Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1897-05-25
Rouss monument Dedicated.
Confederate Veterans Celebrate The EUent '0ith a
Dinner and Reception.

ton Post, Earragut Association of Naval
Veterans, and others. The monument
cost $4,000.
The Confederate Veteran Camp held
dinner and reception in the Lennox Ly-
ceum tonight The hall was filled to over
flowing. The occasion marked the ded-
ication, at Mount Hope Cemetery, of the
monument presented to the Confederate
Veteran Camp, of this city. There was
large assemblage of Grand Army men,
and the commanders OF the several posts
made addresses. Among the guests was
Mrs. Jefferson Davis, who listened atten-
lively to the speeches and frequently ap-
plauded the sentiments expressive of the
union of States. A dance followed.
We append the following sketch of the
movement and its origin:
The Confederate Veteran Camp of New
York, which enjoys the enviable distinc-
ton of being the first organization of ex-
Confederates north of Mason and Dixon
line, was organized in 1890, and its pur-
poses are benevolent as we'll as social
In fact its organization was largely infiu-
enced by the fact that some years ago it
came to the knowledge of number of
old Confederate soldiers in New York
that one of their comrades, who was sick
and destitute, was being cared for by a
Grand Army post. The names of those
who first met and discussed this project
are Rev. w. w. Page, ]. r. McNulty. S.
w. Jones, John F. Black and w. S. Kelly.
The camp has steadily grown in numbers
and influence, until to-dayits membership
is nearly two hundred and includes most
of the prominent ex-Confederates in the
CITY of New York. The headquarters
| of the camp are at the Windsor Hotel and
its annual dinners and monthly camp
fires have become a most delightful fea-
ture of the social life of the Southern col
ony.
Imp ursuing the objects of its organiza-
ton, the camp proposed to provide for
the interment of deceased members, and
to this end benefit performance was
given at the Fifth Avenue Theatre sever
al years ago, at which Joseph Jefferson,
May Irwin and John Drew appeared
The result was eminently satisfactory and
|
! mortuary fund which it is estimated will
be sufficient to cover all the calls necessa-
ry to be made on it within the next ten
years.
The next step was to procure a suitable
place for the interment of veterans and
members of their families, and the au-
thorities of Mount Hope Cemetery offer
ed the camp plot of ground, whichwas
accepted. This cemetery is one of the
Youngest, but at the same time one of the
most beautiful, in the vicinity of New
York. Itis1ocated on the New York and
Putnam Railroad. few miles north of
the city of Yonkers and near the Hudson
river, and from its grassy lawn and gray
eled walks affords superb views of the
river and the picturesque palisades.
1t was then suggested that monument
to the Confederate dead should be cree
ted on this plot, and in 1895 the then COM
mander of the camp, Col. A. G. Dicken-
son, took this project in hand. Being
uncertain as to whether a move
ment to raise a sufficient fund for
this purpose would be successful, he ap-
preached the well known merchant and |
philanthropist, Mr.. Charles Broadway |
Rouss, and asked him whether, in his |
opinion, the sum of FIVE thousand dollars |
could be raised for the purpose stated
Mr.. Rouss replied: Yes, it can be done,
and it will be done" and thereupon sub
scribed FIVE thousand dollars to the fund.
A contract was Immediately entered with
Messrs. Tainter Brothers for the con-
struction of shaft ffty-nine feet high,
at cost of ten thousand dollars large
portion of which the contractors them
selves contributed. The monument was
completed year ago. 1t is of the finest
Vermont granite, is located on an impos-
ing eninence in the centre of the plot
which has been set aside for the Confed-
crate dead. On one side of the monu-
ment is a wreath, in which is engraved
the words, "Sacred to the Memory of the
Heroic Confederate Dead" and on the
other side is inscribed the last verse of
the famous poem, High Tide at Gettys-
burg"
An account of the unwilling and Hon.
VIM. L. Wilson's address (toolate for this
issue) will appear in our next.
The monthly reading for Nav at the