The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-05-03
THE MARTYRS MONUMENT


Arrival of the Huge Brsn.es for Lin.
Description of Then-1he Army
ami NAVY IF the Rebellion Artist
catiy MISUNDERSTANDING Tor the
Need for Legislative Action, Etc.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, April 30.-lt has
already been reported to the Tunes thaV
| the two bronze groups deslgheu 10 orha'
| ment the base OF the national Lincoln
monument have arrived here, and that
they are TO be placed in position at once.
These two groups were designed by Lar
kin e.. Meade, of Florence, Italy, who Is
also the architect OF the monument, ana
undersigned the statue OF Lincoln al
ready described in the Times. 4 ne
groups were cast in bronze by the chi
copee Arms company, OF Massachusetts,
| and are said TO be the most elaborate
| bronze castings ever executed in this
country. They are now on the monu-
ment grounds, and have been so far
| stripped of their castings that "a compare
lively good view is to be had OF them,
and a really excellent idea OF the spirit |
of the competition is obtained. lhey |
have already been inspected by many |
members OF the general assembly, anu |
by hundreds of our citizens, and bret |
description will probably be interesting.
The infantry group consists OF three
figures, the centre OF which is an oiiicer
CARRIED in the infantry uniform which
was made historic by the war OF the re
belllon, but which has been di scarded LOT
a combination dress, ornament, and as
tinctive marks gathered from the Prus-
sian and French armies, and from the
| service OF the late so-called confederate
states, This officer has seized the stall
of the colors which but moment before |
had fallen to the ground, with whlch ne |
leans on:his arm. The poise OF this CEN |
trail figure is very fine, and with the flag |
which shines out, displaying It's full gio-
ries, sixteen feet high, makes the group |
pyramidal in form. On the lett Is drum
mer boy with his drum, who has caught
the excitement OF the scene, and VINO
ru.hes forward with pistol in his right
aud drumsticks in his left hand. On the
/ right OF the officer is the figure OF pri-
waite soldier in infantry uniform, with
knapsack, and all accoutrements. in the
act of charging with the bayonet. The
features and arrangement OF dress OF the
g soldier will represent those OF the west
:, ern volunteer, and with delicate taste
Mr.. Meade has chosen for his represen-
Y tatiye iniantryman western American.
This group in honor OF the Infantry arm
of the service. which has been well
ID spoken OF as "that humble arm, good tor
-, nothing but to fight battles and win
victories. is to stand at the right OF the
I'd statue Of the emancipation and dcIiverer.
~ The naval group is better known to
the citizens of the great republic than Is
W the infantry, for by the consent OF the
tn association it was Exhibited at the cen.
tennial exposition at Philadelphia. and
there attracted much favorable comment
:: The center object l. one OF those lmlnCls'
of monitors which were brought into use
= during the celebrated expedition tor the
I" opening OF the Mississippi. They were
lh used against Island No. 10 and a9ain'
az Vick.burg, but they attained Their Ut
ch most celebrity as used III the reduction o
Ne Forts Phillips and Jackson, below New
Orleans. On one OF thee monitors /
~ perched sailor boy or powder mon
he kew" who looks constantly TO the iron
TO discover if possible the object at whicl
,r, a sailor, who is upon the right, is direct
ing his index finger. This sailor i
his proper uniform is in the act OF rolling 70
ate ward the mortar shell filed tor it, cal
bre. On the left OF the mortar Is sec
~ ond officer who has just taken from h
es- eye the glass with which he has bee
;o, viewing the position and intention OF 81
~" enemy. His figure is, although standln.
en- in complete repose, and his feature
8, well represent the assured confidence vii
.ao. which the officers OF the America
W" navy are accustomed TO look upon II
ALL enemy, or the various changes OF an ei
gagernent. The contrast between Il
T., cool confidence OF this figure and the
borious eXertion OF the sailor and the G.
on cited demeanor Of the boy Is Vel
airy striking and will be considered, il is b.
tier lieved, one Of the most interesting fe
so, lures of the group. This group is TO
placed on the left OF the Lincoln statu
so that the southern side OF the nom
who ment will represent Mr.. Lincoln wi
my the infantry on his right and the ma
and on his lett in the act OF crushing the
'ery bellion while in lis hands he holds q
hall proclamation of emancipation. Each
y at these groups weighs about four tor
the and they are to be placed in POSITION
the soon a the requisite machinery can
that arranged. When upon the pedestal the
OF will be some proper ceremony OF de
cation, which will OF course be reportc
illey The funds and subscription Of the as
com. citation are exhausted by the expense
these groups, which cost, deliver
mere el3,1O0 each. A bill is now pending
few the general assembly which provides
Re- appropriation Of s27 900 for the expe
mica VI t,ie Two othel sroups-ca'aLry
Nc nlete lie original DESIGN Tho I,.oi
The tive correspondent OF the Tines
took clearly informed the public OF the inc
:, ,ho ton and progress OF this bill, and it o
'". remains to say now that it is hoped /
hard il NAV be passed. In order that the @,
r the pletlon of the monument should
,wner longer pe delayed it requires at i
with clav me- The nIaStar .. .,oups
lie to plete bronze works, and as il il :
Mr.. pretty certain that no session of the
smart eral assembly will be held next win
NJ, :, 1t is apparent that ii the bill making
AFFECT the order from the association to
more Meade to begin work will necessa
than be delayed until the spring Of 1879,
, Tor and that the completion of the mt
io'' ment will be delayed until 1852.