Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1886-08-16

of Mankind aud the cause of
America,
Ia the action near Camden, in the
State Of South Carolina,
On the 18th of August, 1880.
Where, leading on the troops of the
Maryland and Delaware Lines,
against superior numbers
Aud animaiing them by his example
to deeds of valor,
He was pierced with many wounds
And on the 10 following expired,
in the 4Sth year of bis age
The Congress OF the Uoited States
of America,
In gratitude to his zeal, services and
merit,
Have erected this monument
Tue DELAY AND SUBSEQUENT ACTION.
Lack of means and the pressure Of
other important public matter delayed
the execution of the work for over
one hundred years. At the session
Of the Maryland Legislature in 1878
Col j. Thomas Scharf, member of
the House of Delegates from Balti-
more city, introduced joint resolutions
10 the Legislature requesting our
representatives in Congress to secure
an appropriation to carry out the
original resolution passed by that
body 10 1880. The resolution were
adopted, and bill was introduced in
the. United States Senate by Senator
J. B. Groome appropriating $4,000
to erect the monument 10 question,
under "the management and control
of the Secretary of State" The bill
finally became a law in March, 1888,
and Immediately after applications
poured into the office of the Secretary
of State for the execution of the work.
The matter was referred by Mr..
Frelinghuysen, then Secretary of
State, to Third Assistant Secretary
Alvey A. Adee, who awarded the
contract in the auiumn of that year
to Mr.. Ephraim KeYser, the Baltimore
sculptor. Mr.. Keyser went to Rome,
Italy, and in Feby.. 1884. tegan his
work. In tie latter part of Mch., 1885,
when the clay mooel of the statue,
weighing nearly two tons, was
almost completed, in attempting to
lift one end of the platform on which
the statue was built, one of the sup
ports gave way and the model was
thrown to the floor and broken Into q
shapeless mass. This accident
greatly discouraged the sculptor and
for nearly two months be tried to get
bis work under way without success.
He at last overcame his difficulties,
and by the lst CT January, 1886, the
figure was ready for the bronze foun-
der, and on July l, 1886, it was in
Annapolis ready for mounting, 10 &C.
cordance with the terms of bis con-
tract, without encroaching on the ex-
ira time granted him by the Secretary
of State or account OF the accident.
By the terms of the contract the
monument was to consist Of granite
pedestal, surmounted by bronze
pedestrian statue. The statue is nine
feet two inches 10 height from the
bottom of the plinth to the top of the
hat, is cast 10 the best quality of
bronze cire perdu by G. B. Bastianelli
of Rome, Italy. The whole statue,
with the exception of the head and
arms, Is cast il one single piece
The action of the figure represents
De Kalb cheering ca bis troops to
make the final charge at Camden,
while advancing on foot, half turning
to the right and waving his sword
above bis head, be leads them on
ward.
The pedestal. of Maryland granite,
has been executed from the designs
OF the sculptor By Messrs. Matthew
Gault q Sons, of Baltimore. 1t is
twelve feet six inches in height, 81
simple design, consisting of base
with rough-hewn faces, two steps, .
plinth upon the front with de Kalb''
carved in raised letters, die block
and cap. On the front of The die
block is bronze tablet containing the
inscription ordered by Congress in
1880 in raised letters artisticaily exc.
cuted. The two side faces ofahe die
contain bronze coats of arms Of tbs
States of Maryland and Delaware
three feet high By two feet wide
These, as well As the inscription plate
are also the work Of The sculptor, an(
were cast 10 Gre perdu by G. B
Bastianelii. The total height Of th.
monument is twenty one feet eigh