Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-05-21
at1isesllansuus geadias.
WOMEN OF THE coNFEDERAcY.
First Monument In This Honor Erected
Rv Cant, s, e. White.

WOMEN Or l1E SSNFEbEhNS''
First Monument In This Honor Erected
BY Capt. S. e. White.
While the people Of this community
are in hearty sympathy with the pa
triotic efforts being made throughout
the state to erect a monument to the
women of the Confederacy, the time
seems opportune to direct attention to
the fact that those who are pushing
the movement are not pioneers In the
glorious undertaking. Since Thursday
MAY %, 1896, there has stood In Con-
federate Park, in this city, just such
tribute to Confederate womanhood.
The Fort Mill monument was erected
by Capt. Samuel E. White, a gallant
veteran of the Confederacy, who, until
a few years ago, had spent his entire
life in this community. On the day OF
its unveiling the monument was pre-
sented to the Jefferson Davis Memorial
association.
In the last days Of the Confederate
congress q resolution was passed by
that body recording the thanks of the
country to the women Of the south ana
declaring that the government owed
them a public acknowledgment OF their
faithfulness in the glorious work OF ef-
fecting our independence.
But one thing remained to be done
this WAS a monument to the women or
the Confederacy, to be an open book
teaching its deathless lesson to the
rising generation. To the enduring
honor Of this community 1t had been
reserved to Capt White to take the
initiative in this goodly enterprise. The
princely act of Capt. White in donating
the monument to the Jefferson Davis
Memorial Association, to be by that
body dedicated to the women OF the
Confederacy, is one Of the most honor
able and pleasing incidents that have
succeeded epic Of the war between the
states. Capt. White deserves the grate-
full recognition of the entire south for
the generous and patriotic sentiment
which inspired him to raise to the
memory Of the noble women OF the
south an enduring testimonial OF their
love and faithfulness to the Lost Cause.
And a more fitting place could not have
been selected for the monument, for 1t
was here that the Confederacy had Its
beginning and here that occurred one
of the principal incidents that marked
the end of the south's struggle for con-
stitutional government The first
company for service in the Confederate
army was organized in Fort Mill, and
here, in the yard Of Capt. Whites old
home, under a cedar tree, was held the
last full meeting of President Davis
cabinet.
The monument to the women OF the
Confederacy is tall and imposing and
faces Main street. The pedestal Is
composed of three bases, a die and a
cap. The three bases are all square
and decrease in size regularly from
the bottom. The statue is six feet high
and the pedestal nine, making the mon
ument, complete, eighteen feet high.
The statue is a life sized figure Of
woman kneeling in an attitude of pray
er on the Confederate flag. This piece
Of statuary is a marvel Of beauty and
is a splendid representation Of a typi-
cal southern woman. On the north side
is the following inscription:
1895"
Respectfully donated
by
Samuel z. White
to the
Jefferson Davis Memorial Association
On the east side are the names Of
some Of the old families of this COM
munity as follows:
''Mesdames White, Spratt, Springs,
Harris, Merritt, Kimbrell, Armstrong.
Burns, Jones, Johnson, Epps, Culp,
Graham, Coltharp, Bales, Garrison,
Stewart, Massey" and many others.
On the south side is inscribed this:
1850"
"Affectionately dedicated by the JEFF
ferson Davis Memorial association to
the women Of the Confederacy. The
living and dead midst the gloom Of
war were heroines in the strife, to per-
petuate the noble sacrifices on the altar
Of our common country, let sweet in
cense forever rise till it reach them in
robes Of victory beyond the Skies"
En--N
quotation:
Many are the hearts that are weary
tonight
Wishing for the war to cease,
And many are the hearts praying for
the right
To see the dawn Of peace"
Fort Mill Times.