Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1914-07-31

A splendid oil portrait today was
placed in the Mississippi Hall of Fame
in commemoration of the private sol
dier of the Confederacy of Mississippi
1t is the official recognition of the
State Historical Department of the
men who bore the fortunes of the Con-
federacy on their guns throughout its
heroic existence. Historians are real
izing, as time passes and the study OF
historical sources becomes more feat
ure of historical writings, that it is
largely due to the power, endurance
and genius of the private soldier that
the Confederate army was sustained
for four years under circumstances
which would have disorganized and
disbanded that of any other people
The Confederate army was at all times
a definite body, with purpose which
had its source in well-organized
government, and equipment was all
that either lacked in the development
of the plans and aims common to all
nations. Less than any revolution OF
which history gives any account did
the Southern Confederacy show irreg-
ular symptoms or evince the spirit OF
conquest; and fully equal it proved
at all times, in individual and definite
purpose, to the rebellion of the colo
nies from the mother country. This
was largely due to the rank and file OF
its soldiery, whose purpose seemed as
clear as that of the leaders.
The historian can point out hun
dreds of instances where the most ig-
norant camp follower saw the south
as one country and the north as an
other, and felt that he was fighting to
protect his own. He did not want the
north; he cared nothing for it. He
wanted the south, and he was willing
to fight, and if needs be. die for it
lust as the colonist did for Virginia
and Massachusetts,.
1t is to this man then, who was in
D. rfect accord and sympathy with his
superiors in rank to whom the people
are largely indebted for the brilliant
pages Of history that, regret as one
may the necessity of secession, stand
out in the record as people with
more singular luster than that reflect
ed by any generation since those Wig
oro,b days when Washington's sturdy
host left a trail of bloody footsteps
across the white SHOWS of Valley
Forge.
1t is the private then of the Confed-
eracy that Mississippi wishes also to
honor. There are many memorials ir
her hall of fame to Mississippians who
have won fame in her defense, but
none belongs there more truly than
the private soldier who preserved her
honor on the field of Gettysburg
Franklin, Vicksburg, Chickamauga
and Charlottesville, and hundreds OF
other closely contested battleheldS. II
has long been cherished purpose OF
the Mississippi department to honor
this type of the states citizenry, and
instead of using an idealized figure, as
was first contemplated, the plan ma
terializ,. d in an invitation to Hon. f
D. Cavett, of Macon, Noxubee county
to permit his likeness taken in 1861.
at the youthful age of sixteen, to be
enlarged and placed in the state hall OF
fame as representative of the private
soldier of the Confederate army from
Mississippi. When it was explained
that the portrait was not personal, but
was intended to represent the soldier
in the ranks, the gallant, modest, old
gentleman from Noxubee consented|
for his portrait to be used to honor
his comrades. And, indeed, it does
honor them, for no more heroic and
brilliant record is possessed by any pri-
vate of the Confederacy than that of
this lovable old veteran who is just as
useful to his state in peace as he was
in war.
The portrait is a masterpiece of art,
and is highly inspirational. 1t repre-
sents young soldier, clothed in Con-
federate gray, on picket duty, with the
beautiful hills and valleys of Virginia
for background. His clear, steady
eye bespeaks the high purpose of his
soul, and before its youth, truth and
ardor one stands spellbound When
it is remembered that thousands of
just such Mississippi youths took upon
thef.isclves suddenly, the full response
bility of manhood, proved at tender
age reliable in the defense of their
homes and 6resides and died willingly
when necessary for their convictions,
the object lesson to succeeding gener-
ations is great one.
Dr.. Dunbar Rowland, director of the
Mississippi Historical Department. has
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