Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 17.djvu/305

 The Monument to General Robert E, Lee, 297

English text, " They only the victory win who have held to their faith unseduced by the prize that the world holds on high — who have dared for a high cause to suffer, resist, fight, and if need be to die.' *

WORE lee's hat.

Major Robert Stiles marched with the Howitzer Veteran Associa- tion, having been a member of the First Howitzer company at the opening of the war, arrayed in his own veritable gray jacket and General Robert E. Lee's hat. with a star from that General's coat- collar sewed on the front of the hat.

The star was given by the General himself to Miss Josie Stiles, the sister, and the hat sent to Rev. Dr. Stiles, the father of Major Stiles. The latter gift in its circumstances illustrates the sweet and playful grace of General Lee's daily intercourse with his friends. Just after the war Dr. Stiles passed by General Lee's house having on rather a shabby hat. New hats did not grow on trees in those days. The General called to the Doctor from his porch, but he did not hear and drove on.

Miss Josie Stiles being at the time in the house. General Lee went up-stairs and brought down to her this hat, saying : " Miss Josie, tell your father he is too good a rebel to wear such a bad hat as I saw on his head to-day, and I am too good a rebel to keep two hats as good as both mine are. Please give him this with my compliments." The hat is a broad- brimmed gray felt.

STONEWALL JACKSON'S STATUE DECORATED — AN INCIDENT.

Foley's statue of Jackson was neatly draped with bunting, &c., Tuesday night ; but on Wednesday night it appeared beautifully arranged all around with fresh cut flowers, evergreens, &c. This last decoration, it was ascertained, had been done by Lieutenant R. H. Fisher's family. At one time he bore the colors of the Fifth Vir- ginia infantry, one of the gallant regiments composing the brigade so well known in the Army of Northern Virginia.

The Stonewall Band, of Staunton, visited the monument before the parade and rendered a number of their sweetest selections, attracting a vast audience in the square.

Georgia's governor.

General John B. Gordon on horseback, and accompanied by his brilliant staff in full Confederate uniform, and escorted by the Gover-