Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 17.djvu/196

 188 Southern Historical Society Papers,

General Lee died at 9 o'clock A. M. on the 12th of October, 1870. On that day there was a meeting in the town of Lexington, of citi- zens, and of those who had served under him in the field, who at once took steps to organize the

LEE MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION,

which prosecuted their labors and desires to a consummation at once noble and appropriate, in placing over the tomb of the hero, at Lexington, Valentine's majestic "Recumbent Figure,'* which is regarded by authority and held by general acclaim to be one of the grandest works of art in this country.

THE ladies' LEE MONUMENT ASSOCIATION.

A few days after the movement at Lexington, a few ladies, mem- bers of that noble and devoted body, the Hollywood Memorial Association, met in a private parlor in Richmond and organized the Ladies' Lee Monument Association. Their design was to erect a monument to the great chieftain in this city, and to collect funds for the purpose throughout the South.

The organization was constituted as follows :

President, Mrs. William H. Macfarland ; vice-presidents, Mrs. George W. Randolph, Mrs. James Lyons, Mrs. William Brown ; treasurer. Miss Elizabeth Byrd Nicholas; secretary. Miss Sarah Nicholas Randolph.

Despite the prevailing poverty of the people of the South, and the entire prostration of their resources resultant from the war, the success of the ladies was highly creditable in their speedy collection of fully $15,000 — a tribute of devotion met by personal sacrifice.

LEE MONUMENT ASSOCIATION.

The next move towards the monument was instituted by Lieu- tenant General Jubal A. Early, the senior surviving officer of the Army of Northern Virginia, in the following address, which appeared in the public prints October 25th, 1870:

" To the Surviving Officers and Soldiers

of the Army of Northern Virginia :

" Comrades— The sad tidings of the death of our great com- mander came at a time when, by the interruption of all the ordinary