The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-09-26
Shaft To Dl0sDg DleD.
INTERESTING UNWILLING EXER'
cIsEs AT FRONT ROYAL, VA.
WITNESSED BY THOUSANDS.
Two Hundred OF Moshys Old Comrades At
tend Major Richards Grafton Historical
"reminiscences.

tend Major Richards Oratlon- hlstVIiCN
"reminiscences.
Front Royal, Va. Sept 24.-The
largest crowd seen in Front Royal
for many years began to assemble In
the town early yesterday morning. and
each train brought in fresh delegations
of "old Oonfeds. Washington, Rich
mond and Baltimore each contributed
large quota The occasion was the
unwilling Of monument to the men,
DRY of seven Of Mosby's men, who were
executed by the Federal authorities du-
ring the Civil War Among the prom
inent veterans present were Joseph
Bryan. Of the Richmond Times; W.
Ben Palmer. of Richmond, chairman
OF the Mosby Monument committee
Major A. Z. Richards. Of Louisville,
Ky. Charles f. Biedler, Of Baltimore {;
Gen. w. H. Payne and Dol. Tom
Smith, Of Warrenton Frank String
fellow, the noted scout; Dol. bob
Ridley" Eastman, Rev s. @. Fer
guson and others. A heavily loaded
train from Baltimore and Washington
reached here at IL. 10 and was met at
the depot by the William Richardson
Camp. Confederate Veterans, OF Front
Royal; Turner Ashby Camp. Of Win
chester; ]. L. b. Stuart Camp. OF
Berryville; Slower Camp. Of Strasburg
the Gibbons Damp. of Luray. and
large concourse Of citizens and visitors
who escorted the veterans to large lawn
in the centre Of the town, where an
elaborate old-fashioned Virginia din
ner was served to about 1000 men
by the Ladies Auxiliary Association
PROGRAM OF THE DAY.
The program Of the day was begun
by the formation Of the parade IN
front Of the courthouse at 2 O'Clock.
The line was led by Chief Marshal
W. Ben Palmer. riding Fashion.
a granddaughter of her namesake, an
animal ridden by sid" Ferguson on
the day he pursued and captured Gap
tain Blazer. Judge GILES Cook. Jr.'
assistant marshal, accompanied by q
number Of aids and couriers, next fol-
lowed then the visiting camps. inter
spersed with bands, and all followed
by a column a mile in length. The
streets through which the procession
passed were profusely decorated with
bunting. Confederate and United
States flags were blended in harmonious
union.
Upon reaching the monument in the
cemetery the orators of the day, &C.
companied by 10 young ladies dressed
in white and red and bearing ever
greens wreaths. representing the IL
Confederate States, assembled on the
platform erected at the base OF the
monument More than 200 Of the sur
vivors Of Mosby's old command lined
up immediately in front. and all were
surrounded by dense mass' OF inter
ested and enthusiastic spectators.
MAJOR RICHARDS GRAFTON.
The proceedings were opened with
prayer by Rev. 8. G. Ferguson. which
was followed DO a short address OF well
come by Judge Giles Cook. The ora
ton of the day was made by Major A.
E. cDoHy'D Richards Major Rich
ards gave graphic description OF the
fight which occurred within view OF
the cemetery just S5 years ago, In
which the seven men to whom the
monument was erected were captured.
and, after a glowing eulogy Of Mosoy
and his men, disclalmed any intention
of opening up the sores Of the OWL
War. longed sinced healed, and stated
that, while 1t was a historical fact that
General Grant gave an order for the
execution of Morby's men when cap
tured. he knew that now, in these days
OF reconciliation, there was no Mosby
ranger who would not join In placing
the laurel on the Union generals
grave.
MONUMENT UNVEILED.
The monument was then unveiled.
the ceremonies being attended by one
of the most appropriate and interesting
features of the day, The cords were
drawn by Martha Megeath Strother
aud Mary Wilkinson. the first grand
daughter of Capt. Thomas Z. Anderson
and the second a grand-niece OF Henry
O. Rhoades, two Of the martyred men,
and the glistening white shaft stood
revealed against the perfect azure OF
the lovely September sky.
Hon. II. II. Downing accepting the
monument on behalf Of the Ladies
Memorial Association in q graceful
speech, in which he paid and eloquent
tribute to Mosby and his men and to
the women of the South who have 90
faithfully cared for the Confederate
dead.
A largely attended reunion OF the
Morby's men was held in Davis Hall
| Immediately after the unwilling cere-
monies. Fairfax COURT House. Va Z.
was chosen for the next annual reun-
ion, which will take place on day TO
be set by its citizens.
HISTORY OF THE MONUMENT.
The seven men in whose memory
the monument was today unveiled
were members Of Mosby's battalion and
were executed just 80 years ago by the
order, it is alleged Of General Custer.
The movement to promote this OBJ
ject had its origin about three years