The Confederate Monument
The Benton County Sun – July 30, 1908
Monument Paid For – The last dollar on the Confederate monument which is to be unveiled Saturday was paid yesterday. The fact that the last dollar was paid before the unveiling was due to the individual efforts of Senator Berry who has been very much and actively interested in the monument all the way through. It is a source of great pride to the grand old veteran to know that one of the best monuments that has been erected in the south to the memory of the brave dead of southland soldiers is to be unveiled in his home town and was able to assist so much in the work. Senator Berry and Ladies and Daughters of the Confederate veterans have a right to feel proud in this great accomplishment
The Benton County Sun – Aug 6, 1908
Invitation To Unveiling – Bentonville. Ark., July 7 1908. To the people of Benton County: The Confederate Monument will be unveiled at Bentonville on the 8th day of August. Major Clifton R. Breckenridge of Fort Smith will deliver the address. We are anxious to have the largest audience on that day that has ever been in town. We want to have a basket dinner on the grounds and want everybody who can do so bring their baskets as we hope for visitors from other counties and want plenty for all. The Daughters of the Confederacy have worked for years to raise money to construct the Monument and want all to see.
We invite everybody without any exception. Let us give one day to honor the dead – one day to peace and unveiling good will.
Jas. H. Berry, Major General Commanding United Confederates of Arkansas
The Benton County Sun – Aug. 13, 1908
The Unveiling – It is a hard task to report the exercises here last Saturday deservingly. The perfect weather, the beautiful and appropriate program, the clock like precision with which it was carried out, the large and well behaved crowd – but then we were nearly all there to see for ourselves.
All week it had been excessively hot, dry and dusty, and many supplicating expressions especially, by those who felt so deeply interested in the unveiling of the monument, were heard that it might rain before Saturday, till about 1 o’clock in the afternoon Friday when the heavens opened and rain came pouring gently to the sun parched earth as if in answer to prayer of the promoters of the monument. It transpired that the refreshing and reviving rain had been generally distributed to the panting earth throughout the county doubtless, favoring many the opportunity to come to the unveiling that would not otherwise have braved the dusty roads.
Saturday morning the sun shone out on an atmosphere as soft and crisp as a morning in May, and throughout the day the weather remained absolutely perfect for the occasion.
The visitors began gathering early in buggies, wagons and horseback and every incoming train was loaded down. The crowd at its maximum during the day was estimated at 10,000 people, doubtless the largest crowd ever assembled in Benton county for the purpose of celebration.
The exercises in the forenoon at Park Springs were carried out with exact precision and satisfaction to all concerned. After the splendid music rendered by the band, Rev. Peter Carnahan opened the exercise with a beautiful invocation and Mayor Morris delivered the welcome address appropriately and in a happy and pleasing manner. Miss Emma McAndrew sang a beautiful solo and others assisted in making the morning exercises pleasant. Hon. A. Dinsmore was the principle entertainer at the morning exercises. He delivered an address of over half an whole hour most appropriate and in a happy manner of delivery in which the ex-congressman is distinguished.
A most excellent basket dinner was shared at noon which was available for all to share. About 2 o’clock the parade formed at the end of North Park Street in grand array and proceeded to the City Park where the afternoon exercises took place. Many finely decorated floats were in line. The float carrying 13 beautiful young ladies bearing ensigns of the 13 Southern States that seceded was nicely arranged and peculiarly appropriate for the occasion. In the parade a noteworthy, but in nowise happy spectacle was the few old veterans that marched on foot, about two dozen, probably almost as many as there are in the county that would be able to endure, comfortably a march of a mile afoot. There were more of the old veterans in the parade in buggies, and carriages. The number of Confederate Veterans in attendance is estimated at 200. Senator Berry who is a Major General in Command of the United Confederate Veterans of Arkansas was conspicuous at the head of the parade and in the exercise generally in his uniform of Confederate gray. Captain Cyrus Pickens of Pea Ridge was marshal of the day and in charge of the parade.
The crowd gathered at the City Park at 2:30 and the public square was literally jammed with humanity. F. G. Lindsey, master of ceremonies introduced Rev. Bearden who opened the unveiling exercise with suitable invocation after the band concert, and then the chorus of young ladies rendered “The Bonnie Blue Flag,” assisted by the band in a beautiful manner. Mrs. W. F. Patton President of U. C. D. delivered a short but appropriate address of welcome on behalf of the Daughters, when the young ladies representing the confederacy pulled so many strings which by an automatic arrangement unveiled the monument, and at the same time unfurled a large confederate flag on either side of the statue. The most enthusiastic outburst was probably when Mrs. Rex Peel rendered Dixie in an elegant manner assisted by the band.
Then Senator Berry after a nice eulogy of Major Clifton R. Breckenridge of Ft. Smith introduced that gentleman as the orator of the unveiling. The speaker could not be heard by nearly all the crowd but those fortunate enough to get in hearing enjoyed an excellent speech. Reserved seats just in front of the speakers stand was for the old veterans. Major Breckenridge’s speech which was most appropriate to the occasion delivered into the cause of the Rebellion probably deeper than many who heard him had ever heard the question discussed before. He made it plain that whatever others may think about the Rebellion or whatever effect the results had on the nation, which is still problematic, the freedom and home: they fought to sustain the Declaration of Independence: that the proof they fought within the constitution was the fact that no southern soldier had ever been tried for treason by the government. He did not blame the north for putting down the Rebellion as a means of self preservation. Of course confederate flags were in preponderance in the decorations but were liberally interspersed with the star spangled banner, and Major Breckenridge made a happy allusion when moving one of the National flags on the stand out of the way. Said he had tried to tear it down once when he failed and since he had failed to accomplish that purpose he had resolved by the eternals that nobody else should tear it down.
The promoters of the monument and all concerned in the unveiling have a just right to feel proud of such a splendid result. The Daughters who have worked unceasingly feel that their efforts have been more than crowned with success. Senator Berry who has worked in and out of season shows unmistakable signs of supreme satisfaction. Captain A. J. Bates who gave of his means, without the sounding of trumpets, one-half of the cost of the elegant monument feels that he is well repaid. Captain Bates deserves more than honorable mention. All the people of Bentonville and Benton County should feel proud of this beautiful shaft which should endure for centuries. It will ever be a beautiful memory of our fore fathers who died for home and country. They measured to the true standard of patriotism. The people of Bentonville will doubtless ever see to it that the monument is well preserved in honor to the loved hands that were so persistent and faithful in erecting it.
The Benton County Sun – July 30, 1908
Monument Paid For – The last dollar on the Confederate monument which is to be unveiled Saturday was paid yesterday. The fact that the last dollar was paid before the unveiling was due to the individual efforts of Senator Berry who has been very much and actively interested in the monument all the way through. It is a source of great pride to the grand old veteran to know that one of the best monuments that has been erected in the south to the memory of the brave dead of southland soldiers is to be unveiled in his home town and was able to assist so much in the work. Senator Berry and Ladies and Daughters of the Confederate veterans have a right to feel proud in this great accomplishment
The Benton County Sun – Aug 6, 1908
Invitation To Unveiling – Bentonville. Ark., July 7 1908. To the people of Benton County: The Confederate Monument will be unveiled at Bentonville on the 8th day of August. Major Clifton R. Breckenridge of Fort Smith will deliver the address. We are anxious to have the largest audience on that day that has ever been in town. We want to have a basket dinner on the grounds and want everybody who can do so bring their baskets as we hope for visitors from other counties and want plenty for all. The Daughters of the Confederacy have worked for years to raise money to construct the Monument and want all to see.
We invite everybody without any exception. Let us give one day to honor the dead – one day to peace and unveiling good will.
Jas. H. Berry, Major General Commanding United Confederates of Arkansas
The Benton County Sun – Aug. 13, 1908
The Unveiling – It is a hard task to report the exercises here last Saturday deservingly. The perfect weather, the beautiful and appropriate program, the clock like precision with which it was carried out, the large and well behaved crowd – but then we were nearly all there to see for ourselves.
All week it had been excessively hot, dry and dusty, and many supplicating expressions especially, by those who felt so deeply interested in the unveiling of the monument, were heard that it might rain before Saturday, till about 1 o’clock in the afternoon Friday when the heavens opened and rain came pouring gently to the sun parched earth as if in answer to prayer of the promoters of the monument. It transpired that the refreshing and reviving rain had been generally distributed to the panting earth throughout the county doubtless, favoring many the opportunity to come to the unveiling that would not otherwise have braved the dusty roads.
Saturday morning the sun shone out on an atmosphere as soft and crisp as a morning in May, and throughout the day the weather remained absolutely perfect for the occasion.
The visitors began gathering early in buggies, wagons and horseback and every incoming train was loaded down. The crowd at its maximum during the day was estimated at 10,000 people, doubtless the largest crowd ever assembled in Benton county for the purpose of celebration.
The exercises in the forenoon at Park Springs were carried out with exact precision and satisfaction to all concerned. After the splendid music rendered by the band, Rev. Peter Carnahan opened the exercise with a beautiful invocation and Mayor Morris delivered the welcome address appropriately and in a happy and pleasing manner. Miss Emma McAndrew sang a beautiful solo and others assisted in making the morning exercises pleasant. Hon. A. Dinsmore was the principle entertainer at the morning exercises. He delivered an address of over half an whole hour most appropriate and in a happy manner of delivery in which the ex-congressman is distinguished.
A most excellent basket dinner was shared at noon which was available for all to share. About 2 o’clock the parade formed at the end of North Park Street in grand array and proceeded to the City Park where the afternoon exercises took place. Many finely decorated floats were in line. The float carrying 13 beautiful young ladies bearing ensigns of the 13 Southern States that seceded was nicely arranged and peculiarly appropriate for the occasion. In the parade a noteworthy, but in nowise happy spectacle was the few old veterans that marched on foot, about two dozen, probably almost as many as there are in the county that would be able to endure, comfortably a march of a mile afoot. There were more of the old veterans in the parade in buggies, and carriages. The number of Confederate Veterans in attendance is estimated at 200. Senator Berry who is a Major General in Command of the United Confederate Veterans of Arkansas was conspicuous at the head of the parade and in the exercise generally in his uniform of Confederate gray. Captain Cyrus Pickens of Pea Ridge was marshal of the day and in charge of the parade.
The crowd gathered at the City Park at 2:30 and the public square was literally jammed with humanity. F. G. Lindsey, master of ceremonies introduced Rev. Bearden who opened the unveiling exercise with suitable invocation after the band concert, and then the chorus of young ladies rendered “The Bonnie Blue Flag,” assisted by the band in a beautiful manner. Mrs. W. F. Patton President of U. C. D. delivered a short but appropriate address of welcome on behalf of the Daughters, when the young ladies representing the confederacy pulled so many strings which by an automatic arrangement unveiled the monument, and at the same time unfurled a large confederate flag on either side of the statue. The most enthusiastic outburst was probably when Mrs. Rex Peel rendered Dixie in an elegant manner assisted by the band.
Then Senator Berry after a nice eulogy of Major Clifton R. Breckenridge of Ft. Smith introduced that gentleman as the orator of the unveiling. The speaker could not be heard by nearly all the crowd but those fortunate enough to get in hearing enjoyed an excellent speech. Reserved seats just in front of the speakers stand was for the old veterans. Major Breckenridge’s speech which was most appropriate to the occasion delivered into the cause of the Rebellion probably deeper than many who heard him had ever heard the question discussed before. He made it plain that whatever others may think about the Rebellion or whatever effect the results had on the nation, which is still problematic, the freedom and home: they fought to sustain the Declaration of Independence: that the proof they fought within the constitution was the fact that no southern soldier had ever been tried for treason by the government. He did not blame the north for putting down the Rebellion as a means of self preservation. Of course confederate flags were in preponderance in the decorations but were liberally interspersed with the star spangled banner, and Major Breckenridge made a happy allusion when moving one of the National flags on the stand out of the way. Said he had tried to tear it down once when he failed and since he had failed to accomplish that purpose he had resolved by the eternals that nobody else should tear it down.
The promoters of the monument and all concerned in the unveiling have a just right to feel proud of such a splendid result. The Daughters who have worked unceasingly feel that their efforts have been more than crowned with success. Senator Berry who has worked in and out of season shows unmistakable signs of supreme satisfaction. Captain A. J. Bates who gave of his means, without the sounding of trumpets, one-half of the cost of the elegant monument feels that he is well repaid. Captain Bates deserves more than honorable mention. All the people of Bentonville and Benton County should feel proud of this beautiful shaft which should endure for centuries. It will ever be a beautiful memory of our fore fathers who died for home and country. They measured to the true standard of patriotism. The people of Bentonville will doubtless ever see to it that the monument is well preserved in honor to the loved hands that were so persistent and faithful in erecting it.
These are believed to be postcards of the unveiling of the Confederate statue. These are the only images we have been able to find of the event.
|
|