The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-01
A PEACE MONUMENT.
The Portsmouth Light Artillery
and It's Beautiful Monument.

Portsmouth has mover had but one ar
tillery military company.-1t was or
ganlzcd on August Il, 1S09,$5when John
Tyler, the father Of President Tyler OF
William ana Mary, was Governor Of
Virginia, by Captain Arthur En1nerson
The State furnished It's field pieces and
one of them Is now exhibited In the park
of the navy-yard. 5s5
The company was named the Ports
mouth Light Artillery Company, and un-
der lis organizer. Captain Emmerson
fought valiantly at Crancy Island. June
q. 1918 when It Is said that n shot from
Its gun cited by Captain Emnlcrson, sunk
the "Centpede' n British barge filled
with landing corp of soldiers and
sailors. The roll of the men who
fought in that evcntful battle, under
the Stars and Stripes has been pre-
served by the descendants OF Captain
Emmerson and Arthur the fourth, IS now
a resident OF this city. This company
continued Its organization, and whensthe
war between the sections began, cnrollod
1872 men who were mustered Into tho
Confederate service on tn Goth OF April,
1861. under Captain Cary f. Grimes, at
the courthouse in this city. Its career
was marked In this service. being hotly
engaged at Malvern Hill.'"second Mas
rassas," and Sharpsburg where Its gal
liant captain was shot from his horse
while directing It's guns. After this en-
gagement its ranks were so deH!eted that
/, was disorgnnized and It's men were
divided between two other artillery or
ganizations OF the Army OF Northern
Virginia.
After tho war It was reorganizcd for
1T, al, rtra,t >
cation is now commanded by Captain
Charles a. Cuthericll. a son Of one OF Its
Confederate veterans.
In July last. Mr.. Wilson B. Lynch,
one OF Its surviving Confederate veterans,
conceived a plan for monument to per-
pstuate the history of the old orgnniza-
ton, and with two or three OF his OLD
comrades effected an organization for
Ltle purpose the first meeting WIS held
at Stonewall Camp Hall on Tuesday eve
ring. July e5th, 1905, Mr.. Lynch was
II ade treasurer, and in four weeks from
tina. time, so generous was the response
or our citizens, he collected a sufficient
fund to erect the memorial to comment
crate ,he organization OF THE Ports
mouth Light Artillery, Of August H.
1863. 3s8
The shaft will be sixteen feet high, Of
rough Virginia granite. with four polished
sides.
On one side will be inscribed the name:
| OF Captain Emmerson's men. who Tough
| T,it.i Hill a. Crancy Island, surmountet
| by two United States flags crossed. ant
on the first base. below "Craney Island
| in raised letters. The other three face!
| will contain the roster OF the Confed
! crate soldiers who served under Captain
| Grimes. These names will be surmountet
by the Confederate battle flag, crossed
with one OF the three Confederate flag
on each face; so all OF tho Confederate
flags will be represented on the three
faces, and on tho three base fronts be
/ low, will bo Malvern Hill, = Manassas
and "shnrpsburg,'
This design is unique conception, ant
IS probably tho first monument IN IN
United States containing both tho Star
and Stripes and the flags Of our be
loved Confodcracy.
Although small in proportions, It vii
| stand as n great peace monument be
| tween tho gectlons emphasizing the son
tlment which Will unite tho country u
! spirit MS well rs In law
The monument Will be completed b.
tho list of December next and locate
at tho intersection of Washington an
/ South Streets, two OF tho most beautlft
! thoroughfnres In the city. The dedica
! ton may be fixed on tho ed OF Aprl
1906 the anniversary of It's enlistment J
tho Confederate service, and the Pres
| dent of the United States and Governo
of Virginia will most likely be invite
to speak.
/ Under the site forthe monument deeI
ly.bur!cd, nre two butts Of hickory pole
erected in the days Of old time Demo
cracy-one for Lewis Cass and the othf
for James X. q'olk.