TALBOT COUNTY, GA - HISTORY Confederate Monument Dedication Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Carla Miles cmhistory@mchsi.com Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm The Talbotton New Era Thursday, October 29, 1904 Page Six General Harrison To Be Here. The Following Letter is Self-Explanatory Opelika, Ala., Oct. 17, 1904 Miss Sallie F. Gorman, Corresponding Secretary, U.D.C., Talbotton, Ga. Dear Miss Gorman: Your esteemed favor of the 15th inst. inviting me to deliver the address at the dedication of the Confederate Monument to be erected in Talbotton within the next two weeks is duly received. Thanking you and the ladies of your Chapter for the compliment in inviting me to do so beg to say that if in my power it will afford me great pleasure to be with you. Talbot County furnished one of the best Companies that served under me during the war and it would afford me peculiar pleasure to visit your county with the hopes of seeing what are left of them. It is however a very busy season of the year with me and my engagements. Court are such that I cannot accept your invitation without first knowing the exact date upon which the dedication will take place. Yours very truly, Geo. P. Harrison The Talbotton New Era Thursday, November 3, 1904 Page Seven Personal Items In another column of this issue we print the program for the unveiling of the confederate monument on Saturday of next week. This monument has been secured through the noble efforts of the Daughters of the Confederacy. General Harrison of Alabama, has accepted the invitation to deliver the address. The program arranged will be a delightful one and no doubt a very large crowd will be present at the ceremonies. The Daughters of the Confederacy will serve lunch at the Operate House on that day. The Talbotton New Era Thursday, November 3, 1904 Page Seven Personal Items An expert from Macon came over to Talbotton Monday morning and is here erecting the Confederate Monument, which was purchased by the local chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy. He hopes to have the work completed this week and the ceremonies for the unveiling of the monument will take place some time next week. The monument is a most beautiful one and besides being a monument to the memory of the confederate dead, it speaks volumes of the untiring efforts, which were put forth by noble women to have it erected. The Talbotton New Era Thursday, November 3, 1904 Page Six Monumental Notes The unveiling of the Confederate Monument will occur on Saturday, November 12. Forty years have passed since our vanquished heroes came marching home, leaving behind them many a lonely grave, unmarked and unknown. Forty years have passed and eyes have been dimmed by oft shed tears, hearts have been wrung by the anguish of cruel separation. Forty years, too, in which many have "crossed over the river and are resting under the shade." But on this 12 of November, will come a melancholy pleasure, a sacred joy in rearing affection's monument to the dear departed, of recounting noble deeds and valorous scenes. An unspeakable happiness is bequeathing a future generation this beautiful tribute to knightly valor and true Southern chivalry. All veterans are requested to wear their Crosses of Honor. A lunch will be served by the Daughters of the Confederacy. Lynda Lee Bryan The Talbotton New Era Thursday, November 3, 1904 Page Six To a Confederate Monument The following poem was written by O.D. Gorman, Superintendent of the public schools of Talbot County and will be read at the dedication of the confederate monument in Talbotton: Hail, heroes of a hundred fields. Bold patriots of the bygone days, Whose names are graved on honor's scroll, To thee we rear this shaft of praise. But marble cannot tell the tale, Nor granite shaft, or lettered stone. Disclose thy stories worth, or speak, That love of freedom thou hast known. On weary march or in the front, Where waved the Southern Cross, through field, Or wood or along the sodden ways, Their noble spirits did not yield. For they were of the South a part, And 'neath her sunny skies their life Was sun kissed and their arms made strong, To do and dare for freedom's strife. Yet, marble annals cannot breathe, Nor proudest granite fitly tell. Their deeds, for fame already shrines The names of those we love so well They could not think of this far day; Their long march o'er their duty done. Their banner tattered yet their cause, While yet it failed, was bravely won. Not lost the right to govern self And share the Southland's richest zeal, Nor that high soul that on her land Hath pressed the glory of its seal, Not lost the loyal hearts that love, Nor paled the flowers that deck her ways, Nor that sweet heritage that lives Within her dawnings and her days. Yes, heroes of the troubled past, Whose lips cannot an answer give, We yield them honor's proudest place, We keep this tryst while yet we live, For fame has claimed them as her own. And chiseled granite here shall stand To speak their name and tell their deeds The epic of our own southland. We cannot call them from their rest, For their's the crown that Duty gives. In answer to its call they strove, Where heroes die and valor lives. Rest then on field, or wood or plain, Where glory led, or heroes died. Best rest thou more in southern hearts. For thou art still the country's pride. The Talbotton New Era Thursday, November 3, 1904 Page Six Unveiling of Confederate Monument The Confederate Monument erected by the U.D.C. will be unveiled on Saturday, November 12, 1904. Exercises will commence at 11 a.m. The program as is follows: Prayer by Lieut. R.A. Mizell, C.S.A. Introduction of the speaker by Capt. Henry Persons, C.S.A. Address by Gen. George P. Harrison, C.S.A. History of the Alice Beall Chapter, U.D.C., by Miss Jennie Persons Poem by Col. O.D. Gorman, C.S.A. Unveiling the Monument by Miss Nannie Raines Benediction by Rev. Preston Joseph Adams, C.S.A. Lunch will be served to the Veterans at the Opera House at 1:30 p.m. Mrs. J.J. Bull, President Miss Sallie F. Gorman, Sec. & Treas. ================ The Talbotton New Era Thursday, November 10, 1904 Page Six Dedication of Monument Postponed The dedication of the Confederate monument in Talbotton will not take place on next Saturday, as had been announced. At the time the date was arranged, it was thought that General Harrison would be able to be here and take part in the exercises on that date. But a letter was received from him saying it would be impossible for him to be in Talbotton until after the 21st. The Daughters of the Confederacy had invited him to deliver the address of the occasion and are very anxious for him to be here. When they received his letter Tuesday, if was decided to postpone the dedication until some date when he could be present. The date which has been selected is Tuesday, the 22nd of this month, which will be next Tuesday, week. The program for the ceremonies remains the same as was published in these columns last week. The Talbotton New Era Thursday, November 24, 1904 Page Two Confederate Monument Unveiled Several Hundred People Here At The Exercises. General Harrison of Alabama Deliver Eloquent Address. Despite the fact that the weather was very threatening and a big rain fell in the early part of the morning, several hundred people gathered in Talbotton Tuesday to be present a the ceremonies of the unveiling of the Confederate monument which has been erected through the efforts of the local chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy. The program began at ten o'clock in the courthouse. The entire ceremony would have taken place on the lawn, but a slight rain was falling and it was found necessary to seek shelter. The courthouse was filled to its uttermost capacity and not a vacant seat remained, the aisles also being crowded with those who were anxious to see and hear. The stand of the speaker had been beautifully decorated for the occasion with choice flowers, arranged by the graceful hands of the fair women who have the Confederate cause so close at heart. A hand painted picture of Captain Curley, the brave leader of the Southern Rifles, which was formed of Talbot County soldiers, made a picturesque background while a confederate flag was gracefully folded at the side. The exercises began by the offering of an invocation to the Deity be Lieutenant R.A. Mizell of the Confederate army. Colonel O.D. Gorman then contributed a poem, which he had especially written for the occasion. It breathed a beautiful sentiment to the South and the heroes of the "Lost Cause" who surrendered their lives on the field of battle in defense of their home and country. Col. J.J. Bull then introduced Gen. George P. Harrison of Alabama, the orator of the occasion, in a few well-selected remarks. He spoke of how he was impressed as a boy of six at seeing the old Southern Rifles leave home and march forth to battle and of how he had loved the Confederate soldier and the cause for which he bled, ever since that time. When General Harrison arose to speak, the eyes of the old veterans who had followed him through many a hard fought battle and bloody scene were filled with tears, and it was a sight to impress upon the minds of the younger generation. The love, which the old soldiers still have for one another, a love, which could not have remained through these years in the hearts of men who were traitors, could live only in the hearts of patriots. General Harrison is a clear, forceful speaker and those who heard him on Tuesday will always recall with pleasure the fact that they heard the speech he delivered in Talbotton Tuesday. He paid a glowing tribute to the womanhood of the South and said that the Confederate army could never have fought so valiantly and bravely but for the help they received from the noble women who remained at home, worked night and day to supply those in the ranks with food and clothes. He said that he was thankful that he had been born in Dixie and that the South had a glorious heritage. That monuments ought to be erected at every county site in Georgia to commemorate the deeds of the Confederate soldier, and he praised the women here for the noble example they had set for others. He recalled numerous instances of the bravery of the confederate soldier and spoke of particular acts of bravery displayed on the field of battle by those who had gone from this and adjoining counties. He said that he was glad that histories had been written which placed the South in its true light and that these histories were being used in Southern schools and the children are being taught the truth in regard to the war of the sixties. He said that this was a united country, and it would remain so and that (word blurred) were back "in the homes of fathers" to stay and that heroes would remain. He called upon surviving Confederate soldiers to be true to themselves and said that in so doing they would be just (paper cut off) men. After the address, a line of (paper cut off) was formed to the monument. Col. Robert Howard read a history of the Alice Beall Mathews Chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy, interspersed with a few of the (paper cut off) characteristic and attractive re(paper cut off) after which the monument was unveiled by Miss Nannie Raines. When the veil fell, a tremendous shout was heard from the old veterans and all of those which had assembled. The veterans present were then invited to a delicious dinner which had been made for them and where they enjoyed an hour of recalling the scenes of conflict and lived over again the years of bloody sectional strife. Mr. Samuel Baldwin, who was Marshal of the Day, did much in carrying out the program to a successful conclusion. ======= Notes: Gen. George Harrison was in charge of numerous companies, including the Southern Rifles from Talbot County. Here is the excerpt from his letter to the U.D.C.: "Talbot County furnished one of the best Companies that served under me during the war and it would afford me peculiar pleasure to visit your county with the hopes of seeing what are left of them." Col. J.J. Bull was the six year old who watched the Southern Rifles leave Talbot County. Here is the excerpt fron the article: "Col. J.J. Bull then introduced Gen. George P. Harrison of Alabama, the orator of the occasion, ina few well-selected remarks. He spoke of how he was impressed as a boy of six at seeing the old Southern Rifles leave home and march forth to battle and of how he had loved the Confederate soldier and the cause for which he bled, ever since that time."