New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-16
VEST POINTS MEMORIAL.
THE BATTLE MONUMENT TO BE DEDI-
GATED ON MAY 81.
fpY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBuy

BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
Washington, May 15-The dedication OF the bat
tie monument In memory Of the officers and men
of the Regular Army who fell In battle during the
War OF the Rebellion. which has been erected by
their surviving comrades. will take place at West
Point. n Y May 81. at II 80 a. m. The exercises
will begin promptly at the hour designated, and
no one will be admitted the auditorium after
they are In progress. The following Is the order
Of the exercises:
First-Musc by the band Of the Military Acad-
envy.
chaplain of the Military Academy.
,y 70 h Wilson he q
gineers United States Army.
by =, raj John sm
era! sv the president, o, the United
slxth-,Ths National salute;
seye mt the MsTS the
EiFh,h,orat!on by Dsyid Brewer Associate 50
'? Sinth"HandeTs largo by the band Of the
Military academy , s.,
A cordial invitation to be present has been ex-
tended by the Building Committee 10 all veterans OF
the Regular Army who served in the field during
the War OF the Rebellion and tho families OF all
soldiers whose names appear upon the monument
All such az can be present are requested to COM
municate the fact in writing to the secretary OF the
Building Committee as soon as possible, and TO re-
port In person TO the quarternaster at West Point
by 10 a. m. on the 3lst for assignment to seats
This dedication will be the elimination OF sug-
geston made in 1863 by Lieutenant ii. c. Hasbrouck.
now lieuena ut colonel in the 4;h Artillery while
stationed as an instructor at the Military Academy
~ the effect that all officers OF the Regular Army
then In service be asked to contribute certain per-
centage OF their monthly pay for one month TOWARD
n fund to be used for the erection OF monument at
West Point commemorative OF the men OF the Reg
uler Army who fell during the War OF the Re-
he,lion This suggestion was speedily acted upon by
the formation OF an organization and an Executive
Committee The scope of the commemorat!on was
extended to include enlisted man. and pro rata SUD-
scriptions solicited, with the result that fund
was collected, which. under the admirable manage
ment Of the successive reasurers Professors Churcn
and Andrews, had increased TO about $4,000 by 1891
Colonel John NJ Wilson, then superintendent OF the
Military Academy. judging the time ripe Tor action
called a meeting OF the Executive Committee on Fep-
ruory Il OF that year for the purpose OF taking pre-
limnary steps toward Inviting plans. etc. for the
erection OF the monument. Building Committee
consisting OF Professors Peter 5. Michie Charles J"
Iarned Edgar W. Bass and James Mercur. was
elected and invested with full power 10 prepare plans
anu ana edeiic,tion of the Battle Monument. Sub
seauent to the work OF the preparation OF pans anu
M. detection OF a design, colonel John NJ wilson
became. as superintendent. ex-ofiicio member OF
the committee. . .-o,.oaoa % Iran, I'm
form Of competition, and invited four leading firms
Of architects enter. committee OF selection
for that purpose Augustus st: Gaudens Richard
NJ Hunt and Arthur Rotch. The aWaru was given
TO- tho arm of McKim, Mead White. or New
York, who associated with them as sculptor Fred
erick W MacMonnies. In March, 1873. Colonel u
~ Ernst Corps of Engineers was appointed super
intendeni OF the Military Academy, ana too Inc
place Of Colonel Wilson on the Building Commit
lee Owing TO various delays and notifications IN
the original design involving the entire remodellins
and recastng Of the figure OF Fame ana the oronAe
tablets the monument was not completed until the
fail of 1896. -, .,... ,.or. 49,
was obtained In the determination OF the names or
nil officers and enlisted men OF the Regular Army
VINO were killed died OF wounds received In bait
lie during the OF the Rebellion, and great care
vas taken In the revision OF the lists. The m0nu-
ment now bears. cast In bronze, the names OF l@
officers and 2.N2 men, ana the following 'hscr'p-
ton on the body OF the SHAFT:
I'm memory OF the officers and men OF the Regu-
lar Army OF the United States who fell In battle
during tho War OF the Rebellion this monument Is
erected by their surviving comrades.
The monument consists OF a monolithic shaft Of
polished pink Milford granite. forty-six feet high.
standing on a cylindrical pedestal. and bearing on
a square abacus q granite sphere. upon which Is
poised a winged Azure az Fame. with trumpet and