The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-06-24
Monumert to be Erected at Virginia
Military Institute.

Lexington, Va, June, 23. AT the
alumni meeting of the Virginia Mill.
tary Intitute yesterday. there was pre-
sented the design of the proposed mon
ument to the memory of the young
heroes who nobly gave their lives for
the Lost Cause, and TO those who sur
yived Of that youthful band Of the
memorable battle of Newmarket Va,
whose bravery will ever live green in
the memory of the cadets OF the past
present, and future and incite them TO
noble deeds.
The proposed monument is to be
known as the BATTLE and Battalion
Monument, Virginia Military Institute
Cadets, Newmarket, May 10, 1864, y
and is TO be made from model by one
of the gallant members of that band
who took part in that battle and was a
member Of Company C-Sir Moses Eze'
kiel, of Rome, Italy. who has gained
fame abroad and at home as an artist
and who now offers this. one OF his
masterpieces. as a memorial 20 his dead
and living comrades. To quote his
words: "As orderly sergeant of Com
pany O, Virginia Military Institute, /
feel il almost duty to write and say
that. if you intend putting up memo
rial 10 my fallen comrades in the battle,
hope to be the means of rendering my
tribute to their memory in the work Of
my hands in my own art. / would be
willing and glad to give my time and
labor and art toward It, "
The monument is to be in bronze,
heroic size, and is female figure, clad
in mail mourning, seated upon a piece
of breastwork Her foot rests upon a
broken cannon, Overgrown with Ivy,
and she holds reversed lance IN her
hands. The statue in seated posture
is feet high, the oval base is feet
s inches by feet the whole to be
placed on solid block of Virginia
granite feet high and 8 feet by feet
6 inches. The pedestal is to be placed
on a living rock base on the western
corner of the parade grounds at the
Virginia Military Institute, the top
of (which is 10 feet above the
general level; this to be surrounded
by a symmetrical mound 100 feet in di-
ameter, encircled by walk and drive
way. The face of the monument is to
be turned toward and overlooking the
graves where sleep the boys who were
killed in the charge that won the battle,
aud at the same time the entire monu-
ment will be in unobstructed view from
the cadet barracks and every point OF
the parade ground and the camp ground
by it. having for background the west
ern mountains and the sunset sky, and
one of the most magnificent views in the
Valley of Virginia. Bronze plates will
inclose the pedestal, properly inscribed.
The cost Of all exp enses attached to
the proposed m Onument is estimated to
be s., 900. OF this, 50, 900 will be for
casting in bronze and the remainder for
carriage and completion at the Virgin.
ginia Military Institute. OF this
amount 81 900 has already been raised
by the efforts of Miss Margaret Free
land. of Lexington Va. and Hon. Ohas.
]. Faulkner, of Martinsburg, W. Va,
whose interest aud enthusiasm, almost
unaided, have accomplished the above.
Three hundred dollars additional
has been received from N. B. McDow-
ell and his aged mother, Of Charlotte,
N. O., they having had a brother and
son, ". H. Mcdowell, killed in the
battle. In the same mail were received
contributions from Charles Broadway
Rouss, Of New York, and William
Wheatley, of Washington. d. o. At
that rate, the amount necessary to COM
plete the work will be forthcoming ere
long, and the monument unveiled next
anniversary day. 1t is hoped that such
will be the case