Louisville Confederate Monument ['Confederate Veteran' Magazine, Oct. 1895]

[The following is an article from the October 1895 edition of the Confederate Veteran Magazine about the unveiling of the then brand-new Confederate monument in Louisville, KY. It is reprinted here for historical purposes, and to show how there once was a time when America honored all of her military veterans - J.M.]

LOUISVILLE CONFEDERATE MONUMENT

Louisville has honored Kentucky and the South by the handsome Confederate monument erected there late in July. The ceremonies were witnessed by many thousands.

In the introductory prayer, Rev. J. S. Lyon said:

"God bless these noble women; in all the fierce struggle their patriotism was the purest, their patience in suffering was the sublimest; and in the hour of defeat their cup of sorrow was the bitterest. Accept this labor of their love as an effective instrument in thy providence of perpetuating the memory of the brave, and accomplishing that wide and profound peace which will make our united nation that happy and blessed people whose God is the Lord, in the name and for the sake of our adorable Redeemer. Amen."

In his introductory address, Chairman Jacob said:

"Ah! the trials and tribulations of the noble women, who, like Rachel, mourned and would not be comforted, because her children were not; when every letter was written with a tear, and every word was the noise of a broken heart."

Chairman Jacob spoke feelingly of the deep affliction which had come upon Mrs. Susan Preston Hepburn, President of the Kentucky Women's Monumental Association, in the loss of her niece, Mrs. Kinney, daughter of Col. William Preston Johnston, and granddaughter of Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston. He said that at the request of Mrs. Hepburn, and by the unanimous request of the ladies of the Executive Committee, the honor of unveiling the monument was conferred upon Mrs. W. N. Haldeman, which she gracefully performed, and the instant the massive bronze figure surmounting the shaft stood out against the sky, cheering and clapping of hands began and continued for some time. Scarcely had this ceased when the band struck up with "Way Down South in Dixie," while the throng of people met the sentiment with ringing cheers.

Gen. Basil Duke was the orator of the occasion, and spoke at length. He dwelt upon the heroic devotion to principle of Confederate soldiers, and on this line he said:

"Was it for gold or rank that they gave their breasts to the battle? Were they lured by the thirst for fame? Did they leave home and family, the rooftree beneath which all that was dearest to them on earth was gathered; the father who had hoped that the boy he had reared would be the staff of his declining age, and the mother whose tender love the tenderest care could never requite; perhaps wife and little ones, dearer than life itself; was all this wealth of happiness relinquished for the bubble, reputation, or any wish of gain? We know that such thoughts had no part in determining the choice they made. 

"With youthful ardor and fiery zeal they rushed to arms, believing their cause invincible because they believed it just. When terrible disaster, which their victories could neither arrest or disguise, had dispelled all hope of ultimate success, they yet remained as firm in their fealty as in their convictions, and fought on with resolution unabated and devotion unimpaired. No change in the conditions or in the aspect of the struggle affected in anywise their heroic steadfastness of purpose. 

"We may not claim for them the wreath of the victor; even when we speak their eulogies we may sound no strain of triumph. But while our eyes are dimmed with sorrow when we think of them fallen, our hearts beat with pride when we remember how and for what they died."

Faces changed quickly to expressions of sadness as the Confederate Choir sang sweetly and touchingly "Tell the Boys I'm Coming Soon."

In the closing prayer Rev. J. M. Weaver said:

"May the memories of the brave and suffering ones of the past ever influence us to deeds of charity and kindness in our intercourse with our fellow-countrymen. Bless our rulers and grant them wisdom to so conduct the affairs of state that Thy great name may be glorified and the people benefited."

The multitude sang "My Country 'Tis of Thee." There was no Confederate flag to be seen in all the decorations, but at the conclusion of the ceremonies the Rev. G. B. Overton and Capt. John H. Weller, held up from the front of the stand for display a large silk Confederate flag, which had been torn and bullet-pierced while upheld by gallant Kentucky soldiers.

The Association worked very hard to raise the funds for the monument. The whole amount raised is about $10,200, and represents the toil and devotion of the women.

The Courier-Journal states:

"In the decade that has passed many entertainments and public affairs have taken place under the auspices of the Association, that have made the social bond of interest among members very binding. The public has had the pleasure of many evenings of entertainment, and cannot fail to look back over the numerous entertainments with regret that such associations have now ended. The first money for the fund was obtained by a lawn fete at the country home in Jefferson County of Mrs. Flora Williams. The second entertainment was a picnic at Fisherville. The third was a children's entertainment given at the private school of Miss Henrietta Johnston, on Breckinridge Street near Fourth. An oyster supper was given at the home of Mrs. Albert Smith. The following four entertainments were the greatest financial successes, and from which the first large sums were realized. They were a bazar, given at the residence of Mrs. W. N. Haldeman; the Kindersymphony, Ben Hur, and the World's Fair, the latter having been given at Music Hall in May, 1894. The following are the present officers of the Association:

President — Mrs. Hepburn, Vice-President — Mrs. H. W. Bruce, Treasurer — Mrs. Basil W. Duke, Secretary — Mrs. Andrew Sea.

The Executive Committee — Chairman, Mrs. W. N. Haldeman, with Mrs. John Herndon, alternate; Mesdames Walker, Benedict, Z. L. Wallis, Charles Semple, David Yandell, A. Carrington.

Auxiliary Committee — Mrs. Reginald Thompson, Chairman.