New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-22
IN MEMORY OF JACKSON.
a STATUE OF THE FAMOUS SOLDIER UN
vNLED AT LEXINGTON. VA.
GRAFTON sY GEN. EARLy-THE TOWN CROWDED
WITH PEoPLE-A FAITHFUL PORTRAIT
IN BRONZE.

Lexington, in the Valley Of Virginia. was the dying
request of the great Christian soldier, stouewan'
Jackson and for twenty-eight years his remains have
rested in the cemetery OF this place. Lexington the
pride of the magnificent Shenandoah Valley. is his
oric and picturesque town, renowned throughout Ola
Virginia for its charming and cultivated society 1t
Is the seat of the Washington and Lee University and
the Virginia Military Institute. In the latter General
Jackson professor before the Civil War. ana
might have died unknown and unhonored had not
that great struggle called him to action and immortal
hme
To-day. the thireth anniversary of the nrst battle
H Manassas, when Jackson received the soubrQuet OF
SStonewall" on account of the frmness with winch
his brigade withstoOd charge of Union troops.
was selected appropriate day for the unveihng
Of the monument in his memory. The occasion has
brought immense of people from far and
near to Lexington Survivors Of the famous stone
rau Brigade those gallant who followed Jackson
Eherever he led have come In large numbers 70 take
part in honorng their beloved commander From
Richmond from Baltimore. from Norfolk. and from
AL the towns Of the valley they have come. Ex-
cursion parties from all directions have been pouring
into town while from the surrounding country men.
women and children in wagons, horseback and on
foot have arrived. swelling the population of Lex
lngton 70 more than double its usual number The
hospitality of the citizens has been taxed 70 its ut
most TO meet the extraordinary demand. but the
crowd of visitors has good lumoredly put up with
teresting ceremonies.
Long before IL O'Clock. the hour appointed for the
ceremonies to begin to-day, the beautiful campus of
Washington and Lee University thronged by the
expectant multitude. The religious exercises were
conducted by the Rev. A. C. Hopkins. Of Charleston
W Va Among the distinguished persons present were
General &. W. GUSTS Lee the president and faculty Of
the Washington and Lee University, Ex-Governor
FItzhugh Lee, General Wade Hampton, the commander
Of the cavalry corps of the Army of Northern Virginia,
who presided over the memorial meeting; Lieutenant
General Juba A Early the friend and arm of Jackson
in all his campaigns; General James A. Walker the
last surviving commander OF the Stonewal Brigade;
General George H. SeuaTt chief marshal Of the Con-
federats societies from Maryland General Bradley T.
Johnson who fought under Jackson from Harper's
Ferry 10 Charlottesville; Mrs. Jackson; Edward Y.
Valentine the sculptor; Captain Hugh Il. Garden,
president Of the Southern Society Of New York. and
many other soldiers and civilians.
At the conclusion Of the religious ceremonies General
Early, the orator of the day. delivered splendid speech
the military achievements and character of Jackson.
the invincble hero and Christian soldier the usre
Of whose fame has in remotest Christendom
who served and fell In the he held dear and
loved so we'll The address lasted about one hour.
and listened TO with great attention. being fire.
quenty Interrupted by bursts Of applause the orator
recalled brilliant deed Of the Southern hero.
When General Early concluded his Grafton the pro
cessiOn formed under General James Walker as
chief marshal, and the march TO the cemetery began.
Arriving at JacksOns grave the ceremony Of unwilling
the monument successfully carried ont the veil
being withdrawn by little Julia Jackson Christian the
granddaughter Of the soldier and the drapery
fell. revealing the wel-known features Of stOnewan
Jackson enthusiastic shout went up from his old
comrades which caught by the throng of per
present and the great hills Of the Shenandoah
echoed the sound for miles around. The exercises at
the grave were concluded by salute from the Rock
bridge artillery which its first Iaures on july
81. 1861 when General Bee gave Jackson his soubrquet
of Stonewall" whi,h will be forever associated with
his The cemetery is the south edge Of the
town Of Lexington, and affords commanding view Of
the beautiful valley and the mountains that skirt it
As the exercises were ended n mad rush was
made for the stand on which stood Mrs Jackson and
the children, and ii a few not vestige of
anything was left tat could be carried away by the
relic hunter.
After the unveilig ceremonial bountiful lunch was
served To the veteans and visiting military organza
tons by the peOpb of Rockbridge. The buildings Of
Washington and lie University and the Virginia Mill
tary Institute generously rendered quarter the
military.
The statue Of JSkson in bronze, gives great salts
faction, and Edwad V. Valentine. of Richmond, the
sculptor. was warmly congratulated upon the
Of this his last andin respects his greatest work
The status Is Of heOc size, being eight feet high II
rests on granite celestial ten and onehalf fec high
The statue IS in &c mOrtuary, might be ex-
pected from It's Location in cemetery, but it strikes
manhood He stanes erect. leaning slightly on his
sheahed sword witt his left hand, while his night
hand holds pair OF field glasses He is looking in the
distance as though be watching the movements OF
the enemy, for whom he fully prepared. or it may
be watching the battle itself raging Confident of the
tried courage and endurance of his devoted followers
and of the justice Of the God Battles he looks every
men man ana the complete master Of the situation
The head is uncovered, and he has on cavalry boots
Under the monument tlere is a vault or crypt which
mt CIV oh nt.a~c III
twenty high. These arranged in two horizontal
rows Of three each, the above tie other In
the central of the lower three rest the remains Of
Jackson, with those of infant daughter. In the
central upper the remains Of his daughter Julia
Mrs. Christian buried. This vault forms the
foundation of the monument and Is entirely covered
up by the earth and the monument, so that the
pedestal. 10 all appearances Stands in the middle Of
grassy mound. The pedestal is of Richmond granite
SIX feet SQUARE at the base -.e die stone or
main shaft. Is 3x3x4. On the diverse side of this
shaft the inscription is in raised letters
JACKSON.
1o24lS63.
While on the other side also in raised letters is the
FORD stOnewan. The monument is near the middle Of
he inclosure and faces the southwest, 10 take ad
Fantage Of the favorable light in the afternoon
The following letter signed by the Rev. DR.. Moses
d. Hoge Jackson's former pastor, and Dr. Hunter
MCGUIRE the chief Of his military staff addressed TO
A. Edmundson. esq, chairman Of the executive com
mittee Of the Jackson Memorial Association. viii be
read with interest:
Dear sir: In compliance with your request that
we should give YOU our impression Of the statue OF
General T. J. Jackson We beg leave 10 say that We
have repeatedly visited the studio OF NJ Valentine
While the work was in progress and since II was
finished. and regard it. both in conception and IN
detail equal in merit 10 the recumbent statue Of
General Lee. Il represents General Jackson in an
attitude suggestive Of strength and determinauon IoA
ng OF In the distance wifi a expression of quiet
confidence. The posture IS easy and natural and yet
there is certain dignity in the bearing almost ma,
iesuc. which viii CRAFTY those who knew General
Jackson as a good likeness and a noble delneat0n o.
the man While those who never saw him u VII
convey an impression that will satisfy The expectation
awakened by one whose character ana achievements
touched the imagination Of the world and created the
Ideal Of a true soldier Of the country and the cross