Los Angeles herald., 1891-07-22
Thomas ]. Jackson Stood
Like a Stone Wall.
The Event Celebrated By His
Comrades in Arms.
A Bronze Statue of the Hero of Bull
Run Unveiled.
Lexington, Va, His Old Home, the Place
Where the Monument Stands.
The Grafton Delivered by
Gen. Jubal A. Early.
Associated Press Dispatches.

LEXINGTON, Va, July 21.-This was
the thirtieth anniversary of the first
battle of Manassas, and Lexington, the
quiet agricultural village in which was
spent the lifetime of Stonewall jackson,
was brilliant with life and color, while
ten thousand strangers assembled within
its environs to participate in the exer-
cises incident to unveiling monument
symbolic of the esteem and veneration
felt for the great soldier.
The weather was superb, fresh, cool
breeze tempering the rays OF the sun.
The streets and buildings were appro-
priately decorated. Three beautiful
arches extended over the main street.
Banners with the names of Jackson's diff
ferent battles printed on them, swung
within one hundred yards OF each other
across the line OF march. On one ap-
peared Jackson's noted telegram after
the battle of Manassas, "God has blessed
our army with victory"
Long streamers, Confederate flags and
battle flags, set off with the national
colors, decorated the houses. Lees
mausoleum was covered with evergreene
and cut flowers.
Thestatue stands on an eminence of the
circle in the center of the city cemetery
on the main street, well set off with
giant trees. The sculptor is Virgin
ian, Edward V. Valentine, who designed
the Lee monument. The statue is of
bronze, heroic size, and portrays jack
son with uncovered head, leaning on
his sword and looking out upon the field
of battle. In his right hand at his side
is field glass. The figure is clad in
the full uniform of confederate lieu
tenant-general. The statue proper
measures eight feet and surmounts a
granite pedestal ten and half feet high.
The parade ground of the Virginia
military institute was the place of the
procession's formation, under the direc-
ton of General James A. Walker. of
Wythe, Va, the only surviving COM
mander of the Stonewall brigade. The
members of General Walkers staff occu-
pied the right of the procession. The
staff was followed by the Stonewall
band of twenty pieces. heading the Rock
bridge, Va, battery, under Col. VIM. I.
Poague, with guns of the battery oper-
ated under General jackson in the first
battle of Manassas. The guns belong to
the Virginia military institute, and be-
fore the war the cadets received instruc-
tion in their use from the hero Of
Charlottesville.
The remainder of the procession was
made up OF the Survivors Of the Stone
wall brigade, consisting of the Second,
Fourth, Fifth, Twenty-seventh and Thir-
ty-third Virginia regiments, under COM
mand of Colonel Andrew Jackson Girls
by and Colonel J. r. Edmondson; the
Maryland band and confederate vet
Grams of the army and navy from Mary
land, under General Bradley 7. John
son; confederate camps and carriages
containing General Jubal A. Early, the
orator of the day; General Wade Hamp-
ton, who presided over the ceremonies
Edward V. Valentine, the sculptor
Mrs. T. Jackson, General Rosser, and a
number of distinguished confederate Of
ficers and ladies OF the monument COM
mittee.
The procession moved to the campus
of Washington and Lee university, and
halted about platform Handsomely
decorated. Rev. DIR. HI. q. Hopkins Of
West Virginia, who, as chaplain OF the
Second Virginia regiment, was with
jackson in nearly all his fights, opened
the ceremonies with prayer. General
Wade Hampton introduced the orator
of the day, General Jubal A. Early, and
Colonel Thomas M. Simmes, who read
two poems, entitled Stonewall Jack
sons Way, and Over the River.
General Early's speech throughout
was mild and full OF argument, being
little more or less than eulogistic
sketch of Jackson's life. He ended as
follows: "Let me conclude by saving,
and let every honest-hearted confederate
who fought bravely in the war, say III
should ever apologize for any part or
action taken by me in the war, may the
lightning of righteous heaven blast
me from the earth, and may be consid-
cred as the spawn of the earth by all
honest men,"
The Grafton was received with tremen-
dous enthusiasm.
The procession reformed as soon as
the proceedings at the stand were over,
and marched to the cemetery in which