The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-18
Monument to Our Revolutionary
Allies Dedicated.
Stands on the Campus Of st.
Johns, Annapolis.
TAFT ONEOFS SPEAKERS
French Ambassador Also De-
liVers an Address.
Sons of Revolution Sponsors For
the Memorial.

Annapolis, Nd, April 18.-On the
campus of st. Johns college, there was
unveiled here today a bronze tablet
erected by the general society of the
Sons of the Revolution to the memory
of the nameless French soldiers and
sailors who in 1881 laid down their lives
in the cause of American independ-
ence. President Taft and Ambassa-
dor Jusserand, both made formal ad-
dresses. The midshipmen of the Ma
tional Naval academy did not turn out
in honor of those who prevented the
capture and probable sack of Annapo-
lis, but representatives of the Sons of
the Revolution from all parts of the
country, the Sons of the American Rev.
olution, the Society of the Cincinnati,
the Maryland Historical society and
the Daughters of the American Revo-
luton were in attendance.
The unVeiling exercises were IN
charge of the general society of the
Sons of the American Revolution which
is meeting in triennial convention at
Washington this week. today's pro-
gram here being one of the features
of the session.
Following the presentation of the
monument to st. Johns college as GUS
todian by Edmund Witmore, acting
president of the general society OF the
Sons of the Revolution, the memorial
was unveiled by Miss Amelie De Pau
Fowler of Baltimore, descendant OF
Admiral Count De Grasse. commander
of the French fleet at the siege or
yorktown.
In a brief speech Dr.. Thomas Fell,
president of ST. Johns, accepted the
monument on behalf of the college. The
addresses of President Taft and Am
bassador Jusserand followed.
Professor Marion Responsible.
To President Henri Marion, of the
department of languages, at the Naval
academy, is due in large measure the
credit Of awakening interest in the
forgotten allies whose unselfish devo-
ton so largely contributed to our
freedom. Some years ago in lectur
ing before the Alliance Francaise at
Baltimore, he told how French troops
under Lafayette and Roehambeau en-
camped at Annapolis and by their
capture and probable sacking OF that
city A number of French soldiers and
Sailors he continued, Hdied from
their wounds or from disease, ana
were buried at that time on the
grounds at st. Johns college, Annapo-
lis. Could not a monument be erected
on the graves of these forgotten de-
tenders of American independence?
In the audience was a member of the
| General Society of the Sons OF the
Revolution. He sought out the lecturer.
got from him the needed facts, and,
when in 1906, a French fleet came to
assist at the final interment of the first
| American admiral, John Paul Jones,
| whose body had been brought to Amer
| lea the year before from Paris, Colonel
| Oswald Tilghman, a member of the So
| ciety and then secretary of state Tor
| Maryland, called attention to the old
military burying ground, and, as part
of the ceremonies of the visit, the
pediment of the present monument was
| laid, and the society pledged itself to
raise the necessary funds for its COM
pletion. Later a design was determined
upon and the commission to execute IL
was assigned to J. Maxwell Miller, a
| Baltimore sculptor.
The Monument.
The monument is a simple shaft of
pink granite thirteen feet high, bearing
| on one face a bronze entableture in
| alto relieve, seven feet, seven inches
| wide by three feet, nine inches h1gn.
| The composition shows sorrowing Mem
ory, crowned with the olive leaves OF
peace and leaning upon her victorious
shield, watching the departure of a
small group of marching soldiers, and
it is interesting to note how much more
subtle in suggestion is this treatment
than the more usual one of troops con-
fronting the spectator.
Above the heads of the marcherS,
banners are flying in the wind and in
the background are seen the spars of
vessels, while in the foreground are two
small gravestones inscribed ''Ici git un
| soldat de la France and the other
! "Ici git un marin de Ia France (Here
lies soldier, here lies a sailor of
France).
On the shield appears the English in
scription: "a tribute of gratitude to
the brave soldiers and sailors of France
buried here, who gave their lives in
the struggle for Aemican Independence
The memory of their deeds will endure
forever. 17S1-17S3." Beneath the tab
let is a legend: Erected April 19, 1911,
by the Sons of the Revolution