Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-13
GENERAL RALEIGH e. coLsToN.
Effort Pat on Foot to Raise n Monu-
n1ent 10 Him.

tleman who died here not long ago, de-
sire TO raise by subscription fund with
which to erect an appropriate monument
over his remains. which rest in beautiful
Hollywood Cemetery, and also to add
a portrait of him in oil to the appealing
collection OF southern chleftains, which
now grace the walls OF X. Il. Lee Camp,
No. /, Confederate Veterans. in this city.
Toward these objects a committee has
been appointed. OF which Captain John
T.. Laughton, Jr., the jealous and eff
cient chairman Of the Committee TO Sc
cure Portraits for Lee Camp. Is chair
man. and 20 him IL Is requested that all
subscriptions for the objects stated. be
sent.
In the current volume CXXV). South
ern Historical Society Papers. an ap-
peal Is made. and a memorial OF
General Colston printed. together with
a touching ode Wy him, In this, the COM
prehensive genius Of General Colston Is
strikingly manifest. and all VIII ADMIT
that his poetic faculty was one OF no
mean order. The Dispatch reproduces
this ode. which is printed in the Papers
from a COPY furnished by the lanented
author whilst he lay herOically and un-
murmuringly on a couch OF physical sur
fering helpless. resignedy awaiting his
release by our Gracious Maker, at our
Soldiers Home, near this city Inc ODE
entitled "Our Dead" is dedicated 10 the
! Ladies' Memorial Association VII
mington. y. c.. and was delivered at the
anniversary supper Of the Third Regiment
Association. on May 10. 1872, in reply to
| the second regular toast, and Is as fol-
lows:
| Erect upon a granite base
He looks toward the glowing West;
How stern and sad his noble face,
How watchful,-tho' he stands at rest
He seems to scan with steadfast gaze
| The foeman's dark ming line of blue;
| Does he perceive across the maze
The glancing bay'nets flashing through
One hand with ev'ry clinched nerve
| Grips hard the gun Ger which he bends
The other hangs in graceful curve,
Which rounds the sinewy fingers ends
| Behold no carpet-knight Is ne,
| His manly grace is Natures own;
| In evry feature one may see
The light that's caught from Da''ie
| alone.
His garments rough are old and worn,
Hard used the shoes upon his feet,
That belt and cartridge-box were borne
In many a victory and retreat.
IJpon this soldiers stalwart form
No stars. no bars, to mark his grade
And on his modest uniform
Not ey'n an humble worsted pralu'
| Hos hut n privatel All unknown,
He gives his strength. his blood, his LIE
| Content to fall. obscure, alone,
rrnboaded In the deadly strife.
What flag. what State his fealty claim
&C S." upon his betting plate,
IN. c." upon his cap, proclaim
The soldier of the "Old North State"
oh. who stands here? Whose image this
Instinct with life tho cast in bronze?-
The type so true, so vivid Is
That ev'ry heart at once responds:
IT ought to know. I've seen that face,
In night. on march, by bivouacs fame
| Tho now / can't recall the place,
Nor who he was, nor what his name.
Yet sure. I know that shape, that head
Like half-forgotten friends they seem
No doubt he's numbered with the dead
But have seen hints no dream
| o triumph or the sculptor SNlh
Which thus could strike the magic
chord,
And cause the southern heart to thrill
And stir one more its mem'ries' hoard
This man of bronze. we know right well
We greet his grave, familiar face,
And thus. we do confess the spell
OF Genius-king OF time ard space.
For In this wonderous work Of art
form was giv'n by plastic hand
To the ideal of our heart,
The soldier type Of southern land!
And In this pile that towers above
And lifts its crest toward the SKY,
Forever shine true woman's love
And constant faith which ne'er can dle
o soldier of perennial bronze,
Erect upon the granite gray
Stand at thy post till from Deaths pono