The National tribune., 1907-08-01
MAI. JAMES STEWART.
tnSIfiing of n Monument to Him In Ar
HDSton Cemetery.

Unwilling of n Monument to Him In Ar
hpSton Cemetery.
Sunday, July 2S. there was de Heated
at Arlington a beautiful monument to
the memory of Mai James Stewart late
commander of famous Battery +. ith
U. 3 Art. This was the gift OF Comratle
Chas. Fl. Mcconnell of Chicago. who
served as an enlisted man in the grand
old 24th Mich. Co,nrade Mcconnell like
all the rest CT the Iron Brigade. had a
great admiration for the gallant Cap
tain. Learning upon a visit to Wash
ington that there was no monument
over his grave he asked Gen. Black to
ilnd out what q fine monument would
cost. and then to double the estimate.
The venerable Gen. E 5. Bragg. for
a long time commander of the Iron
Brigade. came on, despite his SO years.
to pay last tribute to his old subortli-
nate. and looked very bright and alert.
Gen Dudley. the old Colonel OF the
18th Ind. VINO lost a leg at Gettysburg,
presided with dignity and deep interest.
About zoo ladies and gentlemen were
present among them many survivors of
the Iron Brigade.
Mrs. Stewart, the Majors widow. and
his son came on to attend the ceremo-
MES. Past Commander-in-Chie Black
introduced Gen. Dudley and he pre-
sented Gen. Bragg. who paid high
tribute to the services Of Mai. Stewart
Brief speeches were made by Gen.
Black, J. Edgar Brown, COMMANDMENT
Chief of the Army and Navy Union
Corporal Tanner. CGmrade Mcconnell,
John Cook, the buSIer of the Battery
Comrade Waur and others, and the
monument was unvaiIed by Mai. Stew
arts son. In the course of his remarks
Gen Dudley paid the following beauti-
full tribute:
This monument is erected to the
honor and in memory of James Stew
art. late Major, u. S. A.
That much may be learned from the
inscriptions upon the monument, by any
casual observer. But to us. his surviv-
ing comrades, with whom his most il
lustriouS services to his country during
the civil war were rendered, this mon
ument, erected by one of his comrades.
this bit of sacred soil, which holds the
mortal remains of our hero companion,
and this hallowed spot where lie the
mortal part of the immortals gone be-
fore-the words inscribed in granite
mean much more.
I'VE wish his widow and his children
to know that the love we bore our COM
paniOn and friend, born of our first
greetings when he first Joined the Corps,
Division and Brigade in 1861. on this
very ground where we spent our first
Winter together was fostered and grew
into alteration during the years of hard
ship and service which followed, and
still lives. Under him as soldiers of
Battery were the pick of our own
volunteers, detailed from each company
of our regiments. From their lips we
learned of his courage, virtues and in
justice. But when the days of
action came. every officer and soldier of
the brigade knew and appreciated
Stewart and his wonderfully eff
cient battery, both from observation and
experience, and registered a VOW that
no single gun of battery Il should ever
fall into the enemys hands. So long as
Battery B and the Iron Brigade were
kept together that vow was sacredIy
kept. and its record. while that of one
Of the most efficient light batteries
serving during the civil war, was clear
Of the loss of a single gun or caisson
captured by the enemy.
I'VE have gathered to see the vailing
from the noble monument
raised to mark dear old Stewards last
resting place. 1t is worthy the man and
the place, and none who now view it for
the first time will ever forget it or this
You may rest assured. dear
friends and loved ones of our grand and
immortal companion. that we who sur.
'ive him at this Capital City of the
Nation will see to it that his grave is |
fept green and decorated fittingly each
Memorial Day, and his memory hon.
)red.
Inscribed upon a beautiful loving
which Maj. Stewart sent me about a |
month before he died, are these words |
If his:
: For comradeship eternal;
Tor fellowship without surcease;
)ne hour of battle touch of elbow
S worth ten thousand hours of peace
I'VE who have had the battle touch of
,lbow with Maj. Stewart enjoyed the
fellowship. and may hope for the COM
eternal"
Stewart and his battery were like
words in the old First Corps.
lie ought to have worn the star long
lgo. That grand charge of the old
,attery at Bethesda Church is without
parallel in military annals. 1t is as
TRANCE and wonderful as the feat at
ributed to General Paez in South
American when serving under Gen.
Bolivar, of whom it is recorded in his
biography that he captured Spanish
,unboat in river with a squadron of
Doubleday, Brevet
dajor-GeneraI and Colonel tretired),
N ].