The Portland daily press., 1879-11-20
THE THOMAS STATUE.
Imposing Ceremonies in Washing
ton Yesterday.
DESCRIPTION OF THE STATUE.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19.-The ceremony of
unwilling the statue of General Thomas took
place to-day. The city was thronged and the
hotels crowded with visitors All the great
army organizations were represented. The
city was deliberately decorated. The reunion
was the most imposing event in the city since
the grand review at the close of the war.
The society of the Army OF Cumberland
met this morning. Two hundred members
were present. General Garfield called the
meeting to order, and as owing to illness, Cen
eral Sheridan was not present. General Jeffer-
son G. Davis was chosen presiding officer.
District Commissioner Phelps welcomed the
society to Washington. General Slocum pro-
nounced a short eulogy upon the late General
Thomas. The President announced commit
tees for nominating officers Tor next year.
Tie procession, under Gen. Crittenden, was
headed by an escort of regular cavalry. The
first division, under Gen. Muzzey, comprised
veterans of the Mexican war and the Grand
Army of the Republic The second division,
under Gen. Henry V. Boynton, comprised the
local committee, President Hayes, the orator.
Senator Ma ews, the cabinet, diplomatic
corps Justices OF the Supreme Court, Vice
President Wheeler. Senators and officers, Gov
errors of States and their stats; mayors and
officers of the different cities, the societies of
the Army OF the Ohio, and of the Potomac, of
the Tennessee, of the James, and invited
guests. The third division, under Gen. Car
man. comprised battalion OF regulars, Gen.
Sherman and staff, Gems. Hancock, Schofeld,
Mcdowell, jeff G. Davis and staff. The fourth
division, under Gen. Grafton, comprised Adj
mirals Porter, Rowan and staff, Rear Admirals
and Commodores, and other lesser naval Off
GERS. The fifth division, under Col. Hamil,
comprised the militia of Washington, Alexan-
dria, Gainesville, Richmond, Norfolk, Balti-
more, Washington fire department and Wash
ington police.
The city presented gala-day appearance.
The streets were thronged, and the buildings,
both public and private. along the route of the
procession were handsomely decorated. The
Quartermaster-General's building, corner Of
from the ground floor to the fifth story was
profusely draped with the national colors and
a large number of silk flags.
The decorations on Fourteenth street at the
circle where the statue is erected, were very
rich and elaborate.
The procession formed on Pennsylvania Av-
enue, near the Capital and started promptly
at one o'clock, and was an hour in passing.
Upon its arrival at the circle where the statue
stands the following ceremonies took place:
Prayer.
Musc-"Hail to the Chief
"Star spangled Banner" by chorus with the
Marine Band and drum corps. and artillery
accompanied by Battery A.
The unwilling Of the statue.
Salute of 10 guns at Fort Whipple and by Hanna
mans battery.
voices, supported by the Marine band, drum
corps and artillery
Grafton by Hon. Stanley Matthews, and presenta-
ton of the statue as an offering from the Army
of the Cumberland to the nation.
Acceptance by the President in behalf Of the people
of the United States.
At the conclusion of ex-senator Matthew'S
address, which elected much applause, Presi-
dent Hayes assembled the platform and said:
SIN the name of the people of the United
States, accept this noble statue, so worthy its
subject, erected in honor of Gen. Geo. H.
Thomas by his comrades of the illustrious
army OF the Cumberland" (Cheers.)
The exercises at the circle, which lasted two
hours, closed with President Hayes acceptance
of the statue 1t is estimated $4,000 people
were in the throng that surrounded the en-
closure. A general holiday was observed
throughout the city, and the entire populace
appeared to be in the street. The capitol,
treasury department and several other build
ings were illuminated with electric lights in
the evening, while Pennsylvania avenue was
ablaze with gas and densely packed with peo-
pie. Rockets and bombs were sent up from
the south front of the treasury department and
from various parts of the city. The exercises
of the society of the Army of the Cumberland
in the big tent i'll the evening were attended
by a large concourse. The assemblage was
addressed by President Hayes, Gems. Sherman,
Buell., Garfield and Mcdowell.
Those who are competent judges pronounce
the statue perfect in all its details. 1t repre-
sents Gen. Thomas as having suddenly check
ed his horse on the summit of a slight activity
to make an observation, and he sits with
lOosened rein and hat off, surveying the field
with searching eye. The horse, in complete
sympathy in thought and motion with his rid
er, looks abroad with head raised high in the
air, swelling neck and chest and fore feet
firmly planted on strip of rock. His name
and uplifted tail are tossed by the wind, and
one of his hind feet on the slope is placed be-
fore the other. Rider and steed are erect and
eager at the first view, and full of the glow
caused by the quick ride up the ascent. The
former sits easily, firmly and straight, leaning
slightly backward with the action of the horse
and in his effort to get the furthest possible
horizon. With his lett hand he holds the rein.
while in his right, hanging down to the sad
dle-cloth, are his army SLOUGH hat and gloves.
His ~doable-breasted military frock coat is
picturesque and well-managed folds. The
skirts fall over his right leg, and are blown
back on to his left thigh. His plain riding
boots rest in open stirrups, and his sword
hangs on his left side. There is no fummery,
no needless trapping. The General is free in
his saddle and in trim for active work. One
rein, bride. bit, surcingle, breast and belly
bands, a Mcclellan saddle, and cloth are the
horses caparison. There are no holsters, hous-
ings, saddle-bags or blanket This ex-
concentrates the attention on the rider and
horse. The lines from the junction of the
lifelike head of the horse, with eyes wide open
and swelling nostrils, with the neck, down to
the fore hoois, are grandly graceful; the side
to side swaying motion in unison, of the hind
quarters of the animal and the body of the
rider, caused by the ascent, is admirably
caught at the moment of pause, and is espe-
cially well carried out in the anatomy of the
latter's hack seen through his coat. The face
OF Gen. Thomas is expressive, and the head
well modelled. The intent expression, as he
looks with firmly compressed Jaw, and with
that intense interest which imparts earnest
ness to the entire figure, is well rendered. The
figure of the horse is admirably given. 1t is
especial lily good anatomically, and has noticea-
bly, careful veining. The whole work is about
10 feet in height from the ground upon which
the animal stands to the top of the riders
head, nearly on level with which his own
rises. The figures are about twice life size.
The color of the bronze is clear light brown,
almost the natural color of the alloy. 1t
stands on pedestal of granite, in horizontal
sec tons Of eliptical shape, about IS feet in
height, on which there are decorations and
tablets, also of bronze, representing the badge
of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland,
partly surrounded by wreath of laurel The
cost of the statue was 1900, which sum was
subscribed by the members of the society and