Connecticut western news., 1900-06-07
SEDGWICK MEMORIAL EXERCISES.

HoIIow.-The Parade, EnIertain- ment and Speakers of the Day.
 May 30. Memorial Day. .dawned bright and beautiful upon Cornwall. The lit tie peaceful Arcadia of Cornwall Hol- low wrapped round as 1t is with it's vail of hills was the scene of dedica- tory exercise surpassed by none other of It's kind that has occurred in the his tory of our town. In this peaceful val ley lies the remains of one of the coun- try's most noted defenders, General John Sedgwick.
 For some years past the question of suitable memorial tc his mem ory has been under consideration. The simple shaft over his grave was regarded at the time of it's erection as temporary one, was placed there with the hope that at a future day more fitting tribute would be erected in it's place. Mir and Mrs Carl Stoeckel of Norfolk, with others, took the matter into their hands and through the channel of the United States Government secured the gift of a howitzer which had seen service with General Sedgwick in his Mexican cam paign and which had also been used in the Civil war. On the triangular plot of ground at the intersection of the road in Cornwall Hollow and within a few feet of the dead hero's grave, 8 stone platform was laid and thereon was erected handsome granite shaft with . bronze relief of the General and a suitable inscription. In front of this was placed the howitzer.
 Long before the hour appointed for the beginning of the exercises team after team came pouring into the valley from all parts of the surrounding coun- try until the entire space in the vicinity of the churchyard had the appearance of vast invading host, all of whom seemed eager to pay tribute to the mem ory of the man who had served his country so long and so nobly. The morning express had brought the Citi- zens Band from Winsted which furnish. ed the music of the day. The next train brought His Excellency, the Gov ernor of Connecticut; Hon. B. J. Hill; the Governors Staff; Admiral Foote Post, G. A. R. of New Haven and mem- bers and representatives from other or ganizations throughout the state.
 The Governor and his staff repaired to the house of Hon. D. L. Smith where they were entertained until the teams were made ready to carry them to the scene of action.
 At $40 the procession, headed by the band, proceeded to the place where re- spect and honor was to be accorded to the nations dead. The procession ar rived in Cornwall Hollow at about l1.3O o'clock and immediately after formed in line and marched to the cemetery where they gathered around the grave of Gen. eral Sedgwick. Prayer was offered, after | which General Nathan Easterbrook of Admiral Foote Post, G. A. R., with 8 brief speech presented 8 wreath of galax which came from North Carolina. This was placed upon the grave by Ex-Mayor l Hendricks of New Haven on behalf of | Admiral Foote Post. There was also placed upon the monument beautiful cross of immortelles in the shape and with the coIors of the Sixth Corps cross, | the gift of Mrs Rosa Smith Wright of Washington, D. o., "the daughter of the Sixth Corps"
 The procession then reformed and marched to and gathered around the memorial where President of the Day | Hon. T. s. Gold made the address oi | welcome and presented the monument and howitzer to the town of Cornwall. Then the flag which draped the memo rial was removed by Miss Clara B. Sedg- wick, a grand-niece of the General. Hon. D l.. Smith responded, receiving the gift and thanking the donors for it After the address of acceptance MT Gold invited the people present to adjourn to a spacious tent which had been erected nearby, to partake of the refreshments which had been prepared by the gener
 ous daughters of Cornwall. About FOG were accommodated at one sitting and probably over 2000 people were fed, and
 like the parable of old, still there re mained many baskets of fragments to be taken up. Lemonade and coffee were in abundance and the willing hands oi the young ladies of the town saw that all were supplied who desired. After the collation. the people assembled about platform near the church and listened to the speakers of the day.
 The exercises opened by the reading of poem by Rev E. O. Starr, written by Samuel J. Andrews, whose father
 was pastor in our town number oi years ago. A letter from Rev W. o. Clark, former resident of Cornwall
 was then read after which His Excellen l ly, Governor Lounsbury, addressed the assem blaze. His contrast of Lee an6 Sedgwick was an eloquent one, bearing
 particularly upon the personal charac
 teristics of the men. Congressman
 Hill followed, opening his remarks by
 reading 8 number of letters from distin guished men of the army commenting
 upon General Sedgwick's ability as {
 military leader. The letters were 1T
 part from Commander in Chief, Nelson
 A. Miles; Brigadier Gen. Wilson, chic
 of the Engineer Corps; Geo. D. Rug
 gles, late adjutant of the U. s. Army
 Gen. M. J. Luddington, Quarter Mas
 ter General of the U. s Army; Gen. A
 W. Greedy, chief of the Signal Service
 Prof. Wm H. Welch of the John Hop
 kins University, Baltimore, whose step
 mother was sister of the General, fol
 lowed. Ex-Governor Pingree of Yer
 mont made very fitting remarks closing
 with tribute to the people of Cornwall
 who had made so glowing success ol
 the memorial exercises. Rev Samue
 Scoville of Cornwall made very en
 thusiastic speech creating no little hu
 nor. His remarks seemed to have beer
 very much appreciated. Gen. J. F
 Kent of West Troy, N. Y., member oi
 Sedgwick's staff also made short ad
 dress.
 At about 3. 80 the meeting broke uI
 after giving three hearty cheers for ths
 departing celebreties.
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