Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-31
THE MONUMENT,

section OF the state, WIN some ''a>l't-
ance from the Legislature. Dad the SIM
pie inscription reciies that the Ladl.s
Memorial Association OF Manassas ded'-
cate it to the Confederate soldiers OF
Virginia and her sister states WHO fell
in the battles Of First and Second
MANASSAS.
The village is at the junction Of the
Manassas-G Gap railroad with the virginia
Midland. thirty-twO miles from wash
ingtOn city. During the war it was a
mere railroad station and was the point
which jackson surprised, destroying I'M
mense army stores, aud giving the m
suspecting Pope the first intimaiion that
tins ubiquitous commander was IN ms
rear. IL IS not the immediate field
OF the battle flat bears It's name.
IL is lust six miles from the
Henry House, around which the tluc-
tuating tide OF battle at the First Ma
nassas surccd for hours, and where the
appearance OF fresh Confederate troops
on the Federal flank WAS the signal FOR
the final stampede that did not stop short
Of the Long bridge over the Potomac.
BY an astonishing historical coincidence
it was at this same Henry House that
Pope made bis last Intellectual stand
against the united assaults Of Longstreet
and Jackson on the Goth Of August, 1857.
THE SECOND MANASSAS.
For two days Jackson by his charac-
tcristic strategy, his countcrmarchcs,
and stubborn resistance had bewildercd
and bailied Pope till Longstreet came
no with his splendid corps, and forming
a junction with jackson ended Pope .
disastrous campaign in what was proba-
bly, the tierccst conflict OF the war.
On an cminence mile from the Henry
House Colonel Fletcher Webster, the
onlv son Of Daniel Webster, fell at the
head Of his brave Massachusetts, regl-
mont while CALAMITY and obstinately re-
sisting the Confederate assault. Most
Of the dead on both sides were for the
time necessarily buried on the field Of
conflict.
Two small monuments wera erected
over the Federal dead, one at the Henry
House and one at GroyetOn, milo
distant But these were subsequently
removed, as far rs practicable. TO the
SPLENDID Federal cemetery At Arlington.
No effort has been or ever viii he
made 10 remove the Confederate dead.
The four hundred buried in the modest
cemetery here died in tue hospital
of wounds and disease. But the monu-
ment dedicated today IS designed IN a
more general sense as memcuto to the
Confodcratcs who persisted IN the two
memorable battles.
GREAT CROWD
II is the best the impoverished con
federates can do. The smallest estimate
puts the concourse to-day at five thou
sand. Nearly the whole OF this great
tlrong was from the section circum-
scribed by q radius Of twenty miles.
From all the surrounding section the
nomination Of both sexes and all ages
emptied itself into this village 1t was
indeed q sight to see.
From an early bour in the morning
they came pouring in il every concciya-
bic shape In vehicles Of every dcscrip-
ton. horseback and afoot. Whore
mothers had infants too young 10 he
left at home they brought them along.
Come they would. infants or no infants.
THE CEREMONIES
took place at thc monument. A stand
for the speakers, the officers OF the asso-
cation, and distinguished guests was
erected under n pavilion in front Of the
monument seats were prepared for
LOO, the Committee OF Arrange
nents never dreaming that the attend
auce would swell to four times this mum
Der. But outside the area of the seats
the interested thousands stood for hous
in the pouring rays of the sun. There
WIS not move there was not muir
mur. save in applause during the delivery
of the eloquent discourse.
The Ladies Memorial Association
we're represented by Mr.. Thornton, %
Young gentleman of talents and address.
lie introduced Rev Or. Davis, al Old
Confederate chaplain, who opened the
proceedings with an appropriate prayer.
Then Mr.. Meredith, q prominent young
LAWYER of the county and member Of
the State Senate. delivered the mouu-
ment in brief, but happy and eloquent
address.
JOHN DANIEL THH ORATOR.
To his address the orator OF the Occa-
sion. Ron. Johu ". Daniel, the brilliant
United States senator from Virginia re-
sponded. il would be impossible within
the limits of this report to reproduce the
touching and telling and thrilling points
Of tins really able and elegant ora
ton, The theme OF the Grafton was !:
First. the real cause OF the war be
tween the States secondly, the
characteristics OF the military leaders
on the Confederate side and thirdly,
the sublime and superior attitude IN the
history of the Confederate private.
Senator Daniel was the aide to Jubal
Early, and lost a leg at the Second Ma
nassas. He insisted to-day tia; the North
m,sconceived the motives Of the South
IN bringing On the war. The northern
idea that the southern politicians and
lenders fired the southern heart and pre-
eipjtated the war he discarded and
secuted. u was the AbolitlOnists, the
fear that abolition doctrines would I'M
peril the safety Of person and property
and subyert the social pyramid and place
1t on its apex, that united the South IN IL
resistance 10 what il conceived to be the
aggression of the North.
THE PRIVATE sOIDEH.
He enumerated the Confederate chief
tains and complimonted them, but be-
fore and above them and above all the
heroes of history he put the Confederate
private. Without a commission 10 tickle
his pride. without a command to engage
his attention, without pay to I'LL ms
purse, without provisions in his hayer-
sack. but with loyal heart and q bright
musket no bounded forward IN the
inc of duty and patriotic endeayor.
The highest example We have from
our commanders is from Jackson
and Lee. The one when wounded dis
PLAYED a serene resignation 10 the II
vine will. The other passed unscathed
through that higher ordeal of seit-abnc-
cation and self-denial in the years that
were allotted him after tie war. Let us,
said the speaker in moving oratory, en-
,,lota these sublime models The eX-