The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-05-28
NO FOES THERE THIS TIME
Cornerstone for Monument to the
Union Army Is Laid.
M,1es and His Chief
With others Officers Witness
the Work.

Fredericksburg, Va, May 25.-On the
very ground over which the old Firth
CORPS charged at Fredericksburg Presi-
dent Mckinley, his cabinet and Generai
Miles today witnessed the laying OF tho
corner stone in a shaft which Will perpet-
uate in bronze and granite the heroism OF
the Army of the Potomac 1t was an I'M
pressive ceremony and rendered the more
SO by the fact that among the hundreds
who witnessed the event were noted lead
ers of both the federal and confederate
forces. The monument was the PERSONA
gift of General Daniel Butterfeld 10 the
National Memorial Association. inc COM
ment of the monument to the secretary OF
war was made by Colonel Hin. one OF
the veterans of the FIFTH corps. Inc cere-
mony was with due Masonic rights ana AZ
Its completion the secretary of war ac'
cepted the gift I'm the name OF the Amer
lean people.
The visit of the president to Fredericks-
burg was primarily in honor of the thirty
first annual reunion of the Army or the
Potomac. The town was In gaia dress
and turned out en- masse to receive lts
distinguished visitors. The president and
his cabinet were welcomed at the court
house, which was decorated with the ma
tional colors and the various corps flags
of the Army of the Potomac. Welcoming
speeches were made by prominent veter-
ans from both sides of the civil war and
afterward the president held an informal
reception at the home OF st. George
Fitzhugh, where he was welcomed by
hundreds of the townfolk, both white and
colored.
The special train which arrived at 1910
carried all the members OF the cabinet ex-
cept Secretary Wilson. There were also
In the party General Nelson Miles. his
chief aid, Colonel Michler; General Joseph
Wheeler. Former Adjutant General Rug
giles, who was colonel of the president )
old regiment during the war, and the ma
rine band.
The train was met at Quantico by n re-
ception committee from Fredericksburg.
consisting OF Hon. Horace +. Chrisman.
Major T. =. Morris and Postmaster John
NJ. Griffin, who accompanied the presi-
Dental party to Fredericksburg. where
they were turned over to the hoSPitaltties
of the local committee. The procession
formed at the depot and headed by the
marine band moved at once to the court
house, where the public exercises were
held and official welcome delivered by st.
George X. Fitzhugh. and the response was
made by General Martin T. T.. McMahon.
| The Grafton of the day was then delivered
by General Daniel S. SicNles.
MIR. Fitzhugh's Grafton was striking
piece of oratorical work.
lie paid the highest tribute to the
army Of the Potomac and to their confed-
crate opponents. saying that to erase their
names on the Spottsylvania fields of
American history would be to rob it of
half its glory. The same blood shed on
the Frederick fields, he said. still flowed
I'm the veins of the American soldiers.
Wherever the American arms might be in
the future. whether those who bore them
were eX-federalS or eX-confederates or de-
scendants of the two. they would stand
shoulder to shoulder and their record
would be one that would take no luSter
from the glory won by the stars and
stripes on the bloody battleNelds of Nr-
ginia. President Mckinley and his cab
met officers applauded this sentiment n
heartily and the speaker was Justify
cheered by the audience which packed
the house.
The exercises at the courthouse were
followed by a lunch served in the opera
house 10 the members of the society. the
ladies and invited guests.
After the reception at the FitZhugh
residence the presidential party drove to
tho national cemetery. where the foun-
dation of the Fifth corps monument mad
been laid. on the grassy slope overlook
stars and stripes flew from n rustic flag
pole Opposite the president and GEN.
eral Butterncld were the members OF
the Masonic lodge under whose auspices
the stone was 70 be laid. Fredericks-
burg lodge No. 4, of which George WASH
ington was "A member. The ceremonies
were opened by the fun Marine band with
Nearer My God to Thee IN which all
the audience Joined. The cornerstone was
Amounted I'm the Masonic order ana low
cred into place after which Colonel Hill.
i'm brief speech, committed the monu-
ment to the care Of the national govern
mCnt.
Secretary Root in accepting made a
touching reference to the heroism ind
sacrifice of both the federals and con-
federates who contested the nelds OF
Fredericksburg.
At the close Of the ceremonies the pres
idential party returned TO Washington.
but the reunion exercises OF the army or
the Potomac were continued at night IN
thc onera house where addresses We're
made by number of officers. including
General Joe Wheeler.