Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1896-07-08
LOUISIANA DEAD HoYoRED.
4 Shaft UnreiIed in Stone,rau Cemetery,
Winchester.

Cemetery on Saturday. The crowd in at
tendance was estimated at 10000. The pro
cessiOu was late in starting, it being nearly
noon when the signal was given to move.
The exercises opened at l O'Clock. Capt
John J. Williams, the new mayor, opened
his address Of welcome to Louisianians with
the sentence, at is great pleasure for me
to appear in my official capacity for the first
time to welcome the men who followed
Stonewail Jackson" and concluded his
speech with an eloquent peroration wecom-
ing the veterans from louisiana
Gen. Allen Barksdale responded to the
mayors address: "What tongue is eloquent
enough to express our appreciation of this
magnificent welcome. 1t is not only of
words, not only superficial welcome, but
au honest, true outpouring Of the inner feel
ings of hospitality that have always charac-
terized grand, historic Winchester, and all
through coming time the people of VIM
chester will have place in our memories
and be remembered in our prayers"
At the conclusion of General Barksdale's
address prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. P. D.
Stephenson, who closed his prayer with the
following words ooh, God Almighty, we
pray for the common country, for that flag
which was originated by our Southern
Washington aud defended by him. May
we again be reunited in spirit as in the early
days of the republic"
Capt William Laughin, chairman of the
Louisiana monument committee formally
presented the monument, in which he paid
high tribute to Mr.. Charles Broadway
Rouss, and was enthusiastically cheered. 1t
was received by General Barksdale in an
appropriate speech, after which Miss Mich
oils, daughter of General Nichols, escorted
by General liable, Major Williams and Rev.
John p Hyde, D. d., chairman of the COM
mittee Of arrangements, stepped to the front
and unveiled the handsome shaft DIR.
Hyde called for three cheers for Louisi
ana, which were given with a will
A poem was then read by Captain Laugh
lin, written by Mrs Mary Ashley Townsend
ZarifIa, whose literary ability and reputa-
ton is of the highest. General Barksdale
then introduced General Nichols, who
spoke about ten minutes only and received
hearty applause.
An EXTRACT FROM GEN. NICHOLIs's AD-
DRESS.
Returning at the close of the war, to des-
olated homes, we we're compelled at once to
face fresh dangers in new forms-dangers
such as had not confronted US before. We
had to fight life's battle through prostratiOn
and defeat. With social problems hard to
solve with political troubles meeting us at
every step, the only wonder was that senti
ment could find place on which to rest at
all. But as the sky cleared or and things
resumed their normal shape plans would be
formed by which, in some betting way,
to pay the living comrades tribute to their
hOnored dead. But how should this be dOne'
To take their bodies home was utterly i'm
possible. There scarcely was a battle fought
from the beginning to the end in which the
Louisiana troops were not participants
Trace them as they fell from Harper's Fer
~ to the Carolina line. Throughout this
lovely valley and down upon the James they
sleep their soldiers sleep. But loving hearts
and gentle hands have done for us in part
what we had thought impossible The no.
bic women of this dear old town have caused
to be collected here on sacred ground the
bodies of our men who fell at Winchester,
while around their graves private soldier
Charles Broadway Rouss) from the Vir-
ginia ranks has thrown the fence which links
them with Virginias own heroic dead for
all future time.
"a handful of old men, the remnant of the
brave commands to which they once be-
longed, return their grateful thanks for all
that has been done For much OF this they
owe debt of gratitude for unceasing acts Of
kindness, for generous words of praise for
never failing sympathy in sickness and in
pain.
"There never was a people so loyal and so
true as those from this sweet valley, as the
Louisiana troops had good cause to know.
Returning after many years they see with
10y and gladness the unceasing signs of hap
piness and content which everywhere ap-
pear-they see with even greater gladness
that though the valley is altered its people
are unchanged; they are the same true,
loyal, generous people we knew throughout
the war. We wish for them earth's richest
gifts and ask Gods choicest blessing.
The lot adjoining Mt Hebron Cemetery,
in which Mr. Rouss has erected a splendid
monument to his father and mother, as well
as to his sister and his son, was visited by
many hundreds of people The graves had
been decorated with flowers in beautiful de-
signs by the Union and Friendship Fire
Companies, who have been the recipients of
Mr. Rouss's bountiful generosity.
While boarding the train at Winchester
Saturday night for home Gen. Allen Banks
dale theoue armed yeteran,o of Louisiana, had
his pocket picked. His purse contained
500 in money aud railroad tickets for him
self and daughter from Winchester IN New