The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-05-31

pLOn tn9n spoke Oh bnO CAUSES HNlC q
led up to the civil war.
a memorial poem by Major Henry II
Stanton, Of kentucky, was next and
the literary portion OF tho dedication
was closed with an address by Right
Rev. Samuel Fallows, bishop of the
Reformed Episcopal Church, Chicago,
late general of the United States volun-
teers. Then came the beautiful and
impressive ceremony OF "Consecrsting
the guns" At each corner of the mon
ument stood field piece presented to
the Association by the United States
Government. The ceremony Is known
as "Monumenting the guns" and con-
sists in making the ordinance part Of
the monument to the dead.
The monument corps formed in pro-
cessioh and the gentlemen escorting the
ladies passed through the lines of the
veterans to the first gun and when they
stood beside It General Underwood gave
the command "Consecrate the guns"
General Ste Rart advanced to the piece
together with Lieut.-Col. France
carrying q triangular bolt Of steel and
Mr.. Noel who bore heavy hammer.
Colonel Stewart spoke the first words of
the ceremony: This gun having been
fred for the time on the field OF battle
will now be silenced forever"
spike in the vent OF the gun. "Spike
the gun" commanded General Under
wood. Down came Mr.. Noel's sledge on
the head Of the spike, driving it home,
and rendering that cannon forever
harmless. Colonel Stewart then escorted
Miss Lucy Lee Hill to the pedestal
beside the spiked cannon, and Miss Hill
said: This cannon, with its glorious
record on the field of battle having been
silenced forever, l do consecrate to the
memory of the valorous soliiery we
now monument as military decoration
for their bravery and honor unto death"
The ceremony was repeated at the other
guns by the other members of the con-
secrAting party with slight changes in
the phraseology of remuneration.
These four cannon were captured
from the Union forces in the battles OF
Murfreesboro and Chickamsuga, and
afterward manned by the Confederates,
and fought on the Southern SIDE in the
battles OF Missionary Ridge, Resaca,
Dalton. Kennesaw Mountain, Peach
Tree Creek, Atlanta and Franklin. were
finally captured sgain by the Federals
in the battle OF Nashville and subse.
quent engagements.
decorate the monument" COM
manded General Underwood and then
Sullivan and Mrs. h. L. Walker, dressed
in white and escorted by three staff
officers bearing floral decorations, ap-
preached the inscription face Of the
monument and in turn placed white
CROSS and laurel wreaths on easels at
the center and corners of the base, ded-
icating them to the chivalrous bravery
Of the dead there buried, and kneeled
upon the lower steps with their arms
folded on their bosoms, while the Ariou
Octette chanted "As God Wills-Amen."
Miss Eliza Washington advanced to
the front, the three ladies still kneeling,
and recited requiem poem. After this
ceremony the monument guns and piles
of shot were covered with flowers.
Then the field was cleared and Col.
Henry L. Turner, of the First Regiment,
marched his command to a position be.
side the graves and three volleys-the
final military tribute-were fred over
the graves. a bugle blere and "taps"
were sounded and the ceremonies of the
day were over.
Following the set program came the
decoration OF the graves OF the Union
soldiers in the cemetery by the Confed-
crate Association assisted by large
number of visiting ladies from the
South, many Of them noted Southern
beauties, among whom we're General
Underwood's daughter, General Long
streets daughter, General Cabell's
daughter and many other celebrated
Southern women.
After the exercises the guests were
entertained at luncheon by the Chicago
Club aid reviewed the procession of the
G. A. r. from the balcony of the Audi
forum. To>nighta military ball at the
Palmer House.
The crowd around the speakers stand
was immense, every seat in the grand
stand WAS taken. The monument dedi.
Gated to-day stands forty feet from the
ground to the top of the figure which
surmounts 1t. The pedestal il OF pearl
granite from quarries at Cons tit u ton
Hill, near Atlanta.