The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-02
TRIBUTE is PAID
TO HEROIC DEAD: /:
Fifticth Anniversary Of First
Land Engagement OF Civil
War Observed.
GATHERING AT FAIRFAX
Governor Mann and Other.
Prominent Virginians Take
Part i'll Exercises.

Fairfax. Va. June Ito reverently
observe the iftieth anniversary of the
first land engagement of the Civil
War; to do honor to the memory of
Captain John Quincy Mari, c. S. Al.
the first man to fall in the four years
struggle. and to fittingly commence
rate tho deeds OF the Confederate
forces. which operated in that vicinity
the citizens of Fairfax Courthouse and
of Fairfax county in general, to-day
! held simple. but impressive exercises
at the ancient colonial town.
With Governor William H. Mann
Lieutenant Governor j. Taylor Ely
son. Major Robert w. Hunter. r. Wal
ton Moore. Robert E. Lee Jr., Colonel
nent Virginians in the speakers stand
section of the United States FIJI
tcenth Cavalry Band in attendance, be-
sides other features of minor import
ance. 5000 staunch VirgInians, with
Confederate leanings. celebrated the
anniversary of a day in their history
which is rife with full meaning to
all.
r.. Walton Moore acted as chairman
of the gathering. Mai. Robt W. Hunter,
| orator of the day. spoke for nearly an
hour and a half. reviewing the history
OF Fairfax Courthouse from lie time
when General George Washington filed
his Will to the present.
a recess was then taken for din
ner which was served by the women
OF the town.
J. Taylor Ellyson. Lieutenant Cover
| nor of Virginia, was the first speaker
of the afternoon. He was followed by
Colonel Thomas Smith, OF Warrenton,
son of william Smith. better known to
Firginfans as Extra Billy Smith, one
of the war Governors of the State.
4 x1- -.
I vein. having served as colonel in the
| Confederate Army himself. 9ne speech
OF Colonel William A. Gordon. of War
| renton. was of the same character
Extract From Womnn's Diary.
AT this juncture in the program Mr..
Moore read an extract from the diary
| kept. he said. by a woman who lived
/, in house which was in the very CEN
tire of the fight at Fairfax nifty years
ago. The simple words of the diary
| described the engagement. and told
! how the writer stood through the
night. in her darkened house. holding
/ her baby son in her arms, while the
bullets of the Federal forces rained
upon the building.
AS Mr, Moore concluded his reading
! Of the extract, Colonel Gordon ad-
! dressed the audience. and stated that
the writer OF the diary just read
! was Mr.. Moores mother. and that
the child referred to in the text was
MIR. Moore himself, his age at that
/ time being only two or three years.
i r. l.. Lee. Jr, grandson of the
! leader OF the Confederate forces. was
4 the last speaker. Mr.. Lee told many
L anecdotes of the war as related to
him by his father, and other Con-
1 federate generals.
Led by DR.. W. P. Moncure, chief
marshal of the day. a procession was
! formed and marched 10 the cemetery.
where Confederate soldiers are buried.
The monument TO the dead soldiers
/ was decorated with flowers. donated
! by the women of the village.
! Taps was then sounded by the
I; bugler. and the entire company filed
/, out of the cemetery with the excep-
| ton of q few old men who fingered
1 by the side of the graves OF their de
! parted comrades.