The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-04-18
Who Served in the American
Revolution Are Re
membered.
SHAFT is UNVEILED
BY the Sons Of the Revolu-
ton and Other Patri-
otto Bodies.

ANNAPOLIS, Nd, April 1S-o1
the campus o. St. Johns College,
there was unveiled here today q
bronze tab!et erected by the General
Society OF the Sons OF the Revolu ton
to the memory OF the nameless
French soldiers and sailors WHO in
1881 laid down their lives in the
cause OF American independence
President Taft and Ambassador
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 OF and probable sack OF
Annapolis, but representatives OF
the Sans OF the Revolution from
all parts OF the country, the Sons OF
the American Revolution, the Sons
of Cincinnati. the Maryland Hlstor-
ical Society and the Daughters of
the American Revolution were in at
tendance.
To Professor Henri Marion of the
Department OF Languages at the
naval academy is due in large meas
ure the credit OF awakening interest
in the forgotten allies whose unset
fish devotion 50 largely contributed
to our freedom. Some years ago in
lecturing before the Alliance Fran
caise at baltimore he told how
"Frsnch troops under Lafayette and
Rochambeau encamped at Annapolis
and by their presence GAIarch, l7SD
prevented the capture and probable
sacking of the city. A number Of
French soldiers and sailors died
from their wounds or from disease,
and were buried at that time on the
grounds at ST. Johns College.
Annapolis. Could not monument
be erected on the graves of these
forgotten defenders OF American in
Dependence"
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, aad, when in 1906, French
ileer came to assist at the final in
termeut OF the first American ad-
miral, John Paul Jones, whose body
had been brought to America the
year before from Paris, Col. Oswald
Tilghman, a member of the society
and then secretary OF state of Mary
land, called attention TO the old
military burying ground, and, as n
part OF the ceremonies OF the visit,
the pediment of the present monu-
ment was laid. and the society
pledged itself to raise the necessary
funds for its completion. Later a
design was determined upon and
the commission to execute it was as
signed to j. Maxwell Miller, Balti-
more sculptor.
The monument is simple shaft
OF pink granite thirteen feet high,
bearing on one face bronze entab-
lecture in alto relieve, seven feet,
seven inches wide by three feet nine
inches high. The composition shows
sorrowing memory. crowned with
che olive leaves of peace and leaning
upon her victorious shield, watching
the departure Of small group of
marching soldiers, and it is interest
ing 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 spars OF
vessels, while in the foreground are
two small gravestones inscribed
'Iei git un soldat de la France,
and the other "Ici git un marin de
IL France" csHere lies a soldier
here lies a sailor OF France.
On the shield apears the English
inscription: "A trrute o: gratitude
% the brave soldiers and sailors OF
France buried here, who gave their
lives in the strug lie for American
independence. The memory OF their
deeds win endure forever. 1881.
17S3." Beneath the table, is a
legend: "Ercctsd April 10. 1911
10y the Sons of the Revolution"
Although David Ridgely in hi;
Annals OF Annapolis" published in