The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1895-05-31

To the confederate Soldiers OF
Upton County, whose courage
in war and virtues in peace
have illustrated the highest
type of American manhood
Nor drawer bied for brighter land,
Nor brighter land had a cause so grand
The brick foundation is raised about
two feet above the elevation of the ground.
A mound of earth has been raised to the
level of the brick foundation, and this will
later be handsomely paved with concrete,
forming a walk all around it. A fence
will also be built around it as soon as the
work can be done. The monuments first
cost was $1,000, and the expense connected
with the building of the fence, laying of
the walks, incidentals, ETC., will foot up
at least 5000 more.
Upton county furnished more than a
thousand soldiers to the cause of the Con-
federacy. No better evidence of their
bravery and active service could be cited
than the fact that about fifty per cent. OF
them fell on the field of battle and yielded
up their lives for the cause they held
dearer than any other, and died from dis
ease in camps and in Northern prisons.
Not more than a fourth of Upton conn
ty's soldier boys are living today. 1t has
often been said, and as many times sub
stantiated by records and the manv scars
good soldiers as those who composed the
flower of Lees or any other army, and
that she also furnished more of them than
any other county in the South in proper
ton to population.
The meeting of the old soldiers here on
the dav of the unwilling made pathetic
scenes in many instances. Some had seen
each other the last time when they laid
down their arms to enter peaceful pursuits
/ L, A.ofc fhavy
marched side by side and fought over the
dead bodies of their comrades on bloody
! fields of conflict. The love one Confeder-
ate soldier bears for another is something
wonderful, and though their heads are
gray and their boards grizzled, they often
/ almost break down when they meet an old
comrade. We have lately ehronicled
striking instances OF their love and devo-
/ ton to each other, involving the expendi-
ture of their means, brotheriy kindness
and generous aid in times OF sickness and
1 pecHniarY trouble.
II was that noble old man, Col. Richard
! EEssMunford, who peacefully Psssea away
| in March 1884, after long life OF useful
ness and good works, who gave CovIngton
| her beautiful cemetery, and who furnished
| his own flesh and blood'to fight for the
| lost cause, who first conceived the idea
back in the early seventies, of building &
/
tvs soldiers, and started the fund for iii
erection by a most generous donation
which formed the nucleus for the sun
now on hand When this good old mar
passed away he left the matter in good
/ hards, prominent among which was hi
/ daughter, Mrs Sarah NJ Holiness now o.
/ Memphis, and this noble Southern woman
in conjunction with many other wives o.
old soldiers and patriotic men, has never
ceased working for the carrying out Of
this cherished object
Soon after the donation of Col. MunforC
| the Upton County Confederate Mona.
ment Association was organized, which il
at present com posed of Col. VIM. Sanford
| president, Joseph Forsyth vice-presiden
Col. J. q. Green secretary, J. A. CrofforC
| treasurer, with an executive committed
composed of Capt C. B. Simonton chair
man, Col. J. u. Green secretary, Col. VIM
Sanford, Capt. D. A. Merrill, Joseph For
syth and N. w. Baptist. This association
has been collecting funds through these
years made at the annual reuuions given
/ by accepting donations from outside par
ties and by other means. The young la
dies of the county aud the young men, tbs
latter of whom have given several benef
\ concerts for the cause, are deserving also Of
due praise in this connection.
| The monument was selected by the ex.
| ecutive committee of the association and
this committee has succeeded SO admirably
| in its work that all are pleased with their
good taste and efficient work. The design
agreed upon by the committee WAS well
! carried out in its building by the Peter &
| Burghard Stone Co., of Louisville, KY.
through their local agent at this place, Mr..
j. West Green, who has worked eonscien-
| tiously in fulfilling the contract to the let
ter. Mr.. Robertson, the representative of
the stone company, spent the most of last
week with many assistants in getting the
monument in position and finished his
work Saturday evening, after which he
put on the veil which covered the hand
some statue until Wednesday.
THE UNvELLING CEREMONIES.
The visitors coming on trains were met
at the depot by the reception committee,
and were taken in charge, as were also
those who came in private conveyances.
Each soldier was given badge of white
ribbon on which was inscribed "Veteran,
May 80, 1895" The soldiers formed in
front of Or. Halls under command of
Chief Marshal J. +. Dickson, assisted by
Col. w. F. Taylor, of Memphis, and
Esq. S. III Mitchell. of Mason. The line
of march was led by the Brighton band,
followed by Company A. Confederate Vet
Grams of Memphis, the Confederate soldiers
from the various companies forming in
line behind them The line of march was
taken for the stand, and when the process
sion reached the square the soldiers fled
of to the right, passing around the square
and entered the large stand erected for the
occasion on the east side.
On the stand was seated the officers of
the veteran company, the executive COM
mittee of the Monument Association, the
speakers of the occasion, the forty-four
Young ladies representing the States, the
choir. Mrs. Isabella Boyd, who represented
I" Mother Of the Confederaey" and Mrs. w.
a. Black, representing Columbia Mrs
Sarah Calhoun, who also had several sons
in the war, was invited to take seat with
them To the right of these noble ladies
was seated Rev. w III. Adams, who offered
the opening prayer. A number of
distinguished visitors and old Confed-
crate soldiers were also given seats on
the stand. Immediately on calling
the assemblage to order, Col. Sanford,
master of ceremonies, called on the choir,
which sang America" He ZEN invited
Rev. Mr.. Adams to invoke the divine
blessing. Mrs. Isabella Boyd was then
to the audience, after which she
assisted the thirteen young ladies in sing
my Maryland
Mrs Henry Sherrod recited "The Con-
luered Banner" Miss Sarah Hill then
pulled the cord that unveiled the mon
1ment, with appropriate remarks. The
band next struck up Dixie" and the |
monument stood in full view and was I
greeted with shouts from thousands of /
1oices. Mr.. West Green then arose on
behalf Of the contractors and rendered the /
monument to the Association il brief, but
appropriate remarks, which President
sanford accepted. The choir sang Bon
lie Blue Flag, the audience joining in
he chorus. Miss Vivian Poindexter read