The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-08-28
GALA DAY IN ESSEX
Monument dwelling at Tappa.
hammock.
RESULT or WORK or NOBLE WOMEN
Great ThrOng in Attendance Good
Speeches Big Dinner. Etc. Etc.

. | Dig DlUUtTs Etc. ElC.
Amid the boom of cannon. strains n,
martial music and cheers Of nearly fouT
thousand eX-Confederates, their wives.
sons and daughters, a monument to the
memory Of the dead soldiers. sailors
and officers of Essex county. who gave
their lives for the Lost Cause. was un-
velled at Tappahannock Wednesday.
his monument is the result of per
slstent efforts by the noble women of
Essex since they obtained a charter
from the Legislature to INCORPORATES the
woman 5 Monument Association of Is
sex IN 1902. In this work they have
had the continued aid Of Wright Latane
Camp. {: ". Judge T. r. 3. Wright.
commander, and Essex Chapter of
Daughters of the Confederacv. The
officers of the association are:
President, Mrs. Della Preston Wright.
wee presidents, Mrs. Virginia Barron
Bard Baylor. Mrs. Nettie Scott Eu-
bank, Mrs Ella M. Owen, Miss Lizzie
j. kouzie: treasurer and recording sec
rotary, Mrs. Minnie Covey Anderton.
secretary, Mrs. Emma Campbell
wright; advisory committee, Mrs. An
ME Mason BrOckenbrough, Mrs. Vir-
ginia Barron Baird Baylor. Mrs. Ella
Brooke Perry. Mrs. Susie Carnett
Beale. Mrs. Matte Waring Rlakev
Mrs. Nettie Scott Eubank. Mrs. Re,
becca Armstrong Jones, Miss Agnes
k0uzie and Wright-Latane Camp.
The monument is made Of Barre
granite, located in the centre of the
street IN front of the courthouse. sur
rounded by a heavy wire diamond
shaped fence with five granite posts. II
IS q Feet nigh. resting on two blocks
ok feet square, respectively. surmount-
cd by private soldier at parade rest.
IL bears inscriptions:
Erected to soldiers of Essex and
those who fought with them.
They fought for the principles of
state sovereignty and in defense of
their home.
TO maintain those rights the gallant
sons OF this gallant county marched
gladly TO the front and did their duty
Ike men from the opening guns at
! FIRST Manassas to the final charge at
| Appomattox.
The seal of Virginia. Two flags 1861
| 1863 and the names and regiments of the
800 men who marched to war. Those
names will be found in another column
of this paper. The monument cost
81. 600.
The day had been long looked forward
10 ana great preparations made for the
event Nearly every residence in the
quaint old town bore the emblems Of
the Lost Cause.
| The heavy columns of the outside of
the courthouse building were entwined
with Confederate colors. Inside this
building is the finest collection of por-
traits and tablets Of distinguished men.
sons OF Essex, in the State. Back Of
the building beneath a dense shade of
trees, stand had been erected, while
tables had been built around the
! e., l., 4
the dinner for the expected multitude.
The sun was just casting his morning
rays over the placid waters of the Ran
pahannuck as the Steamer Lancaster
landed with Rev. Dr. Everard Meade. of
Fairfax, eX-Chaplain of Wright-Latane
Camp; DR.. John l.. Lewis. Of Bethesda.
Nd; DIR. William Lewis, Of Kensington.
Md. sons Of Essex; X. lines TAYLOR. of
this city; Lieut. Boulware, or Caroline.
anu many others including represen-
tative Of this paper.
In the distance could be seen the
power boats loaded to the gunwale
with happy excursion parties. each
bearing huge baskets filled with lunch
and dinner. They continued to arrive
until noon, when there were moored "a
the wharf 80 boats and two State boats.
Commodore Maury and Accomac. repre-.
senting over $500, 600. 1t was a goodly
b sight.
The Commodore Maury and Accomac
brought Company B, of Norfolk. Mai.
c. l. Wright in command; a band OF
music from Wheaton, the Lancaster
county choir from Irvington under Mai.
Gen. Mrs. Grif Edwards, of Ports
mouth, all wearing Confederate uni
form coats and felt hats. None of them
seemed 10 hold rank less than that of
Lieutenant. They were pretty, attract
ed great attention, were one Of the
features of the event, and their singing
very pleasing. Besides these fully fifty
invited guests were passengers. The
roads leading to the town were filled
with incoming vehicles until at noon
there were over 5000 visitors.
AT the firing of the cannon from Nor
folk, manned by a detachment of artil-
erymen from that city, the procession
formed under chief marshal, Capt P.
{. Waring, with assistants, Dr. War
ner Lewis and John NJ. Terrill. Hun
dreds of Confederate soldiers headed
the column, some wearing the uniforms
which had been laid by at Appomattox.
They put their best foot forward
and marched with steady tread, others
had muskets and rifles which did deadly
work in 1876. Then came the Sons
of Veterans, the Confederate choir of
uniformed ladies', the military and citi-
zens bringing up the rear. The route
was by the monument TO the stand.
Here Hon. VIM. Campbell presided and
introduced the speakers. There was
much disappointment when it was
known early in the day that Senator
Daniel and Gov. Swanson could not
come, but while the absence was re-
GREETED their places were filed by dis
unguished men and with equally pleas
ing and appropriate speeches. On the
stand were the band, Confederate choir.
speakers and special guests. Judge
Wright read letters of regret from Sen
ator Daniel and Gov. Swanson. Then
Hon. James N. Stubs, of Gloucester,
filled the gap, as he said, occasioned by
the absence of Senator Daniel, and he
did it well. Then a surprise was sprung
on Commander T. r. B. Wright, when
Mr.. Philip W. Lewis, on behalf of the
veterans of Wright-Latane Camp, pre-
scented him with handsome gold cane
Judge Wright feelingly accepted 1.-THE
gift of love from his old comrades. -
At this time there were gathered in
front of the stand 5000 people and
when the presentation ended a cheer of
approval was given that could be heard
over the town.
. The unveiling then took place, when
, all gathered around the monument and
, prayer was delivered by Rev. DR..
! Everard Meade. Four young ladies
drew the canvas and it stood exposed in
all its beauty. They were Misses Lille
/ Phillips, Mary Campbell, Charlotte Il.
; Il. Wright and Florence w. Allen.
4 A salute of thirteen guns WAS fred