Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-05-15
A MANLY STATEMENT

OF the Conditions Surrounding the Erect
ion and Dedication OF the Confederate
Monument Ia lakewood Cemetery.
Chicago, May IA local paper
says So many statements have gone
abroad in other cities that Chicago
as q result Of Department Commander
Thayer's recent letter to the Massa-
chusetts G.. A. r. protesting against
the proposed dedication Of the COnfed-
crate monument at OaEw00ds Gene
terry Memorial Day. that many per-
sons deeply interested in the event
believe part OF the public has been
led TO miscOnstrue the significance Of
the ceremonies TO be performed. Gen.
Underwood. commander Of the divls-
ion of She North. United Confederate
veterans, deems IL advisable 10 issue
letter defining his position. The let
ter which is addressed TO the Citi-
lens Of the United States. and United
People of One Nation says in part:
The permission to erect a monu-
menJ over the remains Of six thousand
Southern soldiers in Oakwood Gene
terry was granted by the Secretary Of
War.
according to the fund raised. two
thirds of which having been contrib
uted by citizens of Chicago. and the
monument, as it stands, was erected
under direct provision Of the permit
that emanated from the War Depart
ment.
Last Decoration Day a number of
@. A. r. posts joined with the Con-
federate Camp I'm the memorial exer-
cises and prOfUsely decorated the Con-
federate graves with Northern flowers
the Southern man returning the
courtesy i'm memorial ceremonies by
DECORATING THE GRAVES
Of Union soldiers i'm the same GENE
.ery. On that occasion Mai. II. G..
purintOu. commander Of Columbia
Post No. 756. G. A. r., suggested that
the monument be dedicated the next
Decoration Day, May 80, 1895, that c..
A. r. veterans because of its being G.
holiday, mighJ attend and take coIrtC-
Ous part in the ceremony. The he /
day feature of the day applying rs we.S
20 my own command, that day was Sc
lected; and without any thought or in
-enuon OF infringing upon preroga-
tive Of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lic
"I am the recipient of a letter from
Lieut.-GeU John NJ Schofeld. com
handing the United States Army, and
an endorsement on the back OF his pho-
/ tOgraph by Gen. Thomas G.. Lawler,
commandec-in-chief c. A. r, each
commencing the monumenting of the
remains OF my dead comrades, the Con-
federates sleeping in Oakwo0ds as
laurable and praiseworthy, etc. It is
parj0nable TO refer to such high and
/ disinterested approval of humani-
tartan acts. and although at this june
ture no character of discussion is de-
/ sired. still i deem it entirely right
/ proper and due the public TO announce
/ that in mOnumenting the Confederate
[ dead every observance OF law was COM
piled with and no purpose of mearth-
\ ing the dead CCnfederacy, Of acting
! dislOy0lly or Haunting the Confederate
\ flag that went down at AppOmQyteoN
/ was for q moment entertained, the only
/ purpose Of the living C0niedcrotes he
I ing TO monument the fortitUde and
: bravery constituting the heroism OF
/ the private soldiers who surrendered
their lives under the most trying cur
/ cumstauCes Imaginable, and by so do
ing have added page to the renOwn
OF the American volunteer. I will bS
| in command during the dedication Of
I the Confederate monument and know
I I'm advance that neither an unDatriotiC
/ sentiment nor disloyal word viii be ut
I tered. and I viii personally see that the
/ stars and Stripes alone are given to the
breeze on that OCCASION