Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-09-21
CAPTAIN BEATTIE'S REPLY TO
Captain PALMER

Mosby Camp, makes statement strlv-
ing to justify the action of the commit
tee in locating the "Mosby Monument"
in the graveyard, and states that if
those who ara opposed to the site Sc
lee. ed, ard wanted change, why
didn't they offer US som eihing better ?
Til, looks like the committee, through
Mr.. Palmer, is inclined TO beg the ques-
| ton and that nc feels he has made mis-
take for which he is sorry. Mr.. Palmer,
in letter to me of recent date referring
to the location of the monument, asks
the question why didn't you think Of
this at Manassas when the com mittee
was present ?" WHO could have sup
posed for an instant that committee
could have been found that would have
consented to bury the monument ia-
tended to commemorate and perpetuate
the memory OF our brave comrades, IN
the seclusi)n Of private graveyard?
Had there been prophet amongst
those OF US that object to its present To-
Gallon, we most assuredly would have
! Lieu Jul lAOb hOo LbOiC: anu
I feel assured that the mistake that has
been made would have been obviated.
Not being able to divine the thoughts
or foretell the actions of others, We
failed to see how we could have enter
ed our protests until we knew the &C.
ton OF the committee. This, | most
assuredly did, both by private and pub
| Ishal lattarc | do
aware OF what the committee had done;
asking that the Omnittee review their
decision, which Mr.. p. expressed
willingness to do, but since no step was
ever taken l fear his good resolution
failed him, or he was Influenced by
others against bis better judg-
ment. Now az to offering Us
something better" I will state that !
made visit to Front Royal, so as to
inform myself as to locations, what eff
fort had been made to secure other and
more suitable spots upon which to To-
cate the monument, AID what action
had been taken by the residents of that
place, if any, towards assisting the
committee, sc. It was after this visit
published letter in the Alexandria
Gazette, stating 10 substance that met
the chairman and other supervisors OF
Warren county, who cheeriully offered
their voice and vote to the committee
. in giving any spot they might select in
the Court House yard; that Mr.. Robert
Jackson and other citizens who favor
ed the Strickler triangle, assured me
that if that spot was selected, they
would bear all the expense in removing
the water plug, and that Mr.. O'Flsher.
ty and other prominent citizens gave
ready assurance that if the triangular
lot in the interse c.ion OF the streets il
going toward Rlverton was selected,
that they would not only pay for, but
rould enclose and beauty it, making
me monument a nucleus for town
park, and that there were any number
of ladies who would cheertully look
after it, &c. If this was not offering
us something BETTER" can't see why?
II was not reasonable to expect these
gentlemen to go TO any expense as to
purchs ses of these locations, unless the
committee expressed a willingness to
accept either one or the other. Mr..
Corder, who was then a member of the
town council, rold me that he went be-
fore the committee and urged them to
locate the monument at the Srck
Ter triangle, stating at the same
lime that there was no money
in the treasury to pay the expense OF
moving the water plug, but that he
would see it was done without any eX
pense to the committee if they would
accept the location, and that whilst be-
lore the committee, Col. King stated
that il the S,rickler square was chosen
be would not give anything towards
deiraying any expense 10 the removal.
| conversed with many" ladies and
gentlemen on the subject and only found
four citizens who favored the graveyard
location-Downing, King, Richards and
Mrs. Davis, President OF the Memorial
Association-Who afterwards admitted
that the wishes of Mosby'5 men should
be needed in selecting the location.
This the committee Jailed to do. All OF
Us know that Ben aud his committee
we're composed of gallant men when in
battle array, but l fear they fell cap
live to the gentle influences of the
ladies, who offered them the graveyard
location. Anyone who knows anything
OF these good aud benevolent ladies
know that the offer was prompted by
the best and purest motives, and in the
spirit that the widow made her Offering
of old-it was all they had. 1, with all
other protestants, Join in thanking them
sincerely for their kindness, but we just
as stIenuously object to the location as
an improper one for our purpose.
The object of our monument is to
keep alive fresh and green the memory
of our comrades, end this object will be
entirely defeated if placed where only |
dead men can see it. Would these
gentlemen, who are all good business
men, strike advertising circulars aDd |
scatter them in the graveyard to adj
verlise their business
wa present at the unwilling of the
monument at Fairfax Court House,
nearly twenty years ago, and pass aud
repass the cemetery almost every week |
since that time, and have never seen q
single being at it since. Some of the |!
oldest citizens in and near Warrenton
don't know there is monument in the
cemetery there. Is it the object of our
committee to isolate our monument
from the observation of the world,
thereby defeating the object for which
it is erected
1t was objected that if the monument
was placed either in the court house
ward Or ON the Stricken trianpla- that |