Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-20

"a
il has always been a prominent land
mark, but is more so now than before.
because from its summit has risen
granite column surmounted with bronze
figure OF Confederate infantryman on
sentinel duty. The soldiers head Is raised
high above all neighboring buildings,
while a little way Off flows that kings
river" wherein Powhatan launched his
canoe. and on whose banks he built his
wigwam.
on the very spot where this monu-
ment stands We fancy the city's founders
stood when they resolved that the town
''at tho Falles'' should be called Rich
mond. after Richmond on the Thames"
Here is the same noble sweep OF stream
as I'm the Thames at Richmond. Here
were the same wooded hills sloping nearly
10 the waters edge. Here, on the farther
shore. are the verdant lowlands. Here
on one side Is natures tranquil face; on
the other the clash and clangor Of great
city.
The road which winds about the base
Of the hill and gives access TO the city
from the lower James-river counties was
one OF the first trodden by English feet
In what Is now the United states.
Captain John Smith must have known
IL well. Much later on Benedict Arnold's
British troops entered Richmond by this
way. Later, down this road and past
Libby Hi poured many Continental com
mands en- route 10 join Washington at
Yorktown. Later still. this highway was
beaten by the feet of the troops who
rallied from all the South for the defence
OF Richmond against Mcclellan. And IT
was from this hill that the people Of
Richmond saw the flashing of the
guns fired upon the Federal forces. when.
on the 18th OF May. 1862. our batteries
at Drewry's Bluff repulsed the Federal
feet. whose daring commander had
thought to steam up TO Richmond and
shell the city into surrender
From this same hill on the morning OF
evacuation-day crowd OF trembling wo-
men and children saw the Confederate
iron-clad fleet blown up. and In few
hours thereafter saw the enemy's ad-
vance guard rounding the hill to take pos
session of the city.
Thus this hill which we call Libby Hill
though city ordinance bids US call IL
Marshall Park-has ever been Identified
with Richmonds history. II took its
name from that same gentleman who
unwittingly furnished the name for the
Libby prison. Libby Hill vas the hill on
which he dwelt; Libby warehouse after
wards Il military PRISON. was the building
in which lie prosecuted his peaceful and
honorable business as a ship-chandler and
forwarding merchant. in those days when
canal-boats from the mountains met
banks and schooners from foreign and
domestic ports at the wharves IN front
Of his warehouse and exchanged cargoes.
The Confederate soldier who recalls
Libby Hill as 1t was during the late war
and who has not seen it since will re-
member 1t as gully-washed, bare OF trees.
and covered with Wire-grass upon which
cows and goats browsed, and out Of the
side OF which gushcd spring Of cool
water. whereof many a weary soldier
quenched his thirst and washed his face.
That was the Libby Hill Of the past The
Libby Hill Of to-day is park. with ali OF
the appurtenanceS Of terraces. fountains,
trees. nOwor-beds. grass-plots. &c. &c.
To he sure. we cannot say that 1t Is the
most fashionable Richmond park: but its
situation makes the lover Of nature won
der why it is not; wonder why SO much
of our wealth and fashion has abandoned
the sight of the river and the country be
yond to build long lines OF houses on
streets which have no outlook for the eye
no prospective. save rows Of brick houses
and macamadized roadways.
All that Libby Hill needed 10 crown its
slories it now has in the Soldiers and
Sailors monument, which IL TO be UNI
yelled on the 9Oth instant. The unwilling
OF the Lee monument in 1890 Is the high
water mark of success in such affairs
here. but We see no reason why the
coming event should not equal ito sur
pass it would be almost impossible. we
suppose. since the ranks OF our veterans
have been much thnned by death since
that time. Hence there will be absences
which cannot be supplied. but Richmond
should and will extend the same hospi-
tally, and there should. and We doubt
not will, be the same spirit as prevailed
four years ago.
The monument Is the result OF seven
years labor on the part of the associa-
ton organized for its erection, supple
mcnted by tho noble efforts Of the ladies
who held and managed the memorial
bazaar. The ladies came 10 the aid OF
the association, animated by the same
spirit which prompted them during the
war to undertake the completion OK the
iron-clad Richmond, and which since the
war has inspired them to hold bazaars to
build the Soldiers monument in Holly
wood. and for the benefit OF the Soldiers
Home.
This issue of the Dispatch, we think,
may we'll be called a Libby-Hill-monu
ment number. True. the unveiling cere-
monies are ten days off. but 1t is time to
let the people of the South know what is
the programme Of exercises, and II Is
time TO warn Richmonders OF the ne
cesslty of putting their houses in order
to entertain the great crowd or visitors
that We are sure to have. With these
objects in view the Dispatch to-day pre-
sents an ably-written history Of this
monument and is moreover rejOiced
to give, in connection herewith. greetings
from a majority Of the Governors and
surviving generals of the Southern States,
from which 1t will be seen how highly
this work OF ours is appreciated.
These letters also contain eloquent
eulogies of the Confederate private sol
der from the pens OF Mrs. jefferson
Davis and Generals Gordon, Longstreet,
Kemper, McLaws. Ransom. Malone. &c.
We would say TO our gifted friend OF
the Norfolk Landmark, in reply to his
editorial explanation of the inexplicable
condition of the Norfolk Democracy. that
as soon as our foreign editor finishes