The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1911-04-19
BRONZE TABLET
WAS UNVEILED
Erected BY Sons OF The Revolution
TO The Memory OF NameIess
French Soldiers.
(By Associated Press.)

let erected by the General Society OF
the Sons of the Revolution to the
memory of the nameless French sol
diers who in 1881 laid down their lives
in the cause of American indepen.
dence. President Taft and Ambassa-
dor Jusserand both made formal ad-
dresses.
To Professor 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 free
dom. Some years ago in lecturing be-
fore the Alliance Franchise at Balti-
more he told how French troops I'M
der Lafayette and Rochambeau en-
camped at Annapolis and by their
presence March 1871 prevented the
capture and probable sacking of that
city. "a number of French soldiers
and Sailors" he continued, "died from
their wound or from disease, and
were buried at that time on the
grounds at st. Johns College, Annap-
oils. Could not monument be erect
ed on the graves of these forgotten de-
tenders of American independence"
In the audience was a number of
the General Society of the Sons of the
Revolution. He sought out the lectur-
er, got from him the needed facts,
and, when in 1906, French fleet came
to assist at the final interment of the
first American Admiral, John Paul
Jones, whose body had been brought
to America the year before from Paris,
Col Oswald Tilgham, a member of
the Society and then Secretary of
State, for Maryland, called attention
to the old military -burying ground,
and, as a 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 completion. Later a de-
sign was determined upon and the
commission to execute it was assigned
to ]. Maxwell Miller, Baltimore
sculptor.
The monument is a simple shaft of
pink granite thirteen feet high. bear
ing on one face bronze entableture in
alto relieve, seven feet seven inches
wide by three feet nine inches high.
The composition shows Borrowing
memory, crowned with the olive leaves
OF peace and leaning upon her vic
torious shield, watching the departure
of small group of marching soldiers,
and it is interesting to note how much
more subtle in suggestion is this treat
ment than the more usual one of troops
confronting the spectacular.
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 la France"
CHere lies soldier, here lies a sailor
of France).
On the shield apepars the English
"a tribute of gratitude
to the brave soldiers and sailors of
France buried here, who gave their
lives in the struggle for American In
dependence. The memory of their
leeds will endure forever. 17S1-17S3."
Beneath the tablet is legend: Erect
ed April 10, 1911, by the Sons of the
Revolution"
Although David Ridgely in his can
halls of Annapolis published in 1910,
'ays that traces of the French en-
;ampment still remain" and speaks of
mounds to those who died in the
service" the exact spot for the me
MORTAL was chosen only after pains
aking research, and it has been inn.
'ossible to discover the names of the |
lead or even their exact number. It
S only known that alive they defend |
ID the field and dead they still hold it. |
Nearby is another monument erect
d by Act of Congress in 1903 to mark
the locality where Maryland forces
# the Continental Army and French |
lilies were encamped in September |
7S1 while on their way to report to
lafayette at yorktown, Va"
The committee in charge of the
works. has consisted of Talbot Oily
hant, Chairman, New York; Granville |
each, Philadelphia; William Gordon
lcCabe, Richmond, Va; Williem Lib
icy, Princeton, N. j.; Henry Cadle, |
bethany, Mo-; Henry Dexter Warren,
BOSTON, Mass; Julian Henry Lee, Bal
more, and ]. Appleton Wilson, Secre-