1902- Unveiling of Shipp Monument

The following articles detail the unveiling of a monument dedicated to Lieutenant Shipp for the 1900 May 20th celebrations in Charlotte, North Carolina.

 

Charlotte Daily Observer 5/18/1902 p.5 and The People’s Paper 5/21/1902 p.2

 

THE UNVEILING CEREMONIES.5/18/1902 p.5  

A LINE OF MARCH IS ARRANGED.  

An Imposing Display of Military and Cadets—Mr. Earle Sloan to Introduce Col. J. P. Thomas—A Distinguished Party in Carriages.  

The order of exercises at the unveiling of the Shipp monument, Tuesday, was determined yesterday.  

After the arrival of the line of march at the monument the band will play a dirge, which will be followed by a prayer offered by Rev. E. A. Osborne.  The orator of the day, Col. J. P. Thomas, of Columbia, S. C., will then be introduced by Mr. Earle Sloan, of Charleston, S. C.  After Col. Thomas’ address the monument will be unveiled by Masters W. E. and Fabius B. Shipp.  During the unveiling the military, formed in a hollow square around the monument, will present arms while the band plays “America.”  

The line of march will be composed as follows:  First will come the mounted police, marshals, band and the military, commanded by Maj. T. R. Robertson.  In the military will be the Fayetteville Light Infantry, the Blue Ridge Rifles, of Asheville; the Overman Guards, of Salisbury, and Statesville, Concord and Charlotte companies.  

The C. M. I. Cadets, Spanish-American Veterans, and other organizations will follow and then will come the carriages.  

In the first carriage will be Mrs. Margaret Busbee Shipp, Master Wm. E. Shipp, Jr., Master Fabius B. Shipp, Mr. Fabius H. Busbee, and Capt. W. F. Forsythe, U. S. A.  

Carriage No. 2 will contain Col. J. P. Thomas, Rev. E. A. Osborne, Mr. Earl Sloan and Judge Armstead Burwell; carriage No. 3, Mrs. Judge Shipp, Miss Kate Shipp, Miss Mary Shipp and Mr. Bartlette Shipp; carriage No. 4, Miss Eliza Busbee, Judge W. P. Bynum, Mr. Richard Busbee and Mr. George Brockenbrough; carriage No. 5, Mayor P. M. Brown, Col. J. F. Armfield, Col. J. T. Anthony, and Mr. B. F. Withers; carriage No. 6, Mr. George Stephens, Mr. W. J. Chambers and invited guests; carriage No. 7, Mrs. Stonewall Jackson, Mrs. Adelaide Worth Bagley, Mrs. B. D. Chadwick, and Mrs. J. Hirshinger, and carriage No. 8 Mrs. A. Burwell, Mrs. Walter Brem, Mrs. A. L. Smith, and Miss Lottie Caldwell.  

The procession will start promptly at 10 o’clock from the county court house, will proceed up Tryon street to Independence Square, and from there to the postoffice, where the monument will be unveiled.  The military will assemble under orders at the time and place designated by Major Robertson, commanding.  C. M. I. Cadets and other bodies will assemble at the court house at 9:45.  All the honorary guests in carriages will assemble at the Southern Manufacturers’ Club at 9:45.  

REGRETS.  

The President, the Lieutenant General of The Army and Congressmen Cannot Come.  

Senators Pritchard and Simmons have for several weeks had engagements to speak before the North Carolina Society of New York on the evening of the 20th,and Senator Pritchard may not be able to fill his engagement there.  Neither can be here next Tuesday.  Senator McLaurin, of South Carolina, has written his regrets that he cannot accept the invitation, and Senator Tillman has not been heard from.  Senator Simmons writes, in part:  

United States Senate, Washington, May 8th, 1902.  

I regret very much, on account of my acceptance of invitation to attend banquet of North Carolina Society in New York, I will be unable to be with you on the 20th of May.  I assure you it would be a very great pleasure to be with you on that occasion, and that nothing but this previous engagement would keep me from accepting the cordial invitation which you extend to me.  

Very truly yours, F.M. SIMMONS.  

Secretary Cortelyou writes in behalf of the President:  

White House, Washington, May 8, 1902.  

The President requests me to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 6th instant, and to express his sincere regret that the pressure of his official duties and engagements will preclude him from accepting the cordial invitation extended to him for May 20th..   

With assurances that your thoughtfulness and courtesy are appreciated, believe me.  

Very truly yours, GEO. B. CORTELYOU, Secretary to the President.  

This from the commanding general of the army:  

Headquarters of the Army, Washington, D. C., May 8, 1902.  

Lieutenant General Miles very much regrets that, owing to another engagement, it is impossible for him to accept the invitation to be present at the exercises attendant upon the unveiling of the monument in memory of the late Lieutenant William Ewen Shipp, Tenth Cavalry, U. S. A. at Charlotte, N. C., May 20, 1902.  

Lieutenant Colonel Pratt, of the Tenth Cavalry, writes from the Indian Industrial School, Carlisle, Pa., under date of the 12th:  

I regret exceedingly that it will be impossible for me to be present at the unveiling of the monument in memory of Lieutenant Wm. E. Shipp, Tenth Cavalry, U. S. A., at Charlotte, on Tuesday, May 20th.  An engagement taking me to a different part of the country interferes.  

I never personally knew Lieutenant Shipp, as, although belonging to the Tenth Cavalry, I have not served with it since the summer of ’74; but I do know, very well from the officers of the regiment and the War Department of his high standing as a soldier, and therefore greatly appreciate that his character and services are thus publicly recognized.  

Very sincerely yours, R. H. SPRATT, Lt. Col.  

Monument Complete and Shrouded.  

Mr. I. W. Durham, the contractor, has the monument completed and set, and all who have seen it agree that he has done his work well.  It stands thirty feet above the ground, weights fifteen tons, and is finely proportioned.  In the placing of the different parts—based, die, plinth and shaft—Mr. Durham had the valuable help of Mr. J. P. Carr.  To-morrow the speakers’ stand will be erected and the ground cleared.

 

 

 

SHIP[P] MONUMENT UNVEILED.  5/21/1902 p.2

Impressive Ceremonies-A Large Crowd Present. Charlotte, Special.

-The unveiling of the monument to Lieutenant W. E. Shipp was made notable the 20th of May, 1902.The exercises were impressive, yet simple. At the last Masters W. E. Shipp and Fabius B. Shipp, the sons of the dead soldier, came to the centre of the hollow square that had been formed by the military. There was silence for a moment. Two long cords were pulled taut, and the white covering fell gently to the ground. Soldiers presented arms; the band played "America," the vast audience cheered.There stood revealed a straight, cool shaft of granite, and there was written thereon:"Amongst a Grove the Very Straightest Plant."William Ewen Shipp.Tenth CavalryU. S. Army.Born August 23, 1861.Killed at San JuanBattle of Santiago,July 1, 1898. SHIPP."---------------------------------------------------------The weather, though warm, was kindly and brought the local world and its guests out of doors. Charlotte appeared in holiday manner; county people were present in strong force; and thousands of visitors were to be seen on the streets. Long before the exercises began the thoroughfares were crowded for several blocks in every direction from the square with a good natured multitude that patiently waited for the line of march to appear. Seldom has the city contained a larger gala day throng; though the place was devoid of decoration or other insignia of celebration. The odd tone of the surging assembly was quietude; this being, in some way, appropriate to the character of the memorial on which all attention was fastened.First to meet at the county court house were the cadets of the Carolina Military Institute. At 10 o’clock the military, preceded by the Mt. Holly band, swung into line and marched down to the place of assembly; and were followed shortly by the guests of honor. Under the direction of Major T. R. Robertson, who commanded the military, and Col. A. L. Smith, the chief marshal, the line of march was formed and proceeded, up South Tryon street and across the square, direct to the post office. 

THE LINE OF MARCH. The band led the parade and was followed by the military, consisting of the Blue Ridge Rifles, from Asheville; company M, from King’s Mountain; the Overman Guards, from Salisbury’ the Fayetteville Light Infantry, and the Hornets’ Nest Riflemen and the Artillery company, of Charlotte.Following were the guests of honor, in carriages. These were: Mrs. W. E. Shipp, Masters W. E. Shipp and Fabius B. Shipp, Mrs. Anna McBee, Miss Kate Shipp, Mrs. Judge Shipp, Miss Mary Shipp, F. H. Busbee, Esq., Capt. W. F. Forsythe, U. S. A.; Miss Eliza Bushee, Mr. Richard S. Busbee, Col. J. P. Thomas, Rev. E. A. Osborne, Mrs. Adelaide Worth Bagley, Mr. Earl Sloan, General Julian S. Carr, Judge Armistead Burwell, Mrs. Stonewall Jackson, Miss Julia Jackson Christian, Mrs. Armistead Burwell, Capt. W. H. Day, J. C> Buxton, Esq., Mayor P. M. Brown; Col. J. F. Armfield, Major W. A. Guthrie, Clement Manly, Esq., Mr. C. S. Wooten, of La Grange; Mrs. Walter Brem, Mrs. J. Hirshinger, Mrs. A. L. smith, Miss Lottie Caldwell, Mr. B. F. Withers, Mr. W. J. Chambers and Mr. George Stephens. The crowd between the square and the post office was so great that the procession moved slowly and was forced to pause twice. Around the monument, which is located on the green sward in front of the post office building, an immense concourse had gathered, while vast numbers of spectators blocked the road for a long distance, filled the premises of nearby houses and stood close together in the balconies of the post office and in the large area on the first floor of the building. The crowd, all told, must have numbered four or five thousand people, and ceased to be a crowd only at the point where good view or hearing was not obtainable.The sea of faces was representative of the best in this county, and comprised prominent folk from all parts of South Carolina. Their presence, along, was seemly tribute to the occasion. There was mute idea that the white-clothed granite told valor that stood for pride universal.Col. E. A. Osborne made the opening prayer. The address was delivered by Col. J. P. Thomas, of Columbia, S. C., and was attentively listed to. The exercises were impressive and well received by a large audience.