The Charlotte Democrat., 1890-06-06
Charlotte Democrat.
The dwelling of Lees Statue.
CHARLOTTE, N. g.
PICTURESQUE FEATURES.

Surely it was an inspiring spectacle
that grand turnout of veterans, many
one-legged, many one-armed, the larger
proportion, doubtless, bearing the marks
of wounds, all trudging along at much
personal discomfort and probably IN
many cases in positive pain to do honor to
the memory Of Lee + The men who made
up the host thus marching knew the great
leader OF the Confederacy's armies in the
trying times that proved BIN great; they
knew him more thoroughly than any
others have ever known him; they trusted
him, they revered him, they were ready
TO follow him to the utmost extent of hu'
man sacrifice. Hence their appreciation
of the appropriateness of a statue to Lee;
hence their enthusiasm 10 paying tribute
to the memory of the great dead. They
became young again in the conrad eshlp
OF their old fellows in arms, in the sound
of the stirring music OF their fighting
days, 10 the noble mutual purposes that
had gathered them together. They were
and are a band of heroes and patriots.
Ever may they be honored and so far as
may be necessary, cared for, by the people
OF the Southland, for which they gave so
much.
MARCHED ON CRUTCHEs
One of the most touching things in the
incidents of the great day was to see
manned soldiers.-a bandaged eye, an
empty sleeve, a wooden leg-in the pro-
cession. Mr. A. J. Bleckburn, of this city 3,
who lost his leg while gallantly serving
in the famous old Thirteenth Virginia
regiment ca. p. Hill's old regiment)
marched on his crutches the whole distance
aud was vociferously cheered along the
route.
THE MEN WHO LOST LIMBS
The Rowan county IN. CO. veterans
came to the unveiling to the number OF
1876. Among them were fortY-one men
each of whom had lost leg in the war;
This remarkable feature Of the orgsuiza-
tion was noticed by many people who saw
them 10 the parade.
OLD BATTLE-FLAGS.
Another feature was the number of old
Confederate battle. flags carried in the
column, and the wonder was where they
all came from; but one on the inside would
soon hear touching stories of how some
brave color-bearer concealed his colors on
his person when he found that surrender
must come, and has sacredly guarded them
all these years to bring them forth to
honor their loved old chief.
ONLY TATTERED REMNANT.
Of all the old flags in the line there was
: none 80 ragged as that of Massenburg's
Georgia battery. Only a few tattered
remnants clung to the staff, and these
were 80 faded that the colors were barely
distinguishable.
A FLAG THAT WENT TO PRISON.
Above the few survivors of the Third
Georgia regiment there foated an old
battle.fag that has had an unusual expert
ence When the regiment was surrendered
in 1865, Colonel Claiborne cut the flag
from the staff and hid it inside his shirt.
During his confinement in a northern
prison he still kept it, and when he was
paroled brought it back to Dixie.
Near this flag were two of which little
remained but few scraps of faded silk.
These were the flags of Cobb's Georgia
Legion and the First battalion Of North
Carolina Sharpshooters. Both of these
commands had fiery baptism, and but
few survivors remain to tell the story OF
their prowess.
The flag of the famous "Fighting
Thirteenth" of North Carolina is SO full
Of bullet-holes that it scarce holds TO-
gether. It was carried by the man who
bore it the last two years of the war. An
other famous North Carolina flag is that
of the Eighth Colonel Shaw's) regiment
It was buried at Sugar Loaf, Va, at the
close of the war to save it from capture
and afterwards dug up by the color SER
geant. who has preserved it ever since.
THE sToNEwALL BRIGADE FLAG.
Over the famous Stonewall brigade
foated the flag that went with Stonewall
Jackson from Manassas to Chancellors
vile. Private ID. 2. Carver, a grizzled,
SCARED veteran of the Tenth Virginia
cavalry, who bore it, marched with q
conscious air which seemed to say, "We.
uns are the boys who did the fighting"
GALLANT AND DEVOTED CHAPLAIN.
Rev. James p. Smith, of Fredericks-
burg, who was captain on Stonewali Jack
sons staff when he was wounded, marched
with the veterans. 1t was noticed that he
had a bandage over the arm of the Con-
federale coat he wore, aud when asked by
an old comrade why he had the bandage,
he replied with deep emotion "To conceal
the stains of blood left there from General
Jackson's wounds" Il will be remembered
that when Jackson was being borne from
the field the fire became so hot at one
point that Captain Smith insisted upon
lying by his side and protecting his loved
general with his own body, and these
blood stains yet remain to tell the story of
his devoted heroism.
sToNEwALL JAcKsoN's STATUE DECORATED
AN INCIDENT
Foley's statue of Jackson was neatly
draped with bunting, &c, Tuesday night,
but night before last it appeared beaut-
fully arranged all around with fresh cut
flowers, evergreens, &c. This last decora-
tion, It was ascertained, had been done by
Lieutenant r. Ell. Fishers family. AT one
E time he bore the colors of the Fifth Vir.
ginia infantry, one Of the gallant regiments
composing the brigade so we'll known in
the Army of Northern Virginia.
Yesterday morning the Stonewall Band,
NfS