Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-07-06
ESSEX CONFEDERATES.
Corner Stone ofMonument to Their
Memory Laid at Tappahannoek.

former Stone OF Monument TO Their
Memory Laid at Tappahannock.
The following account is taken
from the FRI dericksburg Free Lance,
which paper had reporter on the
grounds.
Beneath the shadow of Essex coun
-ty courthouse building at Tappa-
hammock, Thursday, filled with its
gallery of portraits of sons dis,in-
guished in the history of the Revolu.
tionary, Mexican and Confederate
wars, and of National and State
Council from Colonial days. The
Wopan's Monument Association of
Essex County, Virginia, in the
presence of Hon. Claude A. Swanson,
governor of Virginia. war worn Con-
federate veterans, beautiful women,
gallant men aud visitors from this
and other States, laid the corner
stone ola monument to "Sons of
Essex" who fell in battle i'm the
struggle Of lS6l-65.
THE HISTORY OF THE MONUMENT.
On May IL, 1902, Mrs. Della
Preston Wright, wife of Judge Il. r.
Is. Wright. called a meeting for the
purpose of forming the association
named above. A charter was OBJ
tanned from the Legislature with a
long list of members.
These ladies went to work to raise
funds for the erection of monument.
They have now in bank $1,000 aud
all expenses of work to this point
have been paid. The corner stone is
of granite. The estimated cost of
the monument is $4,000, and it is
the purpose of the association to have
it erected and unveiled during 1907.
1t is to be located in the middle of
the street opposite the courthouse
building, enclosed with iron railing
and to have drive way on each
side.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS.
The hour appointed to commence
ceremonies was III o'clock, but it was
postponed to 1:3O owing to delay in
the arrival of Governor Swanson. The
village commenced to fill at an early
hour with people from the surround
ing counties. Yachts were seen
coming ap the river from Irvingt ton
and Urbsnna with flags flying and
filled with people. The horizon was
eagerly scanned for the appearance
OF the State steamer Accomac hav.
ing on board Gov. Swanson and
friends numbering more than fifty
people, including Messrs. Fred Dow.
ming, Eli Sharp, w. Med. Lee, DR.
t. w. Stiff, Capt. J. III. Wheaton,
DR.. w. j. Newbill, F. G. Newbil
Warner Ball and others. About 12:ls
she was observed in the offing, and al
12:45 the sound of a cannon an
nounced her approach to the wharf
1t was not long before Gov. Swan,
son and W. McD. Lee were guests a
the handsome home of Judge T. r
b. Wright, where few minutes were
spent before they proceeded to tn,
public hall, where Arlington Lodg
of Masons No. 10S was congregate,
ready to proceed with the ceremon
les. Here Gov. Swanson received a,
ovation and introduction to member
whom he had not previously known
THE CEREMONIES.
Arlington Lodge, with RICH
Worshipful District Deputy Gran,
Master p. K. Bauman, of Distric
No. 12, was master of ceremonie.
District Deputy Grand Master r. A
: Fitzhugh, of District No. IL, wa
senior warden; w. g. Reynold,
junior warden, T. S. Sheppard, treas
urer; James M. Lewis, secretary; D.
Il. L.. W. Ferry. senior deacon;
,e W. Fleet, junior deacon; Rev. Jane
Lewis. chaplain; Geo P. Squire
Lancaster Union Lodge No. SS, tile
A. +. Bagby and j. T. Robins, stew
ards; G. b. Hundley with corn; G. |
Bray with wine; T. Z. Blakey wit
~ oil; Geo. N. Anderton with sauar
Charles Sale with level; j. A. Rous
with plumb; Harrison Southwar
with large light; A. f. Bagby wit
Bible, square and compass; ].
:, Cralie and E. G. Richardson with tv
large lights, and following Maso,
of Arlington, and visiting lodge
lClaude A. Swanson. w. Med. lie