Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-05-22
STATUE OF CEN. GRANT.
Given a Place in Historic Statu-
airy Hall.
GIFT OF GRAND ARMY
Unveiled in the Rotunda of the Cap.
itoI in the Presence of Mrs.
Grant and Others.

Grand Army or the RepuDllc TO the ma
tion was unveiled IN the great rOtunda
of the capitol today and elaborate cere-
monies commemorative of the event were
held in the hall Of representatives in the
presence of a vast concourse of people,
who included the widow, daughter and
descendants of the hero of Appomattox,
hundreds of his comrades in arms, the
officers and committee of the @. A. K.
and many persons distinguished in
m n1dn m political and social cir
eleS. me statue of the pre- IRE
eminent chief of the Union forces in the
Civil war represents the contributions of
thousands Of his comrades of the q. A.
~, none of whom was allowed to sub
scribe more than 10 cents, and is the
result of a movement started shortly aft
or Cen. Grants death at Mount Nc
Oregon, in July, 1885. 1t is the work of
Franklin Simmons, an American sculp-
tor. Of marble of heroic size it stands
on granite pedestal emblazoned with a
bronze seal of the G.. A. K. and repre-
SentS the grim old hero in the full uni
form OF general equipped for the field,
with top boots and gauntletS, his cloak
over his left arm, his right hand rest
ing on the hilt of his sword
Gift of the Grand Army.
The counterfeits of statesmen soldiers
and pioneers in marble and bronze adorn
the old House of Representatives cham
Der of the capitol, now Statuary hall. but
these are gifts of the individual states.
Grant statue was unveiled in the rOtun-
"a as Dehtted the statue of one whose
valiant service was for the whole nation.
mere 1t Will remain with the statues of
Jefferson, HamitOn and Lincoln, which
also are III the rotunda, an example and
an inspiration to future generations. The
nero OF AppOmattOX stands near the
western entrance thanked on either side
by the famous paintings of the ''Surren-
der of Corvallis" and the Surrender
Of BurgOyne"
The unwilling took place shortly before
noon in the presence of Mrs. Grant, Mrs.
Sart0rls, the officers of the G.. a. r..
Speaker Henderson and Senator Frye,
president pro tenn. of the Senate.
The fact of the unwilling was kept Sc
cret and only a few outsiders witnessed
IT. There were no ceremonies. Miss
Sartorls, attired in white, drew the Ian
yard that uncovered the statue Mrs.
Grant inspected it critically and smiled
her approval. The party then repaired
to the hall of the House, where the cere-
monies occurred.
Impressive Ceremonies.
The ceremonies in the House were pro-
foundry impressive. They consisted of
addresses by Mr.. McCleary Mimi. Mr.
GrosyenOr (O.), Mr.. Richardson (TennD,
Mr.. Warner ull), Mr.. Linney (N c.,
Mr.. Gardner (Mich). Mr.. Brosius Pa.J
and Mr.. Dolliver Ua).
The gallery and the speakers rostrum
had been reserved for the members of
the G. 4. r. and was crowded with griz-
zied veterans come to pay tribute to their
loved commander. In the area in front
or the speakers desk sat the officers of
the Grand Army and the committee APP
pointed by the Grand Army encampment
at Philadelphia, who had been granted
the privilege of the floor for the occasion
by special resolution of the House.
In the gallery reserved for Mrs. Grant
aud her family, were Mrs Grant. her
daughter, Mrs. Nellie Grant Sartoris,
Lieut.. Sartoris, Miss Sartoris and Miss
Grant, daughter of Col Fred Grant
Exactly at II o'clock, Speaker Hender-
sons gayel fell. After an impressive
prayer by the blind chaplain. the COM
mittee of the Grand Army, among whom
were Commander-in-Chief Albert d.
Shaw, Gen. S. S. Burdett, Gen. r. r.
Heath, COMMANDMENTS Chief Robbins and
Chaplain-in-Chief j. l.. Grimm were ush-
cred into the house. After the speaker
had announced the order of the day. Mr..
McCleary Of Minnesota, chairman of the
committee ON library, sent to the clerks
desk and had read the letter addressed
TO the speaker presenting the statue of
Cen Grant to the nation. 1t was as fol
lows:
Origin of the Movement.
Sir: In accordance with the Joint reso.
luton ITO accept from the national en-
campment Of the G. A. r. statue and
approved August IA, 1890, the committee I
Of the Grand Army appointed to thatsend
have caused such statue to be executed and
the same IS now placed in the rotunda OF
the capitol. The statue is an original work
modelled by franklin Simmons, the Amer
lean artist having his study in Rome a
brief recital of the origin and purpose of
this memorial work seems proper Gen
Grant, as were others of the leaders of the
"A
Sheridan was cOmrade of the G.. A. r..
having been mustered into Meade post No.
I department OF PENNSYLVANIA He woe
pathi@ed with its objects and fraternally
Llihgied with its membership. 1t was. there
fore, at Mount McGregOr, y. Y, July %,
1885 that his comrades Of the Grand Army
while minglng their grief with that of all
their countrymen, should desire in some spe-
cial manner to signaliZe their affection for
his person and their appreciation of the
great services he had rendered to his coun-
"a, 1885, the then commandments chief Of
the G. A. Il. addressed circular letter to
the posts and departments of the order
Suggesting the creation of fund by volun-
tary subscription, more than 10 cents 70
be received from any contributing cOmrade,
for, stated In the circular, the erection
of a monument, which avoiding all exag-
geration or mere motive of display, shall
be in keeping with the simplicity of the life
and character of our great leader; of such
intrinsic excellence as shall commend it 10
the care of the nation and thus through all
succeeding generations be our memorial
well as Il monument to his fame"
Received Hearty Commenda tions.
At the succeeding national encampment
the project was laid before it, met With its
hearty commentator and steps were taken
to facilitate its accomplishment. By direc-
lions of succeeding national encampment
the work was continued until the finished
result was brought within the shelter of the
capitol and is now presented for your
ceDtance The fund contributed represents
the offerings Of more than 10000 of his
comrades most of whom had served in the
field under his command, and all of whom
had hailed him as their comrade in the
later day of peace. In their behalf, we
who now survive commit this semblanee of
his person to the care and keeping of the
nation. whose walls he helped to make
stronger rejoicing in the knowledge that
the memories it will invoke are of goodwill
today and will be of concord through all
coming time.
The letter was signed by the commit
tee of the G.. 4. r.. consisting of Gen.
S. S. Burdette of Washington, Gen. r.
b. Beath of Philadelphia, Gen. Russell
A. Alger of Detroit Gen. Selden Conner
of AuouSta Me Col r. 8 Grant of