Evening star., 1909-06-06
STATUES TO 5. D. LEE
Unveiling Ceremonies at Wcks-
burg Next Friday.
HERO OF coNFEDERAcY
Another Monument Unveiled Sun.
day at Starkville, Miss.
HONORED BY BLUE AND GRAY
Soldiers of North and South and
Many Dignitaries Of Nation to
Gather for Occasion.

day. the day following the close of the
United Confederate Veterans reunion at
Memphis, many old soldiers and other
notables will assemble here to attend the
unveiling Of a statue of the late Gen.
Stephen Dill Lee. who was commander
in-chief of the Confederate organization
at the time of his death.
II 1t was in the siege of Vicksburg that
Gen. Lee won his spurs as a dashing and
intrepid commander. The last years of
his life were devoted to the perfection of
the great national military park here.
Gen. Lee died at Vicksburg May 2S
1908. 1t is peculiarly fitting that the
south's memorial statue to him should be
erected on the spot which he loved so
| well.
/ On the same day another monument to
his memory though smaller in size, will
| be unveiled at the State Agricultural and
Mechanical College at Starkville. Miss.
4 He was the first president of that insti-
tuition. This memorial. though of lesser
| importance than the Vicksburg statue.
| nevertheless emphasizes the universal
affection of the people of Mississippi for
him.
Another monument will be placed at
the grave in Columbus, where the old
commander sleeps in everlasting rest.
All Sections Join in Honors.
North south. east and west will send
| celebrities to do honor to the memory of
the chfvalrous soldier of Dixie. Maj.
Gen. Frederick Dent Grant Of the De-
partment of the Lakes has been delegated
by the Secretary of War to receive the
statue on the part of the United States,
the official presentation being made
by Gen. Clement A. Evans of Georgia,
commander-in-chief of the United Con-
federate Veterans.
Col. George r. Peck of Chicago will be
orator of the day. Henry Watterson of
Kentucky, veteran editor of the Louisville
CONFECTIONERY, will be master of cere-
monies and preside at the auspicious oc-
/ casion.
Many last surviving generals of the
i Confederacy and other eminent men will
be present. Secretary of War Jacob NJ
Dickinson. who was a fellow-townsman of
Gen. Lee at Columbus, has expressed his
keenest regrets that official duties will
i prevent him from being present.
The we'll known sculptor. Henry Hud-
son Kitson, of Quincy, Massachusetts,
who designed the statue. will be present
to direct the placing of his handiwork.
He is the creator of many monuments of
various northern states already completed
and dedicated in the Vicksburg National
Military Park. In his work he knew
Gen. Lee. then one of the park commits
sioners and put his best efforts into this
statue.
The unveiling of the monument will
occur at O'Clock in the afternoon in the
National Military Park. Hospitable
Mississippians and Louisianans within
her gates. Cows Noel of Mississippi and
Sanders of Louisiana, with their re-
spective staffs. will be present. Division
officers of the Confederate organization
will arrive from Memphis the morning
i Of June IL.
Vicksburg Keen on Welcome.
thrown heart and soul into the work of
assisting in the exercises. in an effort to
make it one of the most memorable oc-
casions since the siege of the historic
city. Citizens committees have arranged
for every detail Local military COM
panies will fire salutes. Hundreds of
school children will join in patriotic
songs.
The statue is of life size and represents
Gen. Lee in a moment cf triumph after
one of his victories in a skirmish about
Vicksburg. 1t stands on a redoubt in
the Military Park near the Alabama and
Vicksburg railroad, on a commanding
eminence. He was then in the full de-
velopment of young manhood, and the
pose is both noble and heroic.
The statue cost S11OOo. 1t is a tribute
of affection from his only son. Blewtt
Lee. of Chicago: Capt. William T. Rigby
chairman of the Vicksburg National
Military Park commission. and hundreds
of veterans of the south who follow .
the late general in battle, and othel )
who admired him
Rigby although northern soldier
born in Iowa. was associated with Gen
Lee when the latter was himself chair
man of the park commission. In constant
association he grew to love the modest
southerner whose declining years were
devoted to cementing the ties of brother
hood between the north and south
A little time before his death Gen.
Lee, Capt. Rigby and Col. John c. Ever
est Of Chicago three members of the
park commission, We're making an in
spection of the beautiful park when
they reached the railroad redoubt where
Gen. Lees greatest victory was won.
Spot for Statue Marked.
AS they stood upon this eminence
Capt. Rtgby went to Gen. Lee and asked
him to stand again upon the spot where
he had directed the movements of his
troops, explaining to him that years
later. when he had passed away, he
wanted a 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 to Gen. Lee will stand
forever as memorial.
Among the contributors to the statue
fund was former President Roosevelt,
who admired Gen. Lee.
Gen. Stephen Dill Lee was born at
Charleston. S. c., September %. 1885.
and spent his boyhood in the Carolnas
He graduated from West Point in 1854
as first lieutenant of artillery. He was
assigned to the 4th United States Artil-
lery 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 his heart and
sword.
Fired on Fort Sumter.
He was one of the two officers sent by
Gen. Beauregard to demand the surrender
Of Fort Sumter and when the order was
refused commanded the nearest water
battery to open fire. He was captain in
Hampton's legion. where he served until
November, 1861, when he was commits
sioneu major of artillery, and in 1852 was
appointed lieutenant. colonel and gained
distinction at Seven Pines and the battles
of the wilderness.
In the Pope campaign in 1852 he was
promoted to be colonel Late in that year
he was appointed brigadier general by
President Jefferson Davis and assigned to
duty in the western division of the Con-
! federate states. He was thereafter en-
=. ments that preceded the investment and
fall of Vicksburg.
After the surrender at Vicksburg, he
Iead nd II, tbo