The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-11-18
1881 YORKTOWN 1881
The Monument TO he Erected
Upon tie Field of Battle.
m DESIGNS Nd INSCRIPTIONS
A Cut Showing All of its Proper.
tions.
ORDERS TO THE TROOPS.
OF THE CELEBRATION

ters dated July %, 1880. and consisted
of r M. Hunt, of New York; j. Q. A.
Ward, of New York, and Henry Van
Brunt, of Boston. The commission, in
submitting the design and model, which
has been accepted by the Secretary OF
War and the commission of Congress,
and which will be the form OF the col
umn to be erected at Yorktown, re-
marks:
"From thepoint of view of sentiment,
this monument is intended to convey,
in architectural language, the idea set
forth in the dedicatory inscription, that
by the vi,tory at Yorktown the indie
pendence of the United States of
America was achieved, or brought to
final accomplishment.
"The four sides OF the base contain ::
First, an inscription dedicating the
monument as memorial of the victory;
second, an inscription presenting a sue
cinct narrative OF the siege, prepared in
accordance with the original archives
in the Department Of State; third, the
treaty Of alliance with the King of
France; and fourth, the treaty OF peace
with the King OF England. In the ped
iments over these four sides respective
ly are presented, carved in relief: First,
emblems of nationality; second, en-
blems of war; third, emblems of the
alliance and fourth, emblems of peace,
"The base is thus devoted to the his
torical statement it explains the sub.
sequent incidents of the monumental!
composition, which are intended solely
to appeal to the imagination. The
immediate result of the historical
events written upon the base was the
happy establishment of a national union
of thirteen youthful, free and indepen-
dent states. To celebrate this joyful
union the sculptor has represented
upon the circular podium which arises
from the base solemn dance of thir-
teen typical female figures, hand in
hand, encircling the drum, which bears
upon belt beneath their feet the
words, One country, one .aonstitution,
one destiny 1t is symbol of the
birth of freedom.
"The column which springs from this
podium may be accepted as the symbol
| of the greatness and prosperity OF the
nation after century of varied expe-
rience, when thirty-eight free and il de-
pendent states are shining together in
mighty constellation. 1t is the trium-
phant sign of the fulflment of the
promise-an expression Of the strength
and beauty of the Union; hut the pow
erful nation does not forget the remote
beginning of its prosperity, and in the
midst of its shining stars, bears aloft
the shield of Yorktown covering the
branch of peace.
Gas the existence of the nation is a
proof of the possibility Of government
of the people, by the people, for the
people, the column thus adorned cul-
inmates with Liberty herself, star
crowned and welcoming the people of
all nations to share equally with us the
fruits of our peace and prosperity"
The principal dimensions Of the mon
ument, taken from the drawing and
l odel in the possession of Colonel W.
P. Craighill, of Baltimore, Engineer
Corps, United States Army, who, by
direction of the Secretary of War, will
supervise its construction, divided for
the purpose of a plain understanding
by the reader into l, the "Base;" 2
the "Podium," or drum supporting the
thirteen dancing figures 3, the "Shaft, "
or upright column; 4, the "Captal"
resting directly on.the final course Of
the columns 5, the Pedestal" which
supports the figure surmounting the
monument; and 6, the "Figure," are
in height as follows; Base, % feet 8
inches; podium, IA feet 4 inches; shaft,
35 feet l inch (; capital, 5 feet A inches
pedestal, 3 feet 8 inches figure, II feet
4 inches making the total height from
the bottom Of the base, resting on the
surface OF the ground, to the top of the
figure, 95 feet 6 inches. The bottom of
the base covers surface area of 94556
feet. The ares for inscriptions on each
side of the base is 1850 square inches.
The greatest diameter of the podium is
8 feet 3 inches. The height of the
thirteen figures surrounding the podium
is s feet. The diameter of the shaft at
the bottom, feet inches, and at the
top 5 feet.
The inscriptions on the Base of the
monument are TO be as follows:
[NoRTH.1
Erected
In pursuance OF
A resolution of Congress, approved October q,
1881, and one approved June 7, 1880,
To commemorate the victory
by which
The independence Of the United States OF
America was achieved.
[soUTH.l
AT Yorktown, on October 10, 1881,
After siege Of nineteen days,
BY 8, 800 Americans, 1000 French Infantry Of
tho Line, $500 Militia, under command Of
Gov. Thos Nelson, and SO French
Ships of tho Line,
Earl CORVALLIS,
Commander OF the British forces at Yorkt)
and Gloucester, Surrendered the Army
1881 officers and men $40 seamen, 24l cannon
and "a standards,
To His Excelloncy, George Washington,
Commandor-in-C Chief of tho combined forces Of
America and France
To His Excollency the Comte do Rochambeau,
Commanding the Auxiliary troops Of His Chris
tian Majesty In America,
And TO His Excellency the Comic do Grassee,
Commanding Chief the Naval Army Of
France in Chesapeake.
lwEsT.l
The Treaty.
I Concluded February G, 177S
Between tho United Statos of America
And Louis XVI, King Of France
Declares
Tho oagpntial and direct and