Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-06-06
Soldiers and Sailors
Monument IN
yelled.

Monument Un-
yelled.
On Wednesday, May Both, the city of
Richmond was crowded with people
from all portions of this State an else
where to witness the ceremonies at
tending the uuyeiling of the mouu-
ment erected on Libby Hill in honor of
the memory Of the heroic bravery and
self sacrificing patriotism of the private
Confederacy. Tho city was arrayed
in bunting, and the public buildings
and many of the private residences
were very handsomely decorated.
In honor of the unwilling the day
| was observed as Il general holiday in
the city. aud in addition to the large
| number of Confederate Veterans, visit
| ing military. etc, there were crowds of
| city people and other spectators on
| the streets.
| The procession formed in the Yicini
ty OF Broad and Twelfth streets with
| Gen Fitzhugh Lee as chief marshal,
and moved shortly after O'clock
Col. Male. of the Third Regiment,
acting Brigadier General, was in com
1nand of the Infantry, aud Gen. Wade
Hampton commanded the Confederate
| Veterans.
| Among Gen. Lees aides were: Gen.
John B. Gordon, Gen. James A. Walk
er, Gen. VIM. McComb, Gen. Geo.
Norman, Gen. Joseph Wheeler. Gen.
Dabney H. Maury, Gen. Harry Heth,
Gen. M. G. Butler, Gen. 7. l.. Rosser,
Gen. VIM. H. Payne, Gen. L. L. Lomax,
Gen. Scott Ship, Gen. 7. A. Brander
and staff Gen d. A. Weisiger, Gen.
George II Stuart.
| A feature of the parade was the child
ren's column Most of the little girls
were dressed in white, wore red, white
and blue sashes, and carried little Con-
| federate flags.
There were over 1000 veterans in
line, and Confederate flags were to be
seen on all sides. The military in line
including infantry, cavalry and artil-
lery numbered about 1,5"0. Many Of
the organizations were headed by
bands of music, the Stonewall Brigade
Band of Staunton, being one of the
most prominent in line.
In the line were also the Governor
and his staff; the Grand Camp of Con-
federate Veterans of the State; the
Mayor of Richmond and city officers;
fire companies; civic societies and the
ladies of the various auxiliary societies
who rode in carriages. After march
ing through several of the streets the
column reached the monument, on
Libby Hill, where the ceremonies were
held as follows:
Music
| Prayer.-By Rev. NJ. D. Hoge, d. d.
Music.
Poem-By A. G. Gordon, esq.
Music.
Introduction of orator by ID. G. Rich
ardson, President Confederate Sol
i. diers' and Sailors Monument AssO
citation.
Oration-By Rev. R. G. Cave.
Bugle Call.
, Unwilling Monument.
Salute by Military.
: The magnificent monument, which
is memorial in bronze and granite to
f the bravery, devotion and endurance
! of the Confederate soldiers, is beautl-
fully propoftioned, graceful in outline
, and commands the view from nearly
every portion of the surrounding coun-
try.
The shaft is reproduction on re-
duced scale of Pompey's pillar, said by
architectural critics to be the most
| beautiful specimen of monumental
work in the world. and a glance at the
3 reproduction confirms this estimate.
| The shaft is made of the most endur-
t ing granite and is seventythroe feet
| high from the ground. The mammoth
figure of bronZe, with the gun, rises
} seventeen feet higher, making the
t monument complete ninety feet in
, height.
! The column is composed of thirteen
} massive stones, representing the thlr
: teen Confederate States, and the cap
/ stone, presented by the State of Vir
: ginia, weighs seventeen tons, is eight
/ feet thick and beautifully carved.
The colossal figure in bronze is that
| of typical Confederate soldier at rest,
, and while the artist has thrown life
r and spirit into the face and attitude, it
has an aspect of repose, but is free
) from listlessness of appearance, rather
conveying the opposed ideas OF rest
fitness and alertness. In his right
hand he grasps his musket, the butt
of which rests upon a stump; his
blanket. frequently his only protection
at night from sIeet and storm, is rolled
, and crosses his breast, and his left hand
clutches the strap of his canteen just
above the hip. His belt and plate
bearing the letters &c. S." the cap
box, and every detail is faithfully por-
trayed, even to placing his socks over
his pants-a custom which universally
prevailed in the Confederate ranks.
The outlines are very bold and mas
sive, and the figure is in large masses
with deep set lines to meet the effect
that its height will convey to the dis
tant eye. The artistic judgment and
wisdom shown by Mr.. Sheppard in
adopting such bold methods of model
ing was shown conclusively when the
figure was hosted to the top OF the
column.
the die block is
CONFEDERATE
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS
i MONUMENT"
i On the south side is the inscription !:
ERECTED
The CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS AND
SAILORS MONUMENT AssOCIA-
TION.
1S91-'94.
MEMORIAL POEM BY HON. A. C.
GORDON.
To our esteemed and distinguished
citizen, Hon. A. G. Gordon. was accord
ed the very high honor of being select
ed as the poet to write and read poem
worthy of the interesting and memor-
able occasion of the unwilling of the
monument to the private soldiers and
sailors of the Confederacy, in Rich
mond, May 3Oth, 1894. and the manner
in which he discharged that difficult
task vindicates the wisdom of his selec-
ton. as all must admit who will read