Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1891-07-28
sToNEvvAI.L 81 KsoN.
The Statue Of the Great Soldier
Unveiled at Lexington.


fngton was OF unique interest in the
history of the place, being the meet
| ing OF thousands Of ex- Confed erates,
soldiers and civilians, together with
other thousands that have grown to
adult age since the civil war, to do
honor to the memory of the man with
whose character and achievements the
wholeworld is familiar, but with whom
the people of this magnificent valley
feel themselves TO be specially identi-
fed. Robert e. Lee is the hero Of the
Confederacy at large, but Thomas }.
jackson is in certain sense appro-
priated by the Valley Of Virginia as
its own-as an exponent OF those
qualities which the Scotch-Iris Of
the Valley particularly admire. This
explains the warmth and intensity of
the feelings called forth by the pro-
ceedings Of that occasion.
In point of weather moro beauti-
full day could not have been desired.
All night long and up to the hour Of
beginning the exercises the people
poured into town by railroad trains,
in wagons and carriages, on horse
back and afoot, making the throng
perhaps the largest that has ever as
sembled IN il Lexington, and the en-
ttihi1siasm was as intense as the crowd
was immense.
Every private house was thrown
open to guests and taxed to its ut
most capacity. Hotels and board
ing houses early in the evening had
to announce that they could not ac-
commodate even one more, while pub
lie halls. ten-pin alleys and other
places were made inviting resting
places for hundreds of ex-Confeder-
ates and others by the use of beds
made of clean new straw. This, in
the estimation of the men who had
marched and fought with jackson,
4" beat nothing all to pieces"
The day was ushered in by the fir
ing at A. n. by the Rockbridge
Artillery of salute of fifteen guns,
and from this time until the dismiss
sal of the parade the scene was one
of enthusiasm and exciting interest.
AS the military and Confederate
camps debarked from the trains and
marched to the various quarters as
signed them they were greeted with
shouts and the waving of handker-
chiefs by the crowds which filled the
streets, windows and even house-tops
along the route. When prominent
men were pointed out they were
greeted with the famous trebel yell, -
with a tiger, which showed that
whilst age may have dimmed the
eyes and whitened the locks Of the
men who soldiered with StoneWall
Jackson, their lungs are still as
sound as in the days when this yell
was the precursor of grand charge
or the proclamation of another signal
victory which General Jackson al
ways ascribed to the Lord, but which
his legions were usually disposed to
ascribe to the military genius, bold
leadership and undaunted courage Of
StonewalI.
Long trains, crowded even 70 the
locomotive cabs and tenders, rolled
into the town all day long, even af-
ter the ceremonies were over.
!, The streets and buildings were
handsomely decorated. The enthu-
siasm of the people WAS almost tu-
multous. Gen. James A. Walker,
the last commander of the StoneWall
Brigade, was the chief marshall, as
sisted by about a dozen officers of
war distinction. The procession
was formed, which marched to the
grounds of Washington and Lee
University, where part of the cere-
monies took place. First in line
after the Marshal and Aids was the
Rockbridge Cavalry, 100 men; next
the Rockbridge Artillery, so men ;
then followed the veterans of Jack
sons command and the Stonewall
Brigade, headed by the old Brigade
Band. Following these were large
number of camps of Confederate
veterans; next the young volunteer
soIdiery of the State, the whole line
making an immense concourse of
old and young soldiers of the Old
Dominion.
Behind all these came the car
riagess containing Mrs. Jackson aud
her grandchildren, General Early,
Sculptar Valentine, General Hamp-
ton and other distinguished guests.
The procession marched around the
grounds, passing in front of the
barracks of the Institute, by General
Jackson's lecture room, then through
the sally port and thence to the
grounds of the University.
The ceremonies then began, a plat
form having been erected for the pur-
pose. The platform was surrounded
by 10000 people and soldiery. Gen.
Wade Hampton presided. Rev. DIR.
A. G. Hopkins, pastor of the Pres
byterian Church at Charlestown, and
known as the " Fighting Chaplain Of
the Stonewall Brigade" offered the
following prayer:
"Oh, Lord, our Ged, Thou only
art infinite, eternal and Interchangeable.
Thou, Most High, rulest in the king
dom of men and givest it to whom-
soeyer Thou wilt. Not a sparrow
falleth without Thee. In Thy kind
providence these veterans are per-
mitted to meet here to celebrate the
character and achievement of the man
who led them through hardship and
battle to victory. Like him, who pre-
pared for all action by prayer, we in
yoke Thy blessing upon these exer-
cises, and as TO Thee be ascribed the
honor and power for victory, so to
Thee we give thanks for our hero and
his renown-for his greatness, most