New-York tribune., 1879-09-01
Ir Is UNYEMED AT WE rOr9ri

1 n
DESCRIPTIONS ~ THE sTATUR.
| WEST POINT, \. Y, Aug. 31.-Abont 900
people gnthercd yesterday 10 witness the c.re.
noniss OF the unyeipg Of The Custer .atnc steamer
500 from Pougnseepsic and iEterc- cdato points
md several hundred more arrived b. trans aad
| boats from and down the river.
The stands n the centre OF the Grcen In the
angle formed by the messha and tie structure
containing the oleers hoadqc<Ffers. On the western
edge stand for the speakers aud cstia xGsacd
uests ped tue National coiors Back OF this wa,
number " benches for the other gGes In the rear
OF yeats, and down either side Of the Green WIS
stretched Il rope. along which clustered the crowd
when GeDeraI Hancock arrived, at il a. major.
generals salute of thirteen guns nrcd Shortly
sfte- =. the battalion Of cadets and the Cadet
Idght Battery formed the general parade 10
following order: The battalion -. Cadets, preceded
BY the Military Academy Band; the committee gucsis
an o.Hcerr; tie battery Tio procession marched 70
the road rrvnt Of the mcss-sa and ln the OF
the platform. aud formed ia line along tho roadway.
GA .Lc platform WERE among others. haisl-Gsncrai
srhoa aed NIj,r-General Hancock. ths Hon. n !?
Bausa tae Hon Hamilton Fis1, Dr. Agnow, OF New
Ycrk, Dcnas Barnes judge wickhan, OF H. Loais,
ex Goyslnor and General John G. Robinson, Caapla,
Forsy.h. ADJ ltent-Goneral Wherry, and corps Of
cadets oxA.senbly man Niles. OF wes.chesier County:
John Mccullough. the trsecdian; AlsernoE s. Sullivan,
The Rev wendell! Prime, Ex-Governor aorg'n. Rnfas II.
Andrsws, aud state Senator ID. g. ~. John.
Tae West Bsnd began the exercises witn cirgS
after which General Hancock introduced Al;ernon :.
Sullivan who delivered eoQnegt tribute 10 the d.
ceased hero formally presented the statue to tie
United States Government
a.. sullivan said;
LADiEs AND GEsTLniES; Countless Individual soi
wben hrsod winieried, at the battle OF sempach.
uataered ns the bhesf O Austrian spes, Who
force lt courage vi bicn " made Way Tor liberty and
broke Austrian phslsnX 10 heat o; II Is to taste
aal fountain 20 which humanity has
so ong inspirations OF her0isu fbo deed aas
strong, q was an expression ol spiris. power VITA
prrpo.s behigd All SnIztrGEGs Sreat VIII was 10
lie prvuOuuccd, sld Arnold emphasized u " action
Tns 20; uAs timely ANA eloquent deciafatOn Death
was simply the herald 10 pro a.me IT, The acor had
prcreri,d something TO is aLd tna ,on"ihng was tue
de- of bis army comrades and tbe fltLiu performance
oi tuo tIGsl which FOR the 4e being fell upon him.
Bat the name wGich We have come TO enianrel VIII
ever bright and high IN the honorcd roll ltis
tbst Of sO.le- TO praise Whoin tr'tbcts foh none
We express the tribute OF those 20 'h rave
honest for disuncfon IL Is IKE the hishtst mill
tary reward known among tnc homan5. A.e-e cele
IT sodies aud west Point oficer-Goper.i Geor.e a.
Custer More than tbI.e years aso on tae
one aad ali fEhtiag a brave aud desperate
battle to the last. lie. WORTHY leader OF noble so-
with a Nar which put peril frontier settlements aud
unprotected enlgraais-scazed that the one dty de-
voiyluQ unon him 70 tae nrHt opportunity 70
strike the The sigut OF the euony was 10 De ac-
eeped a. tas slSnSl LOT step ser' ioal Wetse
General Custcr tLoir loader ana representative ms
statue bronze erect - an enduring rememuran
n wa. me wish CT those have caused II 10 ne pre-
pared tt i should tEe grounds Of Custer much
~ b led ss icn ~ the lIde OF iing soldier
AZ the mODcat of hand tO Lsnd de"th grtppe
Win savage 100: u & W.. h"Ao'iol'" !" NC ''' wiz "'
fienera SchohelG-ro yOu. Superintendent ana rep
rese.auye of tho United states Aary Academy, 70 De
preserved trust ior tae Ary ana people ot the
whole country. accOrdAnce with the INSTRUCTIONS o,
the rotninlt..e whch have the honor 70 represent.l
deliver this MONUMENTAL statue
The SCULPTOR Mr.. wilson Mcdonald. then pulled tho
cord and the great as which yelled the statue feh TO
"a af he
uo,os OF Custers charging tune, "GGrfy OWen''
salute OF thirteen guns followed.
The statee Is eight feet high; in tho uniform Of
colonel and typhes the man IN a supreme moment oil
action just aa It might be supposed Custer made his
desperate and hn-l struggle for He Defoie nc WAS
beaten down IN a haEd-to-hand hSht
Gere.ai echoleld then accepted the statue for the
Goverum ent In the following words
On behalf OF the Military Academy, have the honor
10 tails tribute OF respect 20 he memory V Que o
her uosr gallant and stOa hearted soa% Lae Aetoic
faithful services of ner e,oi.h Or .c @ nSn
legacy whicn our alma mater transmits 10 younser keu
erstlons Tne noble examples oil those Who naSe Ss
voted heir lives puDnc service, or heey Onercc
AS sacrifice TO iher country. the seeds from
when future deyotees and PATRIOTISM cohtIhasly
,reai and extraordinary sacrifice tue puDlc
service be commemOI aied by Al eEdurn: ihohumen,,
they have earth save their honor may at any u@s
he required OF them sierince Tor lne security aua
velf.f. o, their cOuntrymen. In accepting from our
elluw-countrymen tins evidence OF their appiNri"n
OF that unqualified solderly devotion "nich was % 20
rsrdIv illustrated n the li'e aud death 0I the daring
Cnsier ard Ills daring comrades promise that IKE
this enduring bronze and granite shsh DC ln.r e0J
IA these acadl Dlc halls
Tie orator OF the day. General ~ r. Banks ~as then
i.troduced aud spoke ai length Ills remarks we're q
glowing enosy CustefE character discussion o the
history Of tho brave Hessan race, from which lie de-
scendcd and defence OF the necessity Of an Army.
Many of General Banks points were londy ap
n,aued and his treatment Of the yexed Indian dues-
tion was especially well received. Auerwara more
nlusic followed, this being popular feature o. s
snutlel Custers Last Charge" The tlOcuspnsv
rau,lerlus was very fine, anl the poem Spd ienSr' w
sefher rulce . nslked impression on mo audiences
To,s was followed by "a song, " Han and tareNsn W
Cus.r" written tho occasion by Henry AOIiol, an
.nug by aaulntoe OF professional artists fats ol 'Ho
s,ng wore enthusiastically applauded. ~.
After the benedicOn by Chaplain FOrsyth' AOtnef
salute o, thirteen guns fred aad the gathering Is
ner,s the corps OF cadets marching 20 their quarters
sud the battery wheeling tO l,s usIsl station h"u "'H
dlsoandmg