The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-11-20
IN HONORED HERO.
Unwilling of General Thomas Statue
A'."N
whose Rsyered Memory, Like a
Bow OF Peace,
Spans and Arches all the Clouds Of
War;"
Grafton Of Hon. Stanley Matthews.
r..I,.it;ao ~ fha A.r,v paurior
Grafton of Hon. Stanley Matthews.
Festivities of the Army Reunion.

FESTIVITIES VI lnb Army hbunIOH
sEErISG Of THE ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND
wAsulSGroS, D. G., November 49,
The Society OF the Army ot the Cumber
IsnI had business meeting 10 the fore
1oos Upon the platform were Governor
Matthews and Gems. Hartranft, Butterfield
and EimbaIl. The meeting was called tc
order By Gen. James A. Garfield, who
tl,ed that owing to the illness of the
President Of the Society, Gen. P, H. sher'
pl.n, be was unable TO be present. Gen,
JeF C. Davis, ST., Vice President, was
unanimously elected presiding officer, and
made brief address. District Commits.
,iOuer Phelps bid the Society welcome to
the city. Gen. Slocum followed with q
short eulogy upon "Gen. Geo. Thomas, y
whose name would go down to posterity
second to that OF no man who ever walked
on the earth. A communication was read
from Gen. Sheridan, expressing deep re.
Tet q, his absence, and committees were
SppOinted to nominate officers Of the So
cieiy for the coming year, to decide upon
the time and place for the next annual
meeting, and to select an orator for that
OCCASION. After some routine business
Ihemeeting adjourned, and the members
vent to their positions in the procession.
THE DAY AND TIE DECORATIONS.
The city presents gala day appearance.
The streets are thronged with people seek
ng places from which to view the march
Of the Army OF the Cumberland and the
unreiling Of thestatue Of General Thomas.
The buildings, both public and private,
dong the route are very generally and
handsomely decorated. The Quartermas.
erGeneral's building was proiusely drap-
ed with the National colors and display.
ing large number OF flags that were torn
and rddled on the battle fields OF the
Mexican war. Stretched across the
street is well executed portrait OF Gen.
trSl Thomas. The decorations at Four.
tenth street circle. where the statue is
erected, are very rich. Around the cir
de are thirty.eight lofty poles united by q
rope Of evergreen, each pole bearing the
ensign or the coat Of arms OF q State,
aud panel commemorating the battles in
Which the Army OF the Cumberland was
engaged, or the name OF one Of its deceas-
I'd General officers. Z
1t each Of the four corners Of the pc.
lestal there is pole corresponding with
poles representing the States and hanked
By stacks Of muskets and field pieces, the
spaces intervening being ornamented
Sith pyramids OF cannon balls. Here also
4 platform has been erected capable OF
seating fifteen hundred persons. The
platform for the speakers is within this,
aud its panels bear panels on which are
Inscribed the names Of Anderson, Sher-
man, Buell. and Rosecrans. In addition
to these appear panels at various points
bearing the names OF Brigader Generals
Terrell, B. s. McCook, Sill, Lytle, Harker,
and Daniel McCook, who were killed in
battle or died OF wounds. Hundreds OF
other panels are scattered throughout.
The decorations are inscribed with the
names Of all the corps aud division CON-
mlnders Of the Army Of the Cumberland.
Handsome private residences around the
circle are also very tastetully decorated.
The procession was formed on Penn
tyenue. near the Capitol, and started
promptly at one o'clock. The procession
E2composed Of Eve divisions, and was one
hour passing the given point. General
L. L. Crittenden was chief marshal, Sssist-
ed by the following marshals Of the divi-
SONS, each Of whom was attended by
brilliant staff: General R. D. Muasey, H.
'. B0yntOn, E. A. Carman, B. F. Grafton,
Col, S. R. Hamett.
CDon arriving at the circle where the
statue is placed the ceremonies OF the un-
Yelling Were begun by prayer. Hail to
the Chief and Star Spangled Banner were
sung by grand chorus with the band
drum corps, and the artillery accompa-
nment. The statue was then unveiled, the
people at distance being informed Of the
Act by the salute Of thirteen guns from
tort Whipple. The Grand Hymnus was
then given by q chorus Of one hundred
male voices, supported by the military
band and drum corps and artillery. At
The conclusion OF the Hymlus, Stanley
Matthew'S delivered the oration.
GRAFTON OF STANLEY MATTHEWS.
The name OF George Henry Thomas
Soldier and Patriot-has already been in
sCdbed on that scroll of honorable fame
Ehich posterity will reverently guard In
the archives OF our national history. To-
day Art, summoned to Its proper work,
lifts alOtt the dignity and majesty OF his
person, as the Society Of the Army OF the
Cumberland, by these public acts aud
slIemu ceremnnials, dedicates to the peo-
pie Of the United States the form and
presence oi its beloved commander.
Surely this was noble subject for the
nodeler's plastic hand! What dignity
and power, what 6rmness and self.posses'
sion, what immohility. aud yet what quiet
graCiOusnesS, what gravity aud what be-
nightly, were set together in the manly
proportions OF his physical frame! A
presence to inspire respect, but winning
confidence and trustl He was large, firm
planted, and paternal, like sturdy oak
striking its roots deep in the earth, but
with outspreading branches offering pro.
tection and shelter from fierce heats and
dercer storms. Large and weighty, his
movements were easy and quiet: his pos.
lures and gestures unobtrusive, 90 that
his port and mien suggested reserve oi
strength not called into action. Thus his
Physical power seemed to be magnifed
and vet there was nothing in him ponder
Gus, overwhelming, or boisterous, and be
o'eathed and spoke gently and in soft
zones, like a woman or child. In fine
Aewas- -
"A combination aud form, iudSed,
Where every god did seem 10 set bis sal
10 give the world AsIurance OIL man"
The proportions oil his physical frame
we're in harmony with those OF the spirit
aaI body which Inhabited and animated It
the internal as well as the external mar
vas va Statuesque, massive, monumental
NISor and endurance were qualities alike
o. bis material aud his mental constitu
ton. Strength was the base and pedi
uent on which was grounded and bull
up the lofty structure OF his character
capped and crowned with simplicity
whole in himsclF'-a shalt aud column
OF Dortc style aud beauty:
"Rlrh 10 saving common senss,
And aS tbs greatest only are,
10 his simplicity, sublime"
20 tod ga! hssd, which all men knew,
iEon nerve 10 true occasion true, .
ut1lIIn al length thai toWaF al afFRnFth