Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-25
SrATUEOF WICKHAM
IL Genenl ID Bronze to Be- On
yelIed Next Thursday.
HISTORY OF THE MEMORIAL.
oesssaptsou 81 sAs Figure aud PsdsstsI-
4 Biographical skstch--Dststled
Programme Of che Parade.

On Thursday next, tho osth, the sur
sivors Of wickham's cavalry brigade and
other ex-C ontederates and the empIoyesof
che Chesapeake and Ohio railway will
onite in demonstration In honor OF
Williams Carter Wickham, . bronze statue
Of whom viii, be unveiled on that day.
The x-Confederates will honor him ~
sturdy fighter and popular brigade CON-
mander who never fiinched in the hour
Of danger. The railway employees will
honor him as kind, considerate, and just
employer and friend. Both will honor
him o. citizen who held Virginia dear to
his heart.
The demonstration promises to DO In
every respect most imposing one. All
The survivors Of his brigade who can come
10 Richmond and all the employees OF the
road, including engineers. clerks, conduc-
tors, brakemen, and laborers who can be
spared from their duties. will participate
IA the parade Of the day, and these will be
escorted to the site Of the statue by the
uniformed military of the city.
General Thomas l.. Rosser will be the
ehief marshal OF the procession and Gen.
rel Fitzbugh Lee will deliver the Grafton,
The rereias will be sounded by the old
brigade bugler, and there will be an artil-
iery salute.
HISTORY OF THE STATUE
General Williams G. Wickham died Of
heart-failure in his Office in the Chesa-
peake and Ohio railway building In this
city on Tuesday. July "a, 1888. few days
after his death the employees OF the road
of which no had been president, vice
president, general manager, and receiver,
respectively. held q meeting. organized q
Wickham Monument Association. and de-
termined to erect statue OF their late en-
pioyer:
of the association and Mr.. Q. L. Dabney
secretary and treasurer. Subscription
lists were prepared and sent out, and con-
tributiors from twenty-five cents upwards
began to pour in, even the track laborers
On the road giving their mite. Many OF
the employees of the road were survivors
Of the Generals brigade, and numbers OF
bis old troopers who were not connected
with the road aided in raising the neces-
sary funds for the memorial.
In September, 1889. Valentine was CON-
missioned by the association to execute
bronze figure of General Wickham, aud in
the December following the, City Council
by resolution requested thai Richmond
might become the custodian OF the monu-
ment. In March, 1890. however. the Gene
raj Assembly made a similar request on be-
half of the State, and dedicated such place
In the Capitol Square as the association
might select as site for the statue.
PRESENTED TO THE CITY.
These two propositions were held under
consideration by the association until
February. 1891. when the committee of the
association appointed to make decision
and consisting of Messrs. John Callahan.
q. K. Wexford, w. H. Anthony. W. p. Hun
tley, and Henry G. Taylor, Jr., concluded
TO present the statue TO the city. Suisse
quently the Council met and accepted the
trust, and after voting 81 900 Tor the pedes-
tai empowered the COMMITTEES on Grounds
and Buildings to select q site for the
monument in one of the public parks.
This committee gave careful consideration
10 the matter and finally concluded, as
had the committee OF the ASSOCIATION, that
Monroe Park was the proper place for the
statue, seeing that that site had been the
first xhibition-gropnds of the State Agri-
cultural Society, of which society General
Wicsham had at one time been president
and with which he had been closely identi-
ted nearly over since its organization.
THE MONUMENT.
Wednesday morning the statue was de-
iivered according to contract within reach
of the tackle ut the pedestal and In the
course of q few hours was placed IN POSI-
ton without accident and yelled.
The figure is seven feet in height and IS
of the best quality of toned bronze. IL
represents General Wickham in the full
uniform of d Confederate brigadier-g
of cavalry. booted and spurred. and with
coat buttoned to the throat: The weight
of the body rests on the left foot,
the right being slightly advanced.
and the face is turned little to
tho right. Against the right hip and
suspended by strap which goes over the
left.shoulder rests. the Generals field
glass case, which is grasped in the bare
left hand with the thumb over the strap
where it is attached to the front OF the
case. The sword is caught full up to the
belt by the top ring. with hilt in position
to be grasped on a seconds notice, and the
gauntleted left hand presses against the
back and holds the right hand gauntlet.
THE POSE AND PoRrRArruRE.
The pose is easy but suggestive in every
particular of that solIdity, massiveness,
and determination that characterized
General Wickham. From crown of head
TO sole Of firmly planted foot individuality
is illustrated. The modelling OF the face
and head Is vigorous. the portraiture
striking and faithful both as TO expression
l.. and lines. and oil the general details of the
drapery, sword.belt. straps, sabre, insignia
of rank, DC, are carefully worked out. II
is pronounced BY the committee to bea per.
feet likeness In lineament and figure, while
as an artistic achievement 1t is triumph,
The pedestal consists of base course OF
three numbers, the lowest beng eight feet
square, . die, and q cap, and IS nine feet
six inches IN height: The total height OF
pedestal, statue, and bronze piinth is about
seyenteen feet, and the general effect is
very Impressive and realistic On the OBJ.
verso of the die ID the inscriptions
HICKHAM
"Soldier. Salesman, Patriot, Friend"
Presented TO the CITY Of Richmond