Confederate Monument In Leesburg
The very fine Confederate monument in front of the Courthouse in Leesburg is the work of an excellent and well known sculptor, F. William Siever of Richmond. The statute occupies a warm place in the hearts of the people of Loudoun. With the Courthouse, the clerk’s office and the lawn, it forms a unit that stands as a symbol of the government which has been carried on in the county since it was established in 1757.
The statue attracts much attention from tourists. It has become almost a daily occurrence to see a visitor photographing the Confederate Soldier.
I had the good fortune to be given two folders that give fascinating details of the activities of the Confederate Veterans and the Daughters of the Confederacy in years past. One was the program of the ceremony held at the unveiling of the monument on Thursday, May 28, 1908, and the committees responsible for its erection. The money to pay for the statue had been raised by the Daughters of the Confederacy. These were the members of the monument committee:
DAUGHTERS OF THE CONFEDERACY
Mrs. John George Mrs. Agnes Summers Mrs. William N. Wise Mrs. E. G. Caufman Mrs. Sallie Fendall
CONFEDERATE VETERANS
John H. Alexander Lewis W. Shumate Geo. F. Everhart W. A. McFarland Peter F. Schroff
SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS
Paul Garrett John T. Hourihand J. H. Leslie Claude Van Sickler Clifton Myers
COMMITTEE ON CONTRACT
L. M. Shumate J. T. Hourihane E. B. White John L. Norris
Sculptor—William Siever, Sr.
PROGRAMME
All Committees and Escorts to Meet at Court House
at 9:45 A. M.
10:30 A. M.
Assemble in Court House.
Prayer by Rev. F. P. Berkeley.
Singing, “Maryland, My Maryland.”
Presentation of Crosses of Honor.
MARCH TO CEMETERY
in the following order:
MUSIC
Sons of Confederate Veterans,
Daughters of the Confederacy,
Children of the Confederacy,
Confederate Veterans,
Citizens on foot,
Citizens in Carriages.
At Cemetery, Invocation by Rev. W. H. Burkhardt.
Singing of Assembly, “Nearer, My God, to Thee.”
Placing of Flowers on Graves.
Return to Court House.
12 M.
The President of the Loudoun Chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy will entertain the Veterans and Sons of Veterans at luncheon on the Court House Green.
1 P. M.
Introduction of Speakers by Judge C. E. Nicols, Hon. Claude A. Swanson, Governor of Virginia, on behalf of Sons of Veterans.
Col. Edmund Berkeley
on behalf of Confederate Veterans.
MUSIC
Unveiling Speech by
Hon. John W. Daniel, U. S. Senator from Virginia.
Poem, Mr. Harry T. Harrison.
Unveiling of Statue by
Master Elijah V. White
Assisted by
Miss Mary H. Keeler, Middleburg Chapter D. of C.
Miss Hannah B. McIntosh, Loudoun Chapter D. of C.
Master Thos. F. Carruthers for Blue Ridge Chapter D. of C.
MUSIC
There will be a committee of ladies at the rooms of the Loudoun Chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy, over The Peoples National Bank, to entertain lady visitors.
Music by courtesy of the Bluemont Band.
It might be of interest to identify those who took part in the program. Rev. F. P. Berkeley, who invoked the opening prayer, was minister of the Leesburg Baptist Church. Rev. Burkhardt who offered the Invocation at the cemetery, was the Rector of St. James Episcopal Church, Leesburg. Col. Edmund Berkeley, who made the speech on behalf of the Confederate Veterans, had served in the famous 8th Virginia Regiment. His three brothers, Norbourne, William and Charles Fenton were also members of this same outfit. At one time Norbourne was the commanding officer of the 8th Virginia, to which numerous Loudoun men belonged. After Gen. Eppa Hunton was elevated to command, they all served as officers in this regiment for the duration of the war. It will be recalled that the 8th Virginia fought at the Battle of Ball’s Bluff under the command of Gen. Hunton.
The four Berkeleys were all born in a house in Aldie now called Pembroke. At the time of the Berkeleys residence there, they call it Aldie. At present, the house is unoccupied but is owned by William F. Bullis, headmaster of the Bullis School. In later years, several of the Berkeleys developed their own estates in the vicinity of Aldie. They were great-uncles of William J. Cox, Leesburg.
There are still those who recall that the unveiling took place on a very hot day. In spite of this, Senator Daniel spoke for over two hours. Mr. Harrison, who gave the poem, was the late husband of Mrs. Harry Harrison and father of Mrs. Alfred diZerega. Master Elijah V. White is the grandson of Col. E. V. White of Laurel Brigade fame and one of the best known Loudoun soldiers. Mr. and Mrs. White now live on Cornwall Street, Leesburg.
Miss Mary Keller is Mrs. Edwin Reamer of Middleburg. Miss Hannah B. McIntosh is Mrs. James diZerega of Leesburg. Master Thomas F. Carruthers, a Purcellville native, now lives in Charleston, W. Va.
An article about the sculptor, F. William Siever, by Ulrich Troubetzkoy appeared in Virginia Cavalcade, autumn 1962. The author stated that Mr. Siever was 90 years old and still a resident of Richmond, where he has lived since 1910. He had promised himself that he would settle in the place where he received his first major commission. Richmond was selected as a result of his being asked to do the Virginia Memorial at Gettysburg.
When the Virginia State Commission called for designs for this memorial, 36 sculptors submitted models. The fact that Mr. Siever was selected from that many competitors is an excellent indication of his skill as a sculptor. After being chosen, he put much time and effort in getting all the details correct. The Commission prepared a list of men who had fought in the battle and the sculptor sent them questionnaires regarding the facts he needed to know. When the Gettysburg Centennial was celebrated in July, 1963, Mr. Siever was present at the Virginia Monument to greet the visitors.
He has been a prolific producer. Two of his best known statues are of Stonewall Jackson and Matthew Fontaine Maury on Monument Avenue, Richmond.
The second folder given me is:
SOUVENIR
CELEBRATION
Of the Birthday of
GEN. ROBERT E. LEE
by
Clinton Hatcher Camp C.V.
Sons of Veterans and
Daughters of the Confederacy
Leesburg Opera House
January Nineteenth
1904
The “Leesburg Opera House” was what those of us who remember it, called the “Old Town Hall” that stood on King Street where White’s store is now located.
This statement is found inside the folder:
To the surviving members of the Lost Cause who have assembled today to pay tribute to the memory of the dead Chieftan, Robt. E. Lee, with the compliments of Loudoun National Bank
Menu
Lynn Haven Bays
Stewed Oysters
Celery
Chow Chow
Cold Slaw
Mixed Pickles
Cucumber Pickles
Fried Oysters
Roast Turkey, Fitz Dressing
Baked Pig, a la Beaureguard
Old Virginia Ham
Roast Saddle of Mutton, a la Col. White
Baked Chicken, Virginia Style
Roast Duck, Longstreet Dressing
Stonewall Beaten Biscuits
Confederate Ice Cream
Cake
Coffee
Apollinaris
I realize that in those days, when they ate, they ate. However, I find it perfectly astonishing that they fed Confederate Veterans a meal composed of 3 kinds of oysters, 2 fowls and 3 meats to a group of men who were hungry day after day during the war. Could this possibly be some form of compensation?