Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-05-24


The laudable idea, conceived year or
two ago, of erecting q suitable monument to
perpetuate to the memory OF those Of
the historic Seventeenth Virginia regiment
who Welded up their lives during the four
years civil war, aud which soon evolved
into q fixed purpose, eliminated to-day in
the unwilling at the intersection OF Prince
and Washington streets OF memorial In
their honor which would do credit 10 any
CITY. The interest manifested in the cree
ton ofthe monument had from tho start been
earnest, and while no Incorporate zeal had
been apparent, the originators and those en-
gagged n the perfection of the work have
evinc.d 81 determination aud an ipdetaiga
ble energy which augured its entire success
from the first inception of the project. The
various stages in the work have been chrou-
icled 10 the GAZETTE from time to time;
hence their repetition now Is unnecessary !;
but as the day for the unwilling drew on al
mos, the entire community enlisted IN the
entei prise, and The monument for some time
has been The main theme Of conversation.
The joyful anticipation of the scenes oi
to day has been more than realized, and n
she conclusion of the ceremonies connected
with the unveIiDg the vast assembling
parted FROM what will henceforth be con
sidered Il sacred spot both edited and in
structed The addresses of the renowned
speakers were pathetic and enhancing, a.
times sending electrical thrills through tbei
audience, as was evnced by the nurrah
and applause which so often rent the air.
The occasion far excee q ad anything II
The way of parade or open NIT meeting ever
seen in Alexandria, the city from dsybreak
having put 90 its holiday attire. The porn
latiOn was soon doubled by the large iUiin
OF visitors and former residents from every
point OF the compass, snd the streets present
I'D an animated appearance. la addition IL
the extraof dinariiy large number landed by
cM!5 aud boats, parties from the nelghboflnt
country il carriages and ali sorts OF vehicle
poured into the streets from early morn, and
by nuou the neigh borhood CT the statue was
packed by huge mass of humanity. The
weather was about as pleasant as could have
been wished fortnight sunshine with the
temperature low enough TO render one COM
Portable.
There has been an interval of over three
decades since q statue was erected through
public spirit by Alexandrians, the last hav
Iyg Hill cemetery, reared, like the one dis
played to tho public to-day, to the memory
of men who died in the faithful discharge of
their du;y-not, however, amid the clash of
war, but in quenchipg the hame-men who
had responded to the midnight alarm, and
been buried under falling debris. May their
memory, too, be ever green.
Children and grandchildren of the fallen
heroes of the old Seventeenth mingled to
day In the assem- 5age around the monu-
ment which will henceforth perpetuate the
memory of men who so noby responded
10 the call of their native State
while in Inc concourse the number
who remembered or witnessed the hasty de
psrture of the Alexandria companies FROM
the same spot just twenty.elght years ago
was by no means insignificant. There has
ty partings had taken piace-some, alas
final ones. 10 not g few instances the de-
parture of loved ones was so hurried and
abrupt that there was no time for parental
adieux or blessings. Out of nearly four
hundred who made their hasty exit, and of
the number who later left for Dixie" nine
ty-seven we're destined to return no more,
and though over quarter of century has
elapsed since they fell 10 the defence OF
their principles, Time, the soother OF all
edge of the poignant grief at the time ex
perienced, and their memory still lives
while their selfsacriGcing spirit will continue
to animate future Observation-Disclosures,
at least.
War to large percentage of the present
generation is only known through history
they were either unborn or two young to
have witaesSed the terrible fruits of carnage
or TO have realiz the self abnegation OF
men who voluntarily shouldered their mus
kets in defense OF what is sincerely believed |
to be sacred, and many there were who,
while they stood around that monument I
to-day lapsed into thoughtful mood, when
the panorama of the scene of the four years
conf ct passed through their minds.
the point at which the monument has
been placed is conceded to be the most CEN
trial and at the same time the most appro-
pirate in the city. As stated above, it was
from this place that the Alexandria COM
papies took their departure to in fortunes
with their Southern brethren, and though
several other localities hal been suggested,
the corner of Prince and Washington streets
has ever been looked upon as the most suit.
able spot on which to place the memorial to