Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-05-19
TOday's Telegraphic News
The President in Petersburg.

4
ambassador from one Of the mighty
European powers, generals, captains,
and hundreds of distinguished men
from military and civil life gathered
here today to dedicate the 900, OOC
monument that Pennsylvania has erected
to the memory of sne men that took part
in some Of the blooditst battles OF the
great war. Not since Bnrnside's men
touched the fuse to the 5000 pounds o.
gunpoTder, That blew up ElliotP'
Salient and made grim Greater OF the
grassy knoll, has there been so muct
noise shout Petersburg. The veterans
10 faded grey as well as the old comrades
in blue are here today SIS they were
during the spring of Ga, but their ranks
are sadly thinned aud only q corporsPi
guard answers the muster call snd re-
spends to the call for cheers Twenty
thousand men and women from the sur
rounding counties, as we'll as from
Pennsylvania, sre here to assist 10 ex'
tending the hospitality to the nations
chief.
The Presidents car, Olympia. reached
Petersburg shortly after 9:2O o'clock, at
tached to the trsin that brought Cover
nor Stuart aud 1000 Pennsylvania
veterans and their friends. No stop was
made 10 the town, for the presidential
party, the governors OF Virginia and
Pennsylvania and other distinguished
quests being escorted Immediately to
Fort Steadman where the veterans from
the Keystone state dedicated a tablet to
the Third Division of the Ninth Army
Corps. This tablet stands on the spot
where General Hsrlrspft reeaptured the
works from General John B. Gordon.
President Taft took no part in the exer-
cises here. As soon So the ceremony o.
dedication was ended, the presidential
party was driven to Fort Malone 6
mile and half distant. and on the triT
the presidents carriage was frequently
stopped TO allow bis conductors TO point
out some notable scene. When For
Malone was reached MsjOr A. O.
Huidekoper, of Meadvllle, Pa, the chic
marshal of the military exercises, called
his command to order. A large grand
stand had been erected in the field,
facing the monument erected 10 the
memory of Gen. Hartrauft and his men,
and the presidential party, which IN
cluded Ambassador Jusstrand OF France
aud Nine. Jussersnd snd others vert
soon seated. Others on the grsndstant
Z we're Admiral Sigsbee, the Virginia snd
Pennsylvania governors, aud Col. John
S. Mosby. The throDg that hockeC
from Petersburg assembled around th'
4 base of the monument. Rev. r. w.
I; Barnwell, Of Petersburg, delivered th,
invocation preceding the oratory, snC
speeches were male by President Tai
and others
The flags that yelled the bronze form
of Gen. Hartrspft we're pulled aside by
the following ladies: Mrs. Harold A
Gilbert, Williamsport, Pa. Mrs. Olar
euce G.. Flower, Harrisburg, Pa. Mrs
William II. MoGill, daughter Of Gen.
Malone after whom the fort was named
Mrs. Malone and Mrs. General L. A
Dodd, of Baltimore.
The presidents address, delivered il
his best voice, dwelt upon the lessonI
Taught by the conflict Of torty-fve year
ago. and ended with plea for better
understanding between the north aut
south. At the conclusion of the presi
dents address Governor Stuart, Of Penn
sylvsnia. turned the statue over to the
state Of Virginia and Governor Swanson
made q speech of acceptance. Rev. j
W. Planett then pronounced the bene
diction and a bugler standing on th'
steps of the monuments pedestal sound
ed "taps."
Following the ceremonies at tht
monument the president and his party
was turned over to the hospitality of thu
city Of Petersburg and returned to town.
A ride through the principal streets o
the city brought the president to his
toric Center Hill Mansion where
luncheon was served. This was one o
the pretliest functions of the day. Tit
president aud his friends were served OF
the veranda and the rest of the guests t
the number Of 1000, par.ook of theiI
lunch from tables of real hoTer.strewr
turf, on the lawn.
A lawn fete and reception are
scheduled for this afternoon and 10 the
evening the streets will be illuminated
in honor of the president. Ambassador
Jussersnd, Admiral Sigsbee, and other
distinguished visitors will speak tonight
and at 1920 p. m. the presidential party
will leave for Charlotte, n O.. where
the executive will attend a celebration Of
the anniversary Of tho Mecklenburg
Declaration Of Independence.
The president was delayed an hour
aud a bali at Petersburg while the rail-
road company struggled to untaugle the
mix-up oftrains. The result Of delay was
the omission Of the visit to Fort Stead
man. When he reached Fort Malone,
preceded by red coated fox hunters and
CafhtJ heu Ills sllk uat lOOkeu 40 thOHbh
it had been dipped in Whitegssh and
his coat was covered with halt an inch
Of dust. Just before exercises be-
gan q countryman pushed through the
crowd holding a squirmiug possum by
the tail. The president laughed heartily
but shook his head Vsinly when the man
offered him the possum.
Mr.. Taft in his address after rapidly
recounting conditions in and around
Petersburg during the closing days of
the civil war aud portraYing the part
played By Pennsylvania generals and
soldiers in the great conflict, among
other things said at is forty-iour
year since the battle of Fort Stedman.
10 the time which has passed the bitter