The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-28
WARREN COUNTY
PAYSITS TRIBUTE
Statue to the Men Who Wore
the Gray.
JUDGE w. A. MONTGOMERY
Delivers Splendid Grafton, Hon. Tasker Poke
Reads an Original Poem and the Beautiful
Statue is Unveiled Midst Sound
inG Cheers.
ing Cheers.
Especial to News and Observer

Especial to News and Observer
Warrenton, N. c.. Aug. 27.-Today was
one of enthusiasm in historic Warren
county, when from far and near within
its borders and from three or four other
counties came people to do honor to the
Confederate dead at the unveiling of the
Confederate monument.
| 1t was a glorious occasion and the
great crowd of over a thousand people,
gathered upon the spot above this his
tCrc old town where sleeps their last
sleep the mortal remains of many who
wore the gray, was in thorough and
heartfelt sympathy with the patriotic
import of the occasion.
The ceremonies where such as come
from the hearts of a people who love
the memory OF the men who died for the
South ana III these the prayer OF the
man of God the voices making patriotic
music, the poem Of the day, the splendid
address OF Associate Justice w. A. Mont
gomery, and the plaudits OF the people all
mingled into one grand tribute, typified
in the beautiful commemorative statue
which was unveiled.
The ceremonies of the occasion began
with the opening prayer made by Rev. P.
j. Taylor of Warrenton, and it was
most fitting introduction to the day, as
it placed before the Ruler of all the
motives deep in the hearts of the gathering
and asked His blessings upon the people
and upon the remnant of those whose
Iac bt1f GtaT
forth with swiftness when their South
land called.
Following this the chorus provided for
the occasion sang a patriotic air and as
it closed the master of ceremonies, Cap
tain 3. NJ. Collins presented Tasker
Polk, ESD, who read an original poem,
the theme Of which was the Confederate
Soldier. 1t was noble in its conception
and thought and was listened to with
profound interest. 1t will be sent for
publication IN the News and Observer on
Sunday.
Then there was more music and as the
beautiful melody ended Captain Collins
most gracefully presented the orator of
the day, Associate Justice w. A. Mont
gomery, who was received with applause.
He was on his native heath, for he is a
native of Warren county and shared with
the Warren county soldiers the heat of
battle. He had enlisted as a private in
the old Warren Guards in 1861, served
through the war with the same company,
known as Company r, Twelfth N. c., and
surrendered as a Lieutenant III it at APP
pomattox.
His address was a magnificent one,
filled with eloquent periods and depicting
in splendid word pictures the thrilling
events which made history for the War
ren county soldiers. His tribute to their
bravery, their gallantry, their dash and
their daring was a noble one, and it cul-
minated when he declared that at Nal
vern Hill the dead found farthest to the
front were those of Warren county men.
Following this address, which was most
heartily applauded, came the unveihng
OF the beautiful statue. 1t was i'll posi-
ton and all eyes were fixed upon it as
came the moment for it to be revealed in
all it's beauty 1t typifed the work of
the noble women who form the Warren
County Memorial Association, whose noble
work had made this day a possibility and
as Misses Mary Tasker Polk and Hyler
Tarwater, two pretty little four year-old
girls of Warren, gracefully pulled the at
tachng strings the elimination of the
patriotic work of Southern women was
seen in the beautiful marble, greeted by
a volume of cheers.
JUDGE MoNTGOMERY's ADDRESS.
The address of the day by Judge Mont
gcmery was a complete and elaborate
one, giving the history of the soldiers
who went from Warren and telling of
thrilling events of the Civil War 1t
was listened to with great interest and
is an oration that will be treasured and
used in telling of the deeds of the boys
in gray who marched from Warren. A
portion of the address is as follows:
Mrs. President of the Ladies Memorial
Association of Warren, Old Soldiers,
Ladies and Gentlemen
This vast assemblage attests the deep
emotion which has been excited by the
occasion.
This great throng with countenances
radiant with sympathy and uphfted rev.
erently, but proudly, in this open temple
of the skies, proclaim that the purpose OF
our meeting has affected our hearts most
profoundly We could not, II we would,
subdue the feelings which sway us today.
Our thoughts and our affections are with
the spirits of our kinsmen and our friends
who gave their lives for us IN cause
that failed.
with a few exceptions we know not
where on Glory's historic ground then
bodies lie; but, this we know that the
cr,sbed hearts of many who are now hv-
ing lie buried with them. There are
wives mothers. daughters sisters and other
sonls fa;thfuI and tender who would re-
ioice TO sleep at last, dust to dust. In
tbosa unmarried and unknown graves with
- = Liz a nffentinnS. for "Mhere