Augusta County: "The South's Tribute to Stonewall Jackson," by Unknown, 1920
Summary: Celebratory account of unveiling of Richmond's Stonewall Jackson monument; includes historical sketch of previous unveilings of Jackson monuments
After more than half a century from the time Stonewall Jackson fell at Chancellorsville, a great memorial has been erected in his honor at Richmond, Va., the combined tribute of his native State and the whole South. This handsome equestrian monument was unveiled on the 11th of October, 1919, and of those who had served on the staff of the great commander only one was left to take part in its dedication. It stands at the intersection of Monument Avenue and the Boulevard in this beautiful Southern city, and the bronze figure of rider and horse rises to a height of seventeen feet over the base. It is the work of F. William Sievers, who also made the Virginia Memorial at Gettysburg, the magnificent equestrian statue of General Lee.
The monument represents a total cost of approximately $40,000, of which $10,000 was appropriated by the legislature of Virginia, $10,000 was given by the city of Richmond, and $5,000 was raised by the sale of Confederate flags by a committee of the Richmond ladies. The remainder represents individual contributions from all over the South. The Daughters of the Confederacy have everywhere assisted actively in securing contributions and arousing interest in this memorial.
The unveiling exercises were presided over by Capt. James Power Smith, the sole survivor of Jackson's staff, and little Anna Jackson Preston unveiled the bronze statue of her great-grandfather, assisted by the little son of the sculptor. The orator of the day was Col. Robert E. Lee, grandson of Gen. R. E. Lee. In the parade as escort of honor, was the corps of cadets from the Virginia Military Institute, in which Jackson was instructor before going into the Confederate army. Representatives of the leading families of the Old Dominion and other States had prominent places in this parade, and many military companies of the State and city gave that feature of distinction to the pageant.
THE JACKSON MEMORIAL.
A historical sketch of the various monuments to Stonewall Jackson and the occasion of their erection, with an account of the Stonewall Jackson Monument Corporation and its work in the erection of the equestrian memorial in Richmond, was prepared by the Rev. James Power Smith, President of the Monument Corporation and sole survivor of Jackson's staff, and was read by him as a part of the unveiling exercises. It is here given:
"When Gen. Thomas J. Jackson fell at Chancellorsville, to the men from all the Confederate States, whom he had won to a profound and undying devotion, there seemed nothing they could do too great to show their admiration, their confidence, and their love. Throughout the Southland there was the thought and the purpose to remember their great leader and perpetuate his memory in some enduring form.
"Dramatic and memorable was the meeting of the Stonewall Brigade on the field of Spotsylvania, after Chancellorsville, when resolutions were adopted with bowed heads and deep emotion pledging themselves to erect a monument which would testify to their love and perpetuate his memory to generations to come. But when at last the war was ended, those men who survived went back to immediate and universal industry to feed and clothe an impoverished people.
"In 1875 there came across the seas the gift to Virginia of English gentlemen, led by Mr. Beresford-Hope, the splendid portrait statue of Stonewall Jackson which stands in our Capitol Square. It was received by Governor Kemper for Virginia, and the statue was unveiled October 26, 1875, and the oration delivered by the Rev. Moses D. Hoge, D.D. That statue has given a profound satisfaction to our people.
"An association was formed at Fredericksburg to erect a memorial on the spot where Jackson fell. It was designed by Col. W. E. Cutshaw and built of Virginia granite cut for the Richmond City Hall. It was unveiled and dedicated June 13, 1888, with an oration by John Warwick Daniel, soldier and Senator.
"In 1891 the noble statue of Jackson by Edward V. Valentine over Jackson's grave in Lexington was unveiled, when the orator was Gen. Jubal A. Early. And later a statue of Jackson from the skill of Sir Moses Ezekiel was erected in the Capitol Square at Charleston, W. Va., and a replica was given by Sir Moses himself to the Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Va.
"There was still the widely prevailing sentiment that Virginia and her sister States had not yet accomplished that which it was in their hearts to do, to erect an equestrian monument to Jackson, our own memorial and our gift to generations after us.
"Again and again the desire found expression in published letters, in appeals to the legislature, and in public orations. Men from all sections and from other lands asked: `Where is your monument to Stonewall Jackson?'
"At last, in 1911, a circular letter was sent out calling a meeting of those interested. The call emanated from Capt. W. M. Myers and the officers and men of the Richmond Howitzers. The first meeting was held November 29, 1911, in Lee Camp Hall, with the Mayor of the city, Hon. D. C. Richardson, in the chair. The first contribution came from W. H. McCarthy, of the Veteran Howitzer Association. Organization was effected and officers elected, with a board of directors, as follows: Officers-James Power Smith, President; Judge George L. Christian, First Vice President; Mrs. Edgar D. Taylor, Second Vice President; W. Witcher Keen, Third Vice President; Capt. William M. Myers, Secretary (who, entering the military service of the country, was succeeded by Col. W. S. Archer); E. D. Hotchkiss, Treasurer. Directors-Col. W. S. Archer, Maj. W. A. Anderson, Capt. J. Thompson Brown, the Hon. D. C. Richardson, Mrs. Norman V. Randolph, Mrs. Charles E. Bolling, Miss Anna B. Boykin, Miss Kate Mason Rowland, Maj. T. M. Wortham, Edwin P. Cox, Gen. W. W. Sale, Col. John S. Harwood. To the board there were added later Gen. C. J. Anderson, Gen. Jo Lane Stern, T. Peyton Giles, Capt. John Lamb, John Stewart Bryan, Edgar D. Taylor, and Mrs. B. A. Blenner. During our seven years of service we have mourned the removal by death of three valuable and honored members, Mrs. Edgar Taylor, the Second Vice President, Miss Kate Mason Rowland, and Col. John S. Harwood.
"On the evening of April 29, 1914, a great public assembly filled the city auditorium, organized and conducted by Mrs. G. T. W. Kern, Historian of the Richmond Chater, U. D. C., Gov. Henry Carter Stuart presiding, and the meeting was addressed by the Hon. A. J. Montague, Dr. S. C. Mitchell, John Stewart Bryan, and the President of the Jackson Monument Corporation. This great meeting was notably graced by the presence of the venerable widow of our hero, Mrs. Mary Anna Jackson.
"Following this, on May 1, 1914, came the Jackson Flag Day, when the ladies of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, with splendid organization and indomitable spirit, brought about $5,000 into our treasury.
"The site, corner of Monument Avenue and the Boulevard, was determined on November 30, 1914, and the corner stone was laid June 3, 1915, with an appropriate address by the Hon. William A. Anderson, of Lexington, Va.
"The Association and the people of Virginia are indebted to Mrs. N. V. Randolph and the Richmond Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy; to Mrs. A. A. Campbell and the Virginia Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy; to Mrs. G. T. W. Kern for the great memorial meeting in the auditorium and the large success of the Jackson monument flag day; to Mr. E. D. Hotchkiss, our Treasurer, for the watchful care and the increase of funds; to the Hon. Henry Carter Stuart, Governor of Virginia, the legislature of the State, the Council and the Board of Aldermen of the city of Richmond, and to Col. Barton H. Grundy, of the Finance Committee; to the unfailing devotion to the cause of all the members of the Board and to F. William Sievers, our gifted sculptor, who has won for himself a lasting fame. And now to the State of Virginia, to the city of Richmond, to the people of all our Southland, and to the sons and daughters of all Confederates with profound and grateful satisfaction we present our completed work."
JACKSON'S STAFF OFFICERS.
Of those who served on the staff of General Jackson in the several staff departments and at various times, four fell in battle: Capt. James Keith Boswell, engineer officer, Fauquier County, fell at Chancellorsville; Col. Edward Willis, 12th Georgia Infantry, Savannah, Ga., fell at Cold Harbor; Lieut. Col. A. S. Pendleton, A. A. G., Lexington, Va., fell at Fisher's Hill; Col. Stapleton Crutchfield, chief of artillery of the Virginia Military Institute, fell on retreat from Petersburg.
At the beginning of the war, when Jackson went to Harper's Ferry, there came to his aid from the V. M. I.Col. J. T. L. Preston, Prof. James Massie, Col. Alfred Jackson, Col. Stapleton Crutchfield.
To these were added Maj. John Harman, chief quartermaster; Maj. W. Hawkes, chief commissary; Dr. Hunter McGuire, medical director; Capt. George Junkin, A. D. C.; Maj. Jed. Hotchkiss, topographical engineer.
And the following came from time to time: Major Bier, ordnance; Capt. J. M. Garnett, ordnance; Col. William Allan; Colonel Snead, assistant inspector general; Maj. H. K. Douglas, inspector general; Capt. W. Wilbourne, chief of signal officers; Maj. D. B. Bridgforth, provost marshal; Maj. R. L. Dabney, A. A. S.; Lieut. Col. C. J. Falkner, A. A. S.; Capt. J. P. Smith, A. D. C., now the sole surviving member of the staff.
Bibliographic Information: Source copy consulted: Confederate Veteran, Vol. 28, p. 47-48, 1920
