Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-26
MEMORIAL TO GORDON
Thousands of Georgians at
Statue dwelling
lat ATLANTA YESTERDAY
Equestrian Memorial to Confederate
Leader.
SOUTHERN N0TABLEs PRESENT
Grafton by Gen. Glenn m, A Evans the
Feature of Ceremo 1; -s-Inter-
esting Program Of Exercises
SOUTHERN NoTABLss PRESENT

| ATLANTA, Ga, May 25.-Thousands of
Georgfa's citizens. with added hundreds
from other sections of the south, gathered
today at the unwilling ceremonies of the
| splendid equestrian statue to the memory
of Gen. John B. Gordon. Almost within
the shadow of the white capitol great
crowds gathered to hear the orations and
see the monument unveiled. In the parade
which preceded the ceremonies a long line
of soldiery and civic organizations marched
| through the principal downtown streets,
watched by thousands of spectators. The
Grafton of Gen. Clement A. Evans, the life
long friend and war companion of the dead
chieftain, was heard with greatest inter-
est, and as the two daughters OF Gen. Cor
don pulled the cord and revealed the statue
the strains of Dixie rang out and the words
of the song by the multitude mingled with
the old rebel yell" from the threats of
veterans who fought under Gems. Gordon
land Lee.
A feature of the day was the presence of
Mrs Gordon, widow of the confederate
commander, and his two daughters. Mrs.
Burton Smith of Atlanta and Mrs. Bishop
Brown OF Vermont. who unveiled the monu-
ment, and Major Hugh A. Gordon, a son
Of Gen. Gordon, and several other relatives.
The ceremonies were presided over by Gov.
Joseph M. Terrell, who introduced the
speakers and accepted the monument for
the state of Georgia.
The program for the unwilling cere-
monies was as follows: Invocation, music.
History of the Gordon Monument Assoc
ciation," by Capt William L. Calhoun;
Grafton, Gen. Clement A. Evans; unwilling,
by Mrs. Francis Gordon Smith of Atlanta
and Mrs. Caroline Lewis Gordon Brown of
Vermont, daughters of Gen. Gordon; music,
Dixie" by band; dedication poem, by
II,,t In Co.
by chorus; delivery of statue to state by
Capt. Nathaniel Harris; acceptance for
state. Gov. J. M. Terrell Introduction Of
Sculptor Borglum, benediction.
After the invocation the history of the
Gordon Monument Association was read.
Then Gen. Evans was introduced.
Gen. Evans Address.
The grafton by Gen. Clement A. Evans
was the feature Of the day Upon being
presented he was greeted with cheers.
Gen. Evans gave an interesting history of
Gen. Gordon from the time he entered the
confederate army with all the ardor of
his natural temperament as captain of a
company from Alabama and Georgia until
the end of the war He instanced Cor
and said this was never more needed nor
more conspicuously displayed than in
making the charge at Gettysburg.
Following the address Of Gen. Evans,
Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Smith pulled the
cords which freed the monument of it's
covering and the cheers of the crowd
broke forth When silence had been re-
was delivered by Capt ~ E. Harris of
the monument commission and the ad-
dress Of acceptance BY GOV. Terrell fol-
lowed. .. 7tt 50
A poem by Maj Charles w. Hubner and
the introduction of Sculptor Scion II.
Borglum of NOrwalk, Conn, who de-
signed the monument, preceded the bene-
diction. which closed the exercises
The parade preceding the unNeiling was
one of the finest semi-military displays
of recent years in Atlanta. The first d.
vision; Of which a.,d there We're six: was
u. S. A., commanding the Department Of
the Gulf. battalion of the 18th In
fantry. stationed at Fort MCPHERSON. and
two regiments of Georgia state troops,
the 9th and the 3D. made up this division.
Other organizations of unattached mill
tary companies, various camps of con-
federacy, Sons of Confederate Veterans
and numerous civic organizations COM
pleted the long line.
The plan of erecting monument to Gen.
Gordon originated with Camp Tige Ander-
son, Confederate Veterans, and developed
into the Gordon Monument Association. Ten
thousand dollars was raised by private SUBJ
scription, The remaining SIS 600 being APP
propriated by the Georgia legislature.
Description Of the Statue.
The statue. cast IN copper bronze, stands
on broad pedestal Of Georgia granite at
the northwest corner of the state capitol
grounds. Rising twenty-five feet from the
base of the pedestal to the top Of the head,
1t occupies commanding position over
looking the business part of the city, some
distance away.
{ The figure of Gen. Gordon is represented
seated on his favorfte mare, his head barred,
the left hand holding the reins over the
horses neck, while the right hangs at his
side. The pedestal raises the figure of the
horse and rider about ten feet above the
granite coping which surrounds it. The
name Gordon" in raised letters, Is placed
on the front of the pedestal.
On either side will appear a bronze bas-
relief, one representing Gordon at the battle
of Spottsylyania, when before his division
he insisted on Gen. Lee going to the rear;
the other bears figures typical Of the three
phases of Gordon's life, typifying the SOL
der. the statesman and the patriot.
The statue is the work Of Sculptor Scion
II. Borglum of Norwalk Conn