Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-06-19
JACKSON STATUE UNVEILED
The Figure of Confederate Chieftair
Stands at M. I,

Stands at v. M. I.
Shortly after one o'clock this az
ternoon little Anna Jackson Pres
ton, winsome. golden-haired. pulled
the cords that revealed the figure of
Sir Moses Ezekiel's statue OF Stone
wall Jackson. her great grandfather,
at the Virginia Military Institute.
A large concourse witnessed the
simple event. aud as the features OF
the great Confederate hero we're
revealed the band struck up
Dixie" The sweet little child
enjoyed her part immensely as she
was borne in her nurses arms, with
her mother by her side, and laugh
ingly and playfully performed the
function assigned her. She is the
daughter OF Mr.. and Mrs. E. r.
Preston OF Charlotte, N. c., her
mother being the daughter OF Gen.
eral Jackson's daughter.
The formal exercises we're held
in the Jackson Memorial Hall, and
began at IL o'clock, on account Of
rain. The rostrnn was occupied
by General Nichols. Governor Mann,
Colonel Chew and other distin-
guished visitors.
The invocation was made by DR.
James P. Smith, who was General
Jackson's chaplain. General T. T.
Munford of Lynchburg. Glass of
1852, General Fitzhugh Lees bril-
gade, presided.
Colonel r. P. Chew, Class of 1861,
OF Stuart's Horse artillery, made the
address of the occasion, which was
an eloquent and exhaustive history
OF the military achievements OF
Stonewall Jackson. Following the
address, Col. Robert T. Kerlin of
the V. M. l. faculty. read a touch.
ing ode on Stonewall jackson.
Assembled at the statue, General
Nichols presented General Scott
Ship, former superintedent, who,
in the absence Of Sir Moses Ezekiel.
presented the statue to the Insti-
tute. General Shipp spoke OF the H.
lustrious career OF Sir Moses Eze-
kiel, who is a native OF Virginia.
was educated at the V. NJ. l., and
had been knighted by the King OF
ltal y for eminence in his art.
After the unwilling Hon. George
l.. Browning, member OF the Board
OF Visitors, accepted the statue on
behalf Of the Institute authorities.
DR.. James p. Smith pronounced the
benediction.
The clouds broke at noon and the
exercises were concluded on the
parade ground. 1t is estimated
that about 1000 people were present.
The statue stands on the parade
grounds in front OF the Jackson Me-
mortal Hall, and faces the South.
The site commands a magnificent
view of the surrounding country,
with noble old House Noun tain to
the west, and the Blue Ridge to the
east. Nearby is the class room in
which Jackson taught at the V. NJ.
L. In front is the velvet parade
ground over which many soldiers
in the making have drilled and
marched.
The statue is of bronze, OF heroic
proportions, and is a replica of the
statue last year unveiled at Charles
ton. w. Va. The figure represents
Jackson on the firing line at the bat
tie OF First Manassas. He is clad
in full military uniform. His fee,
are firmly planted, his right hand
grasps his field glasses. and his lef,
his unsheathed saber. His figure
is erect. the corner of his coat and
the brim of his campaign hat are
blown back by the wind. His ev.
so trained on the lines OF his gray.
clad soldiers that the bomb which
lies at his feet about to explode is
unnoticed. So lifs-like appears the
statue that one can readily imagine
that the silent soldier almost hears
the bullets whizzing by and the roar
of battle all about him.
The base is of Italian marble
known as volcanic tufa, and is gray
in color. 1t bears the following in.