Evening star., 1909-06-11


burg is today entertaining a large crowd
of Confederate veterans and visitors.
participating in the unveiling Of the
heroic bronze statue of the late Gen
Stephen D. Lee. who at the time of his
death was commander-in-chtef Of the
United Confederate Veterans.
In addition to the gray-clad veterans,
Gen. Frederick Dent Grant. T. S. A, is
a guest Gen. Grant arrived here from
Memphis in the special car of J. T.
| Harahan of the Illinois Central railroad.
Mr.. Harahan being one of the party.
Among others present are Gen. Clement
A. Evans, the present commander-in-
chief, United Confederate Veterans:
Henry Watterson of Louisville, who will
be master of ceremonies; Col. George
r. Peck of Chicago. and Cows. Sanders
of Louisiana and Noel of Mississippi,
with their staffs. and Blewett Lee, son
of Gen. s. d. Lee.
Three companies of United States reg
ulars from Fort Logan H. Roots also
took part.
Two grandsons of Gen. Lee, John
Glesner Lee of Chicago and Lee Harri
son of Columbus, Miss, drew the cords
that unveiled the monument.
History of the Statue.
A little time before his death Gen. Lee,
Capt. Rigby and Col. John c. Everest of
Chicago, three members of the park COM
mission. were making an inspection of
the beautiful park when they reached the
railroad redoubt, where Gen. Lees great
est victory was won. Gen. Lee was asked
by Capt. Rishy to stand again upon the
spot where he had directed the move
ments of his troops. explaining to him
that years later, when he had passed
away, he wanted monument erected
upon the very spot to commemorate his
triumph.
Gen. Lee yielded to the request, and
said:
"Rigby you are all very good to me-"
Capt. Rigby marked the spot. 1t Is
there the statue will stand forever as a
memorial.
Among the contributors to the statue
fund was former President Roosevelt. who
admired Gen. Lee.
Gen. Stephen d. Lee was born at Char
lesion, S. c., September -, 1885, and he
spent his boyhood in the Carolinas. He
graduated from West Point in 1915 as
first lieutenant of artillery. He was as
signed to the 4th United States Artillery
and was connected with that arm of the
military service until he resigned in 1861
to cast his fortune with the south, to
whose cause he offered ais heart and
sword.
The statue is of life size and represents
Gen. Lee in a moment of triumph after
one of his victories in a skirmish about
Nicksburg, and is the work of Henry
Hudson kitson of Quincy, Mass. well
known sculptor, and who is the creator
of many monuments of various Northern
states already completed and dedicated in
tie Vicksburg National Military Park In
his work he knew Gen. Lee, then one of
the park commissioners, and put his best
efforts into this statue.
Upon taking the chair as presiding Of
ficer. Mr.. Watterson said. in part:
Mr. Watterson's Remarks.
Those of who survive that dread
ordeal old men now. and each AM
nual roll call brings yet fewer of us to-
gether Presently there will remain among
the living not one who fought either
side Happy those who have been
spared to look upon a. land never again
to be wet by fraternal blood and a peO-
pie reunited forever in hand and heart.
The mystic chords of memory. stretch
ing from every battlefield and patriotic
grave to every living heart and hearth
stone. touched long ago by the angels
of our better nature. swell at last the
universal chorus of the Union: the men,
ory of deeds of kindness and of valor
done: of common blood and race; for.
impossible as the line of fire seemed,
we were one people then and we are
one people now. the war of sections a
mutual and blessed heritage.
tional cemetery to rear memorial to a
Confederate general. He was of the best
the south has to offer upon the affairs of
American manhood. all that the north
could wish American to be. l have
ridden to battle with him, and knelt by
his side in PRAYER. and can truly say that
what his great kinsman was to Virginia
he was TO Mississippi.
After the unvei.ing of the statue. ac-
companed by a salute from the Warren
Light Artillery and the singing of the
Vicksburg school children. Mr.. Watterson
introduced Lieut.. Gen Clement A. Evans
who presented it in the name OF the Con-
federate Veterans and spoke I'm part as
follows:
Gen. Evans Remarks.
"The presentation today in this noted
pational military park, of the monument
i'm honor OF Lieut. Gen. Stephen Dill Lee,
and its acceptance by our government
through of its distinguished officers.
Gen. Fred d. Grant. is much more than
a gratifying event The whole ceremony