The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-05-31
BRONZE STATUE
OF GEN. GORDON
Unveiled at Atlanta With Impos-
ing and Elaborate Ceremonies.
HOST IN ATTENDANCE
Thousands Of GeOrgians and Many Visitors
from Other States Join in Paying
Tribute to Confederate Chieftan.

{
from Other States Join in Paying
Tribute to Confederate Chieftan.
Many thousands Of Georgians and
visitors from other states gathered in
Atlanta Saturday to participate in and
witness the exercises incident to the
unwilling Of the heroic bronze eques
trlan statue of General John B. Cor
don, which stands majestically in re-
viewing attitude on the northwest cor.
ner of the state capitol grounds.
Elaborate preparations for the
event were made by the commission,
which, more recently, has had charge
Of the work under legislative resolu-
ton, and the occasion in every detail
was SO arranged that it was one long
to be remembered.
The unwilling ceremonies which be-
gan promptly at noon around the
monument, upon stands erected for
the occasion, was preceded by a
splendid military pageant. In it par
ticipated state and federal troops,
and one of its divisions was com
manded by General w. S. Edgarly
OF the United States army. The oc-
casion was indeed significant one.
The troops assembled at the 5l.nc-
ton Of Peachtree and West PeachJree
streets, and included the Fifth and
second regiments infantry, national
guard Of Georgia, four troops OF Geor-
STA cavalry, the Atlanta artillery bat
terry, federal troops from Fort Nc
Pherson, cadets from the state univel-
sity at Athens, from Gordon institute
at GAINESVILLE, from the Marist col
lege OF Atlanta, hundreds Of Atlanta
school children, confederate veterans
and many civic bodies which united
in doing honor to Georgias typical
soldier, statesman and patriot.
The exercises took place upon a
specially erected grand stand, upon
which sat the many guests specially
invited for the occasion, including the
members of General Gordon's FAMILY,
ex-goyernors OF Georgia and their
families, judges OF the United States
Of Ty,J,
don monument association, Sculptor
Scion II. Borglum, the officers OF the
Ladies Memorial Association Of the
United Daughters OF the Confederacy
and many others. Platforms had been
placed Immediately in front Of the
monument, where seats were proyid-
ed for those who took part in the cho-
rus, and seats were also specially ar
ranged for the 200 voices which
participated in singing the song, The
New South" especially written and
arranged for this occasion.
The invocation by Rev. William f
Glenn and music by the band was fol
lowed by the reading Of the history
of the John B. Gordon Monument AS
sociation by its first president, Judge
! w. L. Calhoun Of Atlanta
Then followed the principal address
of the occasion by General Clement a.
Evans, comrade and lifelong friend Of
General Gordon, who was with him
on the famous 18TH Of May, 1864, at
Spottsylvania, when, by forcing Gen,
eral Robert E. Lee to the rear, the
gallant Gordon probably saved the in
trepid confederate leaders life.
The statue was unveiled, following
General Evans address, by Mrs Fran,
ces Gordon Smith and Mrs. Caroline
Lewis Gordon Brown Of Vermont, the
TWO daughters Of General Gordon
The dedication poem, following
Dixie by band, was read by its au-
thor, Charles w. I1ubner, Of Atlanta,
and the exercises closed with the for
nal delivery OF the monument to the
state by Captain n. e. Harris Of Ma
con on the part Of the commission,
and its acceptance by Governor Ter
rell.