Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 November 1879 — Unveiling of the Thomas Statue. [ARTICLE]

Unveiling of the Thomas Statue.

, No more beautiful day could have been se tec ted than the one o j which the Society of th Army of the Cumberland, at Washii gton, Nov 13; unveiled the noble monument to that eminent soldier, Georg > H. Thomas. The crowd in attendance was very lsrge, and large numbers of eminent civilians and soldiers were present to throw their flowers of respect and admiration npon the statin of a fearles-i aud faithful c mmandir Every General officer in the army save u.rec was present. The stalue is a nob e one—an equestrian, by Ward. TtioPieslletit of ilio so ciety, Gen. Sheridan, not biing pie ent, Goa Jeff 0. Davis, presided. The procosiion was formed on Pol n-ylvania avenue, neir tho Capitol, and started promptly at 1 o’clock. It wa s composed of five divisions, and was one hour in passing a given point. Gen. T. T. Crittenden was chief Marshal. The statne is located in (he Circle foi rued ly the intersection of Some of the finest avei u-s of the citv—Massachusetts and Vermont avenues and iteurteonth and M streets. Around the Circle were thirty-eight lofly poles, united by a rope of evergreens, each pole bearing an ensign and the ccat-of-aims of a State and panel commemorating the battles in which the Army of the Cumberhnd was engaged, or the name of one of its deceased General officers. At each of tho four joi nt rs of the pedestal upon which the statue stands there was a pole, corresponding with the poles representing the States, and flanked by stacks of muskets and field-pieces, the spaces intervening being ornamented with pyramids of cani on-balls. Here, also, a piatfoim had been erected, capable of i eating 1,500 persons. The platform for speakers was within this, and its panels weie inscribed with the names of Anri rson, Sherman, Buell, and liosecrans. Hon. Stanley Matthews delivered a masterly and eloquent address presenting the statue to the people of the United States, fr* m the Army of the Cumberland, to which President Hayes responded as follows: “In the name of the people of the United States I accept this noble statue, so worthy of its subject, created in honor of Gen. George H. Thomas by hi& comrades of the illustrious Army of the Cum berland.” The exercises at the Circle occupied two hours. It is estimated that 50,000 people were in the throng that surrounded the indosuro. A general holiday was observed throughout the city, and the entire populace appeared to be in the streets. In the evening speeches were made by Gens. Sherman, McDowell, Van Vliet, and bl icuni, President Hayes and Secretaries McCrary and Devins.