Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1891-07-21
UNWILLING A MONUMENT.
HONORING STONEwALI.J JACK
SON AT LEXINGTON.
The CITY beautifully Decorated
and Crowded with Strangers
Significant InscrIptiOns-Am I'm.
terview with Mrs. Jackson.

HH"'N"ioN, 'p', J"s iHIo 10 thS
30th anniversary of the first battle of
Manassas, and. Lexington, the quiet,
peaceful little village in which was spent
the life time of Stonewall Jackson, the
most picturesque figure of all the notable
men Of the southern Coniederacy, is bright
and busting with life and color. Ten
thousand strangers are assembled here
to participate in the exercises incident to
the unveiling Of the monument symbolic
OF the esteem and vcncration felt for the
great soldier whose brilliant career was
cut short in the height of his fame.
The crowd of admirers of the great
general began ARRIVING Saturday and
yesterday, when the number Of leading
survivors Of Jackson's command gave a
banquet at the Virginia military insti
tutc, in which Jackson was once pro-
lessor, the town was full of veterans.
Each train since yesterday afternoon
has been filled with former Confcderatcs,
their number being so large that the
towns accommodations stretched to
their utmost by the hospitality of its res
idents, was insufficient for the gathering
of the throng. There is not house in
the city, pu'lic Or private, that is not
filled.
This morning the country sides are
swarming with people and every road
leading through the rolling fields OF ripen-
cd wheat and clover is pouring its contin-
gent into Lexington. The weather is
superb. The streets and buildings are
beautifully decorated. Three arches cx-
tend over the main street on the line of
march. On these arc printed familiar
quotations from .Iackson's writings, APP
propriatc poetry, the names of generals
associated with him in the war and also
the thirteen confederate states. Banners
having printed on them the names of his
different battles swing within 100 yards
of Gael, other across the line of march.
On ono appears .lackson's noted telegram
after the battle of Mcdowell;
God blessed our arms with victory at
Mcdowell Yesterday"
| On another banner Is his request to
rest in Lexington;
In the valley let me lie, underneath
Gods open sky"
The decorations Of houses arc profuse
and some Of them beautiful, consisting OF
long strcamcrs OF the Confederate states
flags and battle flags set of with the ma.
tional colors. Lees mansolcum is
wrapped in cvcrgrccns and cut flowers
and never looked more handsome
1 La L.,
racks of the Virginia military in
stitutc, used by Jackson when proies
sor there, has attracted thousand of ad
mircrs. Entering the room on ono sidt
is pyramid of flowers growing up thrc,
feet high near the chair occupied by Gen
eral Jackson as an instructors chair, be
| ing garlandcd in flowers in front Of tn,
simple pine table.
To the left was the ack-board hear
ing the inscription: "lIe fought the goot
fight" On another blackboard wa
written:
Lieutenant General Jackson's bod,
was laid in state in this tower May IA
1868"
Next to this is printed the order of hi
funeral exercises at that time. On an
other blackboard is the inscription:
ELECTED to the chair ofmilitary tactics
1851"
To the right of the professors chai
were three rows Of plain beach seat:
suggestive of recitation hours. TIL
whole was simple. but exceedingly i'm
prcssivc. The statute stands in circl
in the center of the city cemetery o
Main street, the square containing abou
four acres of ground, well set off wit
giant trees, which hide the statue iror
view except in the rear. The site is
slight mound crowning the elevatio
overlooking the surrounding country
The sculptor is Virgianian, Edward
Valentine, who designed the l.e
monument. The statue is OF bronze, Ii
roic in size and portrays Jackson wit
uncovered head, leaning on his swor
and looking out upon field of BATH
In his right hand at his side is fel
glass. The figure is clad i'll the full I'M
form of the Confederate lieutenant &c,
' eral with the gold lace on the sleeves di
tinctly visible and with heavy militar
boots and spurs. The carriage of Il
statue is easy and the attitude is one
close observation, with the right fot
advanced, ready for instant, vigorol
action. The scabbard of the swor
upon (which the gauutlettcd left har
!, rests, bears the letters ~. s., an histo
ical fact as it was modelled from lac
sons own sword.
The statue proper measures eight ic
and surmounts the granite pedestal t,
and half feet high, consisting of a ba
course, die and capital, On one face t
die bears the inscription: "Jackso
1S2t-1S63;" and on another the wor
"Stoncwall," the sobriquct given Jac
son by his chief, General Lee. Benea
the pedestal is a vault containing s
sepulchre chambers and surrounded by
circular grass plat around which is
drive way with four approaches.
The general effect OF the structure
imposing and the statue is considered
he good representation. Mrs. Jacksc
in an interview with the Associat
Press reporter today, said;
"It is strange that have not yet Sc
the statue. missed Valentine in Ri,
mond and also in New York, and ha
y not had an opportunity to see it he
Still, from the expressions of opinion
Prof. J. J. White and Capt. John c. Bo
and Others who knew Gen. Jackson w
am sati6ed that it docs him justice. "
rxxxr uAIInOAn EsVECTION