Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-05-20
New Markets Big Day.
HONOR TO OUR NOBLE DEAD
THE PEOPLE OF THAT GOOD OLD TOWN
OPEN WIDE THEIR HEARTS AND
HOMES TO ALL COMERs.

OPEN WIDE THEIR HEARTS AND
HOMES TO ALL COMERS.
May 18th, 1898, was the thirty-fourth
Anniversary ofthe battle of New MarkC t
between the Confederate forces und, r
Genl. Jno c. Breckenridge 5000 strong,
and the Yankee forces under Genl.
Franz Sigel, 10000 in number. Right
royalty did the generous people Of that
good old Valley town celebrate the day
that has made their town famous as long
as history lasts, and heroic deeds be re-
corded for the admiration and inspiration
of generations still far in the future.
1t was an ideal day. The sun bright
and warm but the heat was tempered by
a pleasant breeze that rolllcked with the
whipping folds Of the stars and stripes,
and lovingly kissed, as with "a solemn,
sacred benediction the old powers stained
and war worn Confederate battle flags
that in days long past had waved in the
hot breath of deadly strife above the
brayest race that ever fought and died
for the inalenable and God given right
ofman to CONTROL his own destiny
From the first peep Of light the people
commenced to pour in from every direc-
ton on horse back and in every con-
ceiyable kind of vehicle. The Daughters
Of the Confcderacy, with many citizens
and number of Confederate Veterans
went from Woodstock in hacks, while
the trains from the upper and lower
Valley poured in their hundreds until
the streets were packed. 1t was one OF
the most orderly crowds we ever saw.
Not single arrest was made and We
never heard harsh word passed in all
that throng.
After waiting for the Cadet Bat
talon from the Virginia Military
Institute, whose train was delayed an
hour, and who at last arrived over
two hundred strong, everything WAS
ready. These Youngsters in their
neat and handsome uniforms, with
the perfection Of their drill and move
ments made them the great attraction
Of the day.
The procession formed consisting
Of large number Of veterans,
,ios and others on horseback. The
Veteran camps of Strasburg Wood
stock and Edinburg many Of them in
their handsome gray uniforms,
Daughters of the Confederacy, Sons
of Confederate Veterans, Women's
Memorial Society Of the Lost Cause
of New Market, and q large number
of ladies and children bearing flowers
to strew upon the graves, led by the
Cavalry, New Market and Y. VI. l.
bands moved through the principal
streets to the beautiful cemetery Of
st. Mathews church at the north end
Of town. Here upon grassy knoll,
commanding a grand view Of the
beautiful Valley from mountain to
mountain, stood the imposing granite
monument to the Confederate soldiers
and V. NJ. l. Cadets there Of the
loving work ofthe noble ladies com
prisiug the "Women's Memorial
Society Of the Lost cause" Of New
Market.
Aroundthis the vast array formed.
Upon a platform stood four girls in
spotless white, Misses Lizzie VIII.
iamson, Nina Snapp, Resa Henkel
and Mary Williamson. Amid i'm
pressiye silence Miss Mary Williamson
erasped the cord that led from the
TOP ofthe monument, and with the
beautiful words, Monument Of i'm
perishable granite, dedicate thee to
the memory of the brave she
gracefully losei the canvas that
shrouded it and the imposing shaft
stood revealed to all eyes, and a
moment later the cold rebel yell,
after the long silence Of years, again
peacd over the hills that had beer
made sacred by the blood Of the
bravest and best who had ever
Ihonored the world withtheir pl O. ence
The New Market band then played
that grand old battle tune Of the
Conlcderacy, ''Dixie," at the conclu-
sion ofwhich the V. NJ |. band for
med around the monument and with
great sweetness and pathos rendered
the immoral strains Of "Auld Lang
Syne" eyoking tender memories Of
past and causing tears to start alike
from the eyes Of Veterans, bearded
men and tender women as they
thought of the loved husbands,
fathers, sons, brothers and comrades
who had died the death of heroes
that right and justice should not
perish from the face of the earth.
The procession then returned to
town and the Cadets, Veterans,
bands, and hundreds of Others were
marched to the Polytechnic Institute
and Graded School building where
they were most beautifully fed on the
very fat of the land. Everything was
c.to hot and in nrofuSion NeW