Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1881-10-15
1881 YORKTOWN 1881
The Monument to be Erected
Upon the Field of Battle.
THE DESIGNS AND INSCRIPTIONS.
A Cut Showing All OF its Proper
tiOnS.
ORDERS TO THE TROOPS.
PROGRAM OF THE CELEBRATION.

The commission of artists, as provid-
ed by the act of June 7, 1880, was ap-
pointed by the Secretary of War, in let
ters dated July %, 1880. and consisted
of r. M. Hunt, of New York; J. @. 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:
ssFrom the point 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 inde-
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 sue
cinct narrative OF the siege, prepared in
accordance with the original archives
in the Depar tment 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 constitution,
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 l. 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 it's 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 ola government
of the people, by the people, for the
people, the column thus adorned cul-
inmates with Liberty herself, stal
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
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 fol
the purpose of 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 "Capital,
resting directly on the final course o.
the column; 5, the PEDESTAL" which
supports the figure surmounting the
monument; and 6, the "Figure," are
in height as follows: Base, 25 feet
inches; podium, IA feet inches; shaft
35 feet l inch /; capital, 5 feet inches
pedestal, 3 feet 9 inches figure, II fee
inches making the total height from
the bottom of the base, resting on thu
surface of the ground, to the top of tn,
figure, 95 feet 6 inches. The bottom o
the base covers q surface area of 945.5(
feet. The area for inscriptions on eacl
side of the base is 15 $3.50 square inches
The greatest diameter of the podium i
feet 3 inches. The height of tn,
thirteen figures surrounding the podiun
is 8 feet. The diameter of the shaft a
the bottom, 5 feet 5 inches, and at tn
top feet.
The inscriptions on the base of th'
monument are to be as follows:
[NoRTH.l
Erected
In pursuance of
A resolution of Congress, approved October 27
1881, and one approved June 7, 1880,
To commemorate the victory
by which
The independence of the United States O
America was achieved.
[soUTH.]
AT Yorktown, on October 10, 1881,
After siege of nineteen days,
BY $500 Americans, 1000 French Infantry {
the Line, $500 Militia, under command of
Gov. Thos. Nelson, and SO French
Ships of the Line,
Earl Corvallis,
Commander of the British forces at Yorktow