The National tribune., 1883-07-05
THE LEE STATUE.
dwelling Ceremonies at Lexington, ya.-A Boast
fuI Grafton.

tnFeiHng ceremonies At LEXINGTON VIA EOHst-
full Grafton.
The Lee statue in the mausoleum at licking
ton, Va, was unveiled on the 29th ult. and
5000 people gathered on the grounds of the
Washington and Lee University to do honor to
the great general. A train from Richmond
brought few ex-Confederates, but men who
were prominent in the Confederate service were
remarkably scarce. There was very little bunt-
ing displayed in Lexington. About halfway
up the main street, hanging out the window of a
small house, was the battle-fiag of Pickett's di-
vision, which was rescued after the charge at
Gettysburg, and has since been in the posses
sion of on old Italian named p Jaceheri. Near
this and floating from another honse, were the
Stars and Stripes. This was the only United
States flag displayed, except one that waved
over the Virginia Military Institute, about half
| mile from town.
| About 1890 a. m. the procession of Maryland
| eTs, the Lexington veterans, and the cadets of
the Virginia Military Institute, which formed
on the main street. marched to the grounds of
| the Washington and Lee University, where the
remains of Robert E. Lee lie inferred in the
| lower part of the college chapel. The figure of
| the general is recumbent; it is hfe.size, is
| dressed in the Confederate uniform, and his
| form is half covered by a pail. The suggestion
| is that of soldier sleeping, the idea being
| taken by Mr.. Valentine, the sculptor, from
statue of one of the Alexanders of Russia.
/
| the procession arrived there. The chapel
stands at the foot of q slope, and above it the
| red succeed walls of the university rise. The
| graded slope was crowded with an audience
! facing spacious stand. The chief marshal of
| the occasion was General Wade Hampton, and
assistant marshals were twenty-six in number.
| Invitations had been sent to three hundred
/ brigadiers, but there was no one above the rank
/ of captain on the list. On the stand there were
many noted persons clustering around Major
John w. Daniel, the orator of the day. Among
them were Gen. FiAhugh Lee, Gen. Jubal a.
| Early, Gen. Wade Hampton, John C. Calhoun,
Jr., and W. w. Corcoran, of Washington.
General Joseph b. Johnston, who was to have
presided, was not present. owing TO sickness in
his family, and General J. A. Early assumed
this duty and announced the opening of the
ceremonies. The Rev. r. J. MeBryde then
offered prayer. General Early spoke of the
| Lee Memorial Association, of which General
John @. Breckenridge was at one time president
and wound up by saying that the browning act
of the work of this association was the assem-
bling to unveil the monument to the noblest
hero OF history, and one that any man might
with pride say that he was his compatriot or
follower. General Early here introduced Major
John w. Daniel. Major Daniels address re-
viewed The life, services and character of Gem
eral Lee. General Lees career during the war
was sketched III some detail. Speaking of Cen
erai Pope, who had boosted that he had seen
only the backs Of his enemies, Major Daniel
remarked that he had his curiosity entirely
satisfied with a brief glimpse of their faces OF
Fighting Joe Hooker it was remarked that he
could only illustrate his pugnacious soubriquet
by the consoling reflection that she who fights
and runs away lives to fight another day" After
the defeat of the Confederate charge at Gettys-
burg that well-nigh ended the war with clap
of thunder, General Meade pursued with that
slow and gingerly step which is self-explain-
ing" In the campaign from the Wilderness to
Petersburg Grant lost no less than 10000 men
in reaching pointwhich he might have gained
by river approaches without the loss of one
For nine months the armies lay before the
mnzzles of each Others guns--bnmping, as it
were, against each other-Grant deliberately
counting that he who had the most heads could
butt the longest"
J After Major Daniel bad finished speaking
Father Ryan, the poet priest Of the South arose,
and, with a few preliminary remarks, recited
his poem, !" The Sword of Lee General Wade
! Hampton then dismissed the assemblage, and
, the mausoleum was then thrown open. The
Rockbridge Artillery fired several salutes from
Confederate guns used in the first battle OF
!, Manassas. The procession passed through the
J chapel and around the statue of Lee, which was
unveiled By Miss Julia jackson.