The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-06-05
/ BIG DAY AT RICHMOND, VA.
TAe Ceremony of dwelling Performed by
Gen. Joseph E. Johnston . Dis
ting uished Personsees Present,
Including Gen. Early.

|
statue, had been gathering upon the streets.
As early as 8 o'clock Main street was
thronged with people, All was hustle.
Members of the military, veterans ano
civic organizations were hurrying in all di-
rections, in order to be in place when the
command to fall In was given. Confeder
ate camps, military and civilians continued
to arrive. Country folks were pouring into
town in ancient as well as modern vehicles.
Now and then band started the crowd to
cheering by playing the Bonnie Blue
Flag" "Dixie" and Maryland, My Mary
land" As some favorite commander-an
all seemed to be favorites-was recognized
by the crowd a yell arose from them, which
was carried along until he halted and
turned off into some side street. Broad
street, where the line was being formed,
was iammed with people, and as the vari-
Gus commands reached their starting points
with some familiar officer at the head cheer
after cheer rended the air. Chief marshal.
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, Gems. johnson and
Longstreet received similar ovations as
they moved about from place to place.
The procession formed on Broad and ad-
jacent streets shortly after u o'clock. The
head of the column moved from Adams
street on to Broad, and the line of march
was down Broad to Nineteenth, to Main,
up Main to Eighth, to Franklin, out
Franklin 10 the monument. When the
head of the column reached Harrison street
it halted, and veteran cavalry volunteer
troops and mounted alliance formed on
the north side of Franklin facing the south.
The veteran infantry then continued their
|,,,o roh m mr. hu "
airy and the volunteer troops in order as
formed.
At the monument the organizations on
foot were massed Immediately in front of
the grand stand. As they arrived the
mounted veterans passed by their rear and
formed on the left near the monument, fac
ing down Franklin, and the mounted
Farmers Alliance formed in their rear.
The artillery took position in line west of
the infantry facing west. The volunteer
cavalry formed facing the grand stand in
the field near Broad street, their right near
the artillery
The whole line of march was densely
crowded, and as the old chieftains of the
Confederacy we're recognized hats would
come off and the old yell would
come from a thousand Threats. When
the head of the column reached the
stand at the foot of the statue the grand
marshal alighted and offered his arm to
| Gen. Johnson to escort him to his seat. AS
| soon as the distinguished guests were all
seated Gov. Mckinney. as president of the
| Lee Monument association, arose and
called the assemblage to order. After a
| brief prayer by Rev. Chas. Minnigrode of
| the Episcopal church, Gov. Mckinney in
trod uced Gen. Early rs chairman of the
| meeting. He was greeted with prolonged
| applause and cheering. He made no
| speech, but in a few well chosen words in
| troduced the orator of the occasion, Col.
Archer Anderson.
| The Lee monument is situated on the
| Allen plat in the West End in the direction
of the most fashionable section. The
! monument is planted at the intersection of
I two wide avenues on the summit of ascend
| ing grades. 1t is enclosed in circle of 200
feet inn diameter with a street 65 feet in
| width on each side SO that the distance
through the area from building line to
building line is 800 feet. The pedestal OF
| the monument consists of two parts, which
may be termed base and pedestal proper.
The base is formed by a rectangle
with surface inclined upwards to
| the parapet around which six
| foundations are located, upon which the
statues of Lees generals may hereafter be
placed. In the interior of the group on
another incline the surface leads upward to
| the pedestal proper. Here a transition
| from the straight fines of rectangle to the
graceful curves of a cylindrical form have
been very successfully harmonized by the
artist. The change is not noticed. and
upon the front and rear are seen an oval
space, upon which bas reliefs are placed
| surrounded by tracing in granite Of laurel
| ivy and the oak. Above is lions head
as if ready for battle, with the pose
of courage inbred by conscious power.
On the sides are four columns appearing to
support the great weight, between which a
bronze tablet appears with the name of
Lee. The heighth of the pedestal is forty
feet and few inches, and that of the statue
slightly more than twenty-five feet making
total heighth Of about sixty one feet
above the ground.
The sculptor, NJ. Mercie, of Paris, who
has immortalized Lee in bronze, is
Frenchman who in early. life gave evidence
of great ability. He was scarce twenty
years of age when he was decorated at
Rome. His famous works adOrn the streets
of Paris, and the walls of the Luxembourg
palace. He has given to the world picture
of Lee as he appeared upon the battlefield
of Gettysburg His face is calm aud ma
jestic, but full of power. The horse which
he bestrides has all four feet on the ground
vet he appears as If in the act of walking. A
fore foot IL planted in advance, while a
hind foot on the same side seems about to
follow. The head is slightly bent to one
side, Whlle the tail iaIls gracefully clear OF
the TANKS. Gen. Lees dress is character
istically plain. He is grit with sash which
presumably hides a belt from which
swings the sword of a commander
of cavalry. He is without epaulettes,
wears broad braid and his hat is
crushed in his right hand while he holds
the reins in his left. The feet are well
tipped in the stirrups, the right foot being
slightly in advance OF the lett.
Gen. Robt. H. Lee died on October ~,
1870 The 25th of October following Gen.
Early issued a call addressed TO the SUI
viving officers and soldiers Of the army OF
Northern Virginia to meet in Richmond on
November to take action to perpetuate
his memory. A meeting was held pursu-
ant to the call which was presided over by
the late Hon. Jefferson Davis, who with
other distinguished Southerners, made
addresses and the Lee monument
association was organized with Gen. Early as
president. A Ladies Auxiliary association
was formed and the two proceeded to COL
lectfunds for the purpose OF erecting the
monument. Money flowed In quite freely |
for a time, but finally interest in the cause |
seemed TO flag and it was not revived again |
until Gen Fitzhugh Lee was elected gov |
erDor, some four years ago. The various |