The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1912-08-11

participated IN Dy people OF
prominence in military. political
and patriotic circles, the monu-
ment recently erected by the
Stephen d. Lee Chapter, United
Daughters of the Confederacy,
in honor of Lowndes county who
participated in the civil war was
on Friday morning unveiled.
The unveiling was one of the
most important events of the
annual encampment of the Mis-
sissippi National Guard, which is
now in progress and was
witnessed by both the soldiers of
the regular army and the men,
bers of the state guard who are
encamped here. The sol
diers left the camp at 10 o'clock
Friday morning, and marched
up Main street to the corner of
Seventh, where they were re-
viewed by Governor Brewer.
After having been reviewed by
the governor the military men
marched to the court house
square, where the unveiling
ceremonies took place.
The speakers of the occasion,
together with number of honor
ed guests, were seated on a stand
in front of the monument, and
Mr.. Thomas J. Locke, Jr., Off
ciated as master Of ceremonies.
Gods blessing upon the assem-
blage was invoked by Rev. J. B.
Lawrence, pastor of the First
Baptist church, and after the
Seventeenth Infantry band bad
played Maryland, My Mary
land" Governor Earl Brewer was
introduced by Mr.. Locke, AID de.
livered an eloquent and patriotic
address in which he paid high
tribute to both the soldiers from
this county who participated in
the civil war and the women who
have erected this monument as a
tribute to their valor.
Gov. Brewer said this county
furnished the Confederacy with
no less than twenty companies
and the patriotism of its citizens
was evinced by the fact that one
man offered $500 to be enlisted
as a private soldier. He spoke in
eloquent praise of several
Lowndes county men who rose to
exalted ranks. having mentioned
the names of Sharp, Baldwin
and Barksdale. Governor Brewer
also spoke words Of praise for the
Mississippi National Guard, and
said he hoped that every young
man in Mississippi would join
the body and give the state at
least one years service.
At the conclusion of Governor
Brewers address the band played
Dixie" after which the monu-
ment was formally presented to
the Confederate Veterans of
Lowndes county by Mrs. S. E. f.
Rose of West Point, president of
the Mississippi Division, United
Daughters of the Confederacy.
Mrs. Rose said that the monu-
ment represented the FULFILL
ment of a Lope long cherished
by the local Confederate Daugh.
ters, and declared that the wo
men of Columbus had, ever sine,
the civil war. been active in thei
efforts to honor the soldiers, botl
living and dead, who participated
therein. Along this line sh'
called attention to the fac
that the custom of decorating
the soldiers graves originated il
Columbus, having been inaugur
ated here April Goth, 1866. Tn
graves of both the Union an,
Confederate soldiers were decor
ated, and the incident inspires
Judge Finch of New York
write his celebrated poem. "Th
Blue and the Gray"
Following the address of Mrs
Rose came the unveiling Of tn
monument. the red, white an
blue bunting which entwined tn
shaft having been pulled asid
by the following young ladit
and gentlemen Misses lenni
Sharp, iVirginia Leigh, Louis