Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-05-17
, excel that great achievement.


the statue was disclosed its appearance was
greeted by the corps OF Cadets, who fired
three rounds, and minute guns were also
fired from the field piece on the opposite
eminence. The monument is not vet
quite complete (sone of the inscriptions re- 4
naming to be cuta nd the bronze tablets
yet to be placed) but will be finished in
few days time. The work was hurried
forward for the occasion of yesterday Be
low we append description of the monu-
ment and statue as completed.
After this ceremony, the. choir sung
another ....5 @
ORIGINAL ODE.
Why does Won warworn Soldier stand
His lone and silent watch to keep?
No fOeman's step is on the land.
None, but the dead, around him sleep.
With LEE many battle field f.t
This gallant Soldier fought in vain,
With " HITTING bled, but would not yield,
On Fishers ramparts, piled with slain.
And now on each Memorial Day
Your vigil DER your comrades keep,
Oh Soldiers OF the honored grey,
Guard we'll the spot where heroes sleep.
The ladies then presented their
FLORAL OFFERINGS.
There were many handsome tributes to
Individual dead, whose names the Marshal
read aloud as he laid each distinctive offer
ing at the foot of the monument This
completed, the
BENEDICTION
was pronounced by the Chaplain. At the
close of the ceremonies the friends Of the
many fallen brave of our city, buried in
private lots, repaired tc their graves and
decorated them most beautifully.
For the benefit Of friends abroad we give
the following description of the grounds,
monument and statFs
THE 1coNREDERATE ENCLOSURE.
is situated upon commanding eminence
fronting the main entrance to Oakdale
Cemetery, and within a stones throw of
the gate. 1t is an oval enclosure, 50x75
/ feet, surrounded by a wrought iron railing,
| lined with an inner hedge of euonymus
| evergreen plants. The surface of the lot
| is covered with grass, save where neat
/ and comfortable walk leads from the east
ern and western gates and around the
! monument. The whole face of the lot is
| level, and beneath the sod repose i'll one
common grave the sacred dust of 4G6 Con-
federate soldiers.
THE MONUMENT,
which has just been placed in position, os-
/ cupieS the centre Of the lot, and the statue
! with which it is surmounted can be seen
! from almost every part of the Cemetery
| grounds, and also may be viewed from
afar off bef,re entering the Cemetery.
! The monument is of North Carolina granite,
and made by Mr.. LIneham, at his quarry
upon the Raleigh & CASTOR Railroad. 1t is
| put up in sections consisting of the base,
! sub-base, die and cap. The whole serves
as a grand pedestal for q magnificent
BRONZE STATUE OF A CONFEDERATE
SOLDIER,
! y feet high, designed by Mr.. O'DonO-
! van, of Virginia, and executed by Maurice
/ j. Power, of New York. The height of
! the monument and statue, is Is feet, 3
/ inches, but it attains an entire height of IS
! ieet, inches, by being set upon grass
oo-,o~,.l ,r,o,,,, ! $50, q IIUIIeS nIgn. Iue
IL
| base, 1 foot; the die, feet; the cap foot,
3 inches. The statue faithfully represents
noble looking Confederate infantry pri-
Vate, standing at ease with an Austrian
rifle in hand, and cloal1ed in a regular
army Overc0at. Hanging upon the left hip,
from the belt with which he is girded, is
the bayonet, shcathed; and attached to the
belt behind is seen the cartridge box, with
the letters c. S. upon it. The belt plate in
front also bears these letters. Upon
the head of the statue is an ordinary mill
taly fatigue cap, displaying in front the
letters n. G. The statue is perfectly pro-
pOrtiOned, and is pronounced by art critics
magnificent III design and execution, and is
fitting monument to our brave Confederate
martyrs and worthy testimonial of the
noble, uniting efforts Of the La,:ies' Memo
rial Association.
THE INSCRIPTIONS.
The monument and statue fronts to the
west. Upon both tie eastern and wes-
tern faces Of the base appears the simple
inscription,
" 10 the
Confederate
Dead"
On the North lace of the base,
:" Pro Patria."
And on the South,
EDeo VindIce.n
In the die upon each the eastern and
western sides are bronze tablets, display
ing in profile the heads of LEE and JACK
son, respectively. These are surrounded
with wreath of myrtle, beneath WHICH
appear two Confederate ,Ga@~ !
Ioyr -, rIUIS Cne tablets are weapons |
and munitions Of war. Upon the North |
face Of the die is the inscription,
':Tha hearts that were true
to their county and God,
viii report at the
GraDd Reveille.''
And on the South,
q Erected
by the
I.adts Memorial Association"
The5ew York San is au.horftyhfor the |