Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1912-12-21


1T stand for the militant fighting
spirit Of our people! That spirit which
led them. in instant response to the
first call of Abraham Lincoln. April
Is. 1861. to form themselves into
those intrepid companies of Home
Guards. whereby and by whom Wise
was driven back across the Alleghe-
nies and Lee and Jackson were held
at bay until the later federal armies
we're formed and which were conse-
quently, thereby enabled to save West
Virginia to the Union. 1t stands for
the militant spirit of the men who
laid down the pick and the shovel,
and the hoe and the mattocks, the
hammer and the anvil. who put aside
the plow, who went forward and, ere
ated the mighticst armies the world
has ever known. and Of which armies
SO illuStriOus part!
1T is this militant. fighting soul Of
the true West Virginian that this no.
bic statue Is here to represent.
THE great figure stands behind all
Of the glory. all Of the splendor or our
West Nirginian IN war, He Is cuually
the master personality in peace. The
calm, strong face, the unfaltcrinE res
olution, the Coolness and daring. the
love OF home and country which viii
meet death or give it ere he will let
that blessed flag fall from his uDlfted
hand, are all embodied here In endur-
ing bronze!
"rhe figure Is that OF no single man.
1t Is the composite representation Of
yet living type. The gifted sculptor
created it in no hurried moment. 1t
Is the outcome Of successive years OF
study and travel and association
nmoEg our finest population in divers
rarts or West Virginia, where are yet
preserved so mIny splendid types uf
cur militant people. Look upon this
face! In it you behold a hundred
faces which you have seen and known
and yet know.
"The race, the West Virginian. as
we know him, as we would wish to
know him, lives and will live forever
IN this i:nperiShable bronze to Inspire
and glorify the generation OF today
and also many a generation yet un-
born.
in CHS noble face and figure you
now possess one Of the great master
pieces Of the sculptor's art in Amer
lea and In the world 1t typincs the
spirit Of the West Virginian."
Some years ago. when Colonel VIII
liam Seymour Edwards was speaker
OF the house Of delegates he became
Interested in the history Of the move
Allcgheny-Virginia for the saving to
the Union OF that portion OF Virginia
lying chiefly west of the Alegnenies
now the state Of West Virginia. He
learned how the mountain people OF
Virginia. when he was himself q boy.
had formed themselves into com
nanies OF home guards in instant re-
sponse to the first call OF Abraham
Lincoln, April 18th, 1851; how they
had fought battles with the Confed-
crate forces Of Wise and Lee and
Jackson before the Federal armies
we're formed; how they had driven
Wise back to the valley OF Virginia,
bad held Lee and Jackson ut bay un-
til the Federal armies at last were or
aaniZcd to do them battle; how by
reason of their early organization. the
Federal pension laws did not Weld
them protection and relief and he
became instrumental in inaugurating
end in finally securing LEGISLATION
which made provision fer these brave
men; they were at last raid and pen
stoned by West Virginia and then the
Federal government at Washington
reimbursed the state.
Touched and Fired by the Heroic
History.
The heroic story touched the heart
CT Colonel Edwards and fred his
spirit, and he then resolved that If
ever fate and fortune should Join in
providing him the means, that he
would become instrumental In raising
4 monument to this spirit Of liberty
and to these sons and daughters OF
heroic sires, whose promptness in ac-
ton and devotion to the Union made
possible the creation Of the state of
West Virginia.
First Suggestions.
About this time, 1856, be was pay
Ing visit to an old playmate's home,
Henry x. BuSh.BrOwn one Of Amer