army lay upon eastern side Of the chisssSoiny and
Shore Xaroas storm Il: night promised 70 ssel the
ss daM po % Union one ne IN s
one wing OF the army In full sound and sight OF their broth
@ h isssa pnGa % ss By
commanded division, ordered cross,
.sea Q call him. advance; bqt sodswck
merely By Far the waves PLANK appa
Jeny anchored showed the channel; beyond the further
perious task feel his way through
neayi battery OF .wehyiou guns ana Men TO trust ira
ssyosa g s % isf
pressed Aaer calm snough,tu ,.wey he gave
.teady line the runcarriages sunk almost guns
So1dsn, ase,ng out painfully draggd on soldiers and
away az they LETT II, ioins again through The swift water
driving their victorious columns a. = wedge between ,h'
aide ancestor sedswek swiftly advanced, Nmed ms line
recoed before his tremendous fire. his Whole division u
blazing line Of battle moved steadily on seized the stricken
was won.
II is enough to say OF the conception OF the figure
and face or This image OF the hero that il IL entirely
worthy Of the artist. IL Is monument Of genius.
There II but one fault, and that IL serious one. The
pointed out not one visitor In hundred 10 the Ma
fonal Academy will ever notice IT,
Toe inscription on IT'S pediment Is a. follows
JOHN SEDGWlCK.
United States Volunteers,
Born Sept. Is. lSls.
Killed III battle, al Spottsylyana, Va, I
May 2, ls6i :
; While In command OF the Sixth Corps !.
Army 0i the Potomac. :
The sixth Army Corps. :
NJ loving admiration Oh It's Commander, :
bedicates this statue :
10 his !
Memory. !
The above Is on metal plate inserted in the south
panel, while on The eastery side tine insignia the
corps, The Maltese cross y placed, surrounded by
wreath In metal taurel leaves. ON the westerly
eaaie also surrounded by wreath Tne northerly
panel * without inscription insignia. The cross
al the corps i also placed on The let breast nj the
statue.
The silence which Immediately preceded the IN
veing was followed by rounds oi applause, all pre-.
sent beng evidently highly pleased with the me
mortal
Jhe stripping was followed b, music nom the
united bands which lew moments before had rem
dcrei IN magnificent style the ,T0sot A0tsr.
The orator then advanced To the front OF the stand
and white an officer Of the army held All umbrella
over his head and manuscript 10 shield him anu II
from the that fell during the greater part OF the
delivery OF his splendid enlogum 10 memory Of
The dead.
Er. Curtis commenced b, referring to the ..hstori,
Lilis- which surrounded the assemblage and OF the
thlstnrc rver' roWlnp ~ their feet, ana or tht
ground upon which Washington trod, and the rem
inisccDscs OF the revolution that mad made rhe Ma
tnnal school "a school for heroes. ana then abiding
incidentally 10 the beautiful statue. branched of
Iito review Of the work OF the Purltans
and showed that Ia every held, although
rLeered ut for their sterling peGy by the
cavaliers. they won the victory Of freedom
aid Of progress both for the Old World and for this
iIe then referred TO an ancestor Of the dead hero,
MAJOR General Robert Sedgwick, q Puritan, VINO
fought siernly ana unriuchingly under the great
cromwell. and was entrusted ny that lesder with an
important mission to an island IN the West Indies
snd who. Charles the Second returning to the Eng
SisL throne. rather than bow the Knee 10 royalty,
Hs.ed for Connecticut, and there founded the Sedy-
w,Ok family. representative OF which, grandfather
Ia Major General John sedgwick, fought through the
Revolutionary war and was subsequently, made a
MAJOR General Of militia by the state OF Connecticut.
Ihc orator then In eloquent terms reviewed the
career of the deceased during the rebellion and
,erior thereto, closing with a magnificent perora-
ton.
Ia consequence OF the rain storm but few compare
fvely present Among those on the platform
were noticed Mr.. q. H. Tompkins Senator Foster Of