Charleston Daily Mail
IDEAL AUTUMN WEATHER, AND BIG CROWDS WITNESS MONUMENT UNVEILING
STATUE OF STONEWALL JACKSON NOW STANDS ON CAPITOL LAWN
Confederate Chieftain Now Property of the People
PARADE A FEATURE
September 27, 1910
Of the exercises of the day, in which the Stonewall Band, Virginia Military Institute Cadets, Battalion of the State National Guard, Local and Visiting Confederate Camps, the Daughters of the Confederacy, School Children and Citizens take part - The Unveiling Exercises at the Capitol Lawn.
On this beautiful autumn day, in the presence of a large crowd, after a beautiful parade in which military veterans and citizens took part, the bronze statue erected to the memory of Thomas Jonathan (“Stonewall”) Jackson by the Daughters of the Confederacy, was unveiled n the Capitol lawn. Many of the old veterans of the “Lost Cause” were present and both the memorial itself and the exercises at the unveiling, recalled many memories of camp and field, of triumph and defeat.
With the decorations of the city for the incoming of the Elks, as well as those for the unveiling proper, Charleston was alive with color. Excursion trains in the early morning brought large numbers to Charleston, and the streets in the forenoon presented an animated scene. The parade formed on the streets in proximity to the State House and marched out Washington to Morris, out Morris to Kanawha, down Kanawha to Capitol and out Capitol to State, where the organizations took position for the unveiling exercises proper.
The parade, which was in two divisions, was headed by Chief Marshal Dr. Churchman and his staff. Then came the Stonewall Brigade Band of Staunton, Va., heading the first division and leading the battalion of V. M. I. cadets, whose perfect alignment and well attuned steps made marching as near perfect as attainable. Then followed carriages containing the various officials taking part in the unveiling ceremonies and distinguished guests of the occasion. Among those in the carriages were two former governors of West Virginia, ex-Governors Atkinson and Dawson. Then came the local Stonewall Jackson camp, and the local Lee camp of Confederate veterans.
Other features of the parade were a column of school children dressed in colors and formed to represent a ribbon composed of two red stripers bordering a center one of white, a drum corps of small boys, the Daughters of the Confederacy in carriages and representatives of out-of-town camps of Confederate veterans in carriages.
The second division was headed by the Second Regiment band, W.V. N. G. followed by the three local companies of the national guard of this State. Then came more carriages and more veterans; with a cavalcade of ex-Confederates, the procession winding up with another line of vehicles. Many of the carriages were gorgeously decorated in colors, while miniature flags of the “stars and bars” and the “southern cross” were mementoes of days of trial and tribulation long since past.
The procession moved slowly, especially that part of it that contained the old veterans, a number of whom were compelled to drop out of the ranks through disability. The grizzled hairs of the most of those who marched today and their slow and painful steps betoken that there were but few more marches before them ere they would answer the last roll call and follow in the footsteps of their chieftain in whose honor they again paraded today. To a number, perhaps, it will prove to be their last march on this earth.
Honors fitting to the memory of the Confederate leader, General Stonewall Jackson, were shown this day to a West Virginia warrior who made himself famous during the civil strife and who attracted attention to the State in which he was given birth.
The occasion was a most auspicious one and fully 5,000 persons assembled on the State House grounds to show appreciation for the sentiments which characterized the citizens of this vicinity and elsewhere in the matter of having erected such a monument to a man of the caliber of “Stonewall” Jackson.
The only circumstance which marred the proceedings was the misunderstanding about the location of the troops in this parade. Under the Dick law, under which the national guard of West Virginia is operated it becomes part of the United Sates army and cannot march in the rear of any other military organization such as even he cadets from the Virginia Military Institute.
Brigadier General S. S. Green, of the West Virginia division of the U. C. V. gave orders for the placing of the V. M. I. men in front of the parade but that was recognized as impossible and later he directed a change of orders.
Dr. V. T. Churchman was the director of the parade, occupying the capacity of chief marshal and he gave orders when the turn into Kanawha Street was made, for the cadets to assume the lead of the parade. The order was obeyed but when the line got to the place of unveiling the State troops had been directed from the office of the adjutant general to go to their respective quarters and they only occupied a position provided for them on the grounds as individuals.
It was just one minute after the hour of twelve o’clock today that the monument of General Jackson was unveiled, and immediately following the ceremony incident to taking off the covering which has hidden the work of art from the gaze of the general public, a “General’s Salute” was fired by the cadets who had been assembled in front of the grand stand for that purpose. Instead of one gun having been fired sixteen times the salute was made with one shot from sixteen guns. It had been delayed but little and because of the fact that it was not fired at the designated hour of twelve many persons who were immediately surrounding the statue and the speakers stand failed to see the operation necessary in bringing into public view the handsome piece of work that was executed in Italy by Sir Moses Ezekiel, an American who has covered himself with fame in recent years by his splendid sculpturing, having worked to the satisfaction of his many patrons on contracts that have added to his fame.
Just before the parade started music was afforded in the Y. M. C. A. lot just across from the capitol by the famous Stonewall band of Staunton, Va. A number of selections were rendered and the big crowd was given entertainment until the time arrived when General Green permitted the carrying out of directions of the Dick bill which regulates the operations of the national guard troops.
At the start of the parade at the corner of Capitol and Washington streets, the West Virginia troops, comprising three of the local companies, led the procession but later the grand marshal directed a change of position and his orders were obeyed.
The invocation was offered by the Right Reverend George W. Peterkin, of Parkersburg, who is chaplain of the army of the northern Virginia department of the U. C. V. Before he was introduced by General Green the State House grounds were almost crowded and it was impossible for several thousands of persons to hear the words he uttered. There was no stampede, however, and there are many who were really close to the speakers’ stand who failed to hear a thing that was said.
The stand was elegantly decorated and was crowded with members of the United Daughters of the Confederacy through whose efforts the statue was purchased and placed in the prominent position it now occupies.
Mrs. J. Griff Edwards, general Commander in chief of the United Confederate choirs, followed Bishop Peterkin with a song entitled, “Our Country is United.” Her rendition was excellent but only a few of the many assembled were enabled to hear her rich soprano voice.
Following came the speech of presentation of the monument by General Green. he could not be heard well except by those on the speakers’ stand but his address was one that contained only laudation for General Jackson and for the Confederacy. His words were recognized by the comparative few who could hear him with plaudits and it was generally recognized that he had made a speech that could live in history In connection with the life of General Jackson.
Unveiling of the monument followed soon after the capitol clock had struck the hour of twelve. Immediately after the veil had been dropped from the famous work the salute was fired by the cadets. Mrs. Edwards then rendered another song, during the progress of which flags of the Confederacy were waved over her head by the several Daughters who were near her.
In accepting the monument, Hon. John A. Preston, of Greenbrier county, made a neat address which elicited no little applause. He recited history and played on his oratical powers in a matter that will make him long remembered in Charleston. His address was marred somewhat by the fact that as soon as the unveiling was finished, many of those on the grounds, thinking the occasion had been concluded, left the grounds and only a few of them came back.
Major General Robert White, of the West Virginia Division U. C. V. followed Mr. Preston with one of the most elaborate orations of the occasion. His was a forceful address and those who could hear him were gratified with the sentiment he expressed and the charm of manner he possessed in expounding the merits of the man and warrior to whom all were then showing honor.
Sir Moses Ezekiel was next on the program and that famous sculptor who had done the work which no other could have done better in the general opinion, was called on for and address, but he made only a short one, admitting to his auditors that making speeches was entirely out of his line. He was greeted with loud applause by the many persons who knew him as the maker of the statue and had difficulty in being heard during the short space of time he spoke. He had thoroughly acquainted himself of the history of the man whose likeness he created for the benefit of the public and had sufficient mental equipment to say things that would have placed him in the list of orators, but he did not do so and satisfied his hearers by the short explanation that he is not an orator.
Following Sir. Ezekiel’s address came the oration of General Bennett H. Young, department commander A.N.V.U.V.C. He paid a fitting tribute to the Confederacy and to the memory of General Jackson, his address being one that was well received by everyone who heard it. Mrs. Edwards rendered another song and the benediction was offered by Bishop Peterkin, ending the ceremonies incident to the unveiling.
Following is the Roster of the V. M. I. Cadets at the unveiling:
Officers: Capt. A. Nalle, Culpeper, Va.; Lieut. G. R. Collins, Charleston, W. Va.; Lieut. R. M. Wilson, Savannah, Ga.; First Sergeant G. A. Speer, Atlanta, Ga.; Sergeant H. S. Jackson, Drake’s Branch, As; Sergeant H. Templeton, Malolos, Bulacan, P.I.(Philippines); Sergeant A. D. Brown, St. Louis, Mo.; Corporal S. H. Peck, Grand Rapids, Mich.; Corporal E. J. Frazer, Comfort, Texas;, Corporal C. P. McCabe; Leesburg, Va.; Corporal H. A. Darnell, Memphis, Tenn.; Corporal J. C. Nowlin, Lynchburg, Va.; Corporal G. E. Bushnell, Smithville, Texas; Corporal P. McMenamin, Hampton, Va.; Corporal Q. McMenamin, Hampton, Va.
Privates Blackmore, P. G., Hampton, Va.; Brand, W. F., Salem, Va.; Buescher, A. G., Smithville, Texas;, Barksdale, A. D. , Houston, Va.; Banning, H., Los Angeles, Calif.; Crane, J.M., Houston, Texas; Collier, T. H., Altheimer, Ark.; Coburn, H. S., Meridian, Miss.; Camp, V., Franklin, Va., Christian, A. H. Lynchburg, Va.; Dawes, B. F., Cleveland, Ohio; Dillard, A. W., Brooklyn, N.Y.; Ewing, J. D., New Orleans, La.; Farrell , D., St. Louis, Mo.; Fenno, S. A., Washington, D. C.; Gwatkin, J. G., Richmond, Va.; Gayle, L. T., Ports....., Va.; Gutierrez, V., Sagua La Grande, Cuba; ….... G. Shell, Va.; Howard, R. J., St. Louis, Mo.; Jennings, J. D., Lynchburg, Ca.; Jones, J. W., Decatur, Wa., Kane, P. l., Bristol, Va.; Knight, W. R., Cartersville, Ga.; Lee, H. F. Fredericksburg, Va.; Long, R. M., Medina, Ohio; McCormick, W. H., Baltimore, Md.; Moore, L. F., Birmingham, Ala.; Mayer, Cl. L. Norfolk Va.; Mitchell, A. H., Graham, Va.; Marshall, Richmond, Va.; Poindexter, N. S., Walkertown, N. C.; Powell, M. J., Belmont, Va.; Quentin, H. P., Denver, Colo.; Randolph, C. C., Evington, Va.; Rembert G., Rembert, S. C., Roller, J. E. Harrisonburg, Va.; Riser, G. S., Birmingham, Ala.; Schilling, S. J., Port Gibson, Miss.; Smith, . M., Birmingham, Ala.; Smith, E. V. , Ft. Leavenworth, Kas.; Smith, M. F., Birmingham, Ala.; Smith, R. B., Roanoke, Va.; Smith, T. O. Birmingham, Ala.; Stacy, J. L., Greenville, Miss.; Stroud, E. B. , Ft. Worth, Texas, Stevenson, J., Mingo, Ohio; Shuleldt, F. A., Napoleonville, La.; Sturky, H. C., Lexington, Ky., Throckmorton, R. J., Richmond, Va.; Van Meter, J. B., Lexington, Ky.; Warner, R. H., St. Louis, Mo.; Williams, R. M., Waverly, Va.; West, R. A., Bellevue, Va.; Wiltshire, G. D., Baltimore, Md.; Wollman, C. W., Walton, Ind.
Conspicuous among the ex-Confederate veterans in town today is Col. Geo. W. Imboden, of Ansted, W. Va., late colonel of the 18th Virginia cavalry, and well known throughout the northern part of the State through his famous raid through West Virginia. The colonel is stopping with his nephew Lieutenant George Imboden, Jr., a Spanish-American war veteran.
The Stonewall Brigade Band came in for many compliments along the line of the march. “There is some class to that,” was a remark frequently heard.
In a few more years there won’t be any veterans of the Civil War in a parade. Exeunt omnes.
The weather was ideal and the crowd was out in force all along the line of march.
The V.M.I. cadets are a fine looking body of young men.