The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1905-04-14
First at Appomattox

the first at ApponattoX with mem
orial TO her dead heroes who one
"wore the gray" The day was al
ideal April day, the crowd in atten
dance was impressive in numbers, de
corous in demeanor, appreciative, goo'
natured and congenial. Vehicles o
varied make and furnishings met thu
trains at West Appomattox and con
tributed to the comfort of the visitor
TO and from the site Of the monument
the place OF interest for the day, tho
many walked the distance, some thre'
miles. On reaching the spot we wer'
disappointed to find that it was moi
even in sight Of the position once oc
cupied by the "apple tree" and thu
Mclean house, but some one-half mile
distant and in the depths Of the thick
est Of pine trees. A space had beer
cleared for the massive but simple
memorial upon which the inscription
the subject Of SO much controversy,
was inscribed: First at Bethel, far
thest to the front at Gettysburg and
Chickamauga and last at Appomat-
tox.n
BY II a. m. the crowd began to gath
er about the spot and between that
hour and 100 p. IN. spent the time in
social converse, pleasant greetings as
they reviewed the past, peeped at the
monument still unveiled and in watch
ing for the Governors. About 1870 the
band played lively air concluding Of
course with the liyest of all live airs,
our own Dixie.
Hon. II. \. London, Chairman of
the North Carolina Appomattox Com
mission, raped for order, and the
Rev. Jas. a. Werton led in prayer. At
its close Governor Montague was pre-
scented. who in words few but thrilling
with eloquence, redolent of the spirit
Of brotherly love and delivered as only
our Montague can, welcomed North
Cardinals Governor, citizens Of the
old North State, Ex-Confederates from
our sister State who added SO much Of
glory TO Confederate history.
Governor Glenn followed and simple
justice compels us to say, and we say
it without envy, or jealously, or any
such spirit, that he defended the in
scription on that memorial pile with
clearness and much force. And in
doing 50 he was as courteous as he
was cogent, as polite as he was per
suasive. Turning to Governor Mon
tague he said, Virginia is too great
10 be small, too magnanimOus to be en-
vious, too proud Of spirit to be bitter
Of soul and has she not given TO the
ages Robt. +. Lee and Stonewall Jack
?" Governor Glenn is Of massive
mould aud massive mind and made a
most pleasant impression upon all
who were fortunate enough to hear
him. The "Old North State" was
then sung with spirit and understand
ing the band playing soft sweet ac-
Prof. Stockard then read the memoir
al ode, Last at Appomattox," short |
address by Gen. w. p. Roberts and !
hen the unwilling. All hail to North |
,arolina for inaugurating a monu-
nent which we hope will mean the
Of historic Appomattox in
o a place Of national and interstate
interest. The histories of Gettysburg
md Chickamauga have been carved
n stone and why not that Of Apo
nattoX?
The attendance from North Caro-
ina on this memorable day was moth
ng like so great as we had anticipated
md the old Confederate uniforms and
lags were conspicuous by their absence.
The boys who "wore the gray" were
lot present either in such numbers as
We expected to see, and so far as we
AN ascertain there were only three
PRESENT from Virginia who surrender
d at Appomattox: Messrs. II. A. and
'olin Stokes and Mr.. r. Henry Glenn.
" course there may have been many
thers there, but these are all we had
he pleasure Of taking by the hand.
But Famville was splendidly re-
resented and at the head Of the col
mn marched 200 young ladies Of the
tate Female Normal School, the adj
niration Of all who saw them, the
ride Of Virginia. One Of the most
picturesque scenes Of the day was
ghen these girls gathered for lunch
nd seated themselves on the ground
bout those spotlessly white table
loths well filled with dainties and
elicacies, just such things as wise
tewardship and good housekeeping
ictated.
President Jarman marched with the
tudent body from depot to monu-
rental site, and so did the following
MEMBERS Of the faculty: Messrs. Jones,
ears, Nation. Misses Andrews and
harrison, while COmmander-in-Chief
OK led the column and gave to il the
aspiration of his commanding pres
nee. Major Venable was there and
ad an animated but bloodless tilt
18th a brother who "wore the blue, !"
re twin Rebs Captain Sam and Cap
lin Bob were there still wearing Of
le gray and stoutly denying that
ny soldier Of any State went farther ,
the front than did the Virginia
,ldiers. The spacious and splend- q
home Of Mr.. j. r. Atwood, at West 7
pp0mattOx, was thrown wide open !,
nd never was Virginia hospitality :
spensed with more generous or more .