Some of the friends of General Frank Gardner, having expressed the fear that General D. H. Hill's allusion to him in his address, which was published in our May number, might be construed as a censure of his gallant defence of Port Hudson, General Hill calls our attention to the fact that the language he used conveys no censure of either of the gallant officers named but simply states a historic fact.
In reference to General Gardner, General Hill says: "There is no one in the South who has a sincerer regard for General Gardner than myself, from what I knew of him in Mexico, where he made at Telegraph Hill the most glorious fight of the war."
We have deemed it but just to make this explanation, that a gallant, though, unfortunate soldier, may not rest under the shadow of even unintentional censure.
We take pleasure in inserting the following, as we esteem it a privilege to do anything in our power to promote the noble object contemplated:
Richmond, Va., July, 1876.
To stimulate collections for the Lee Monument Fund, the Board of Managers will send by mail, to any college, school, lodge, club, military or civic association, which shall contribute $10, a lithograph of General Lee on Traveler, 18x14 inches. A small weekly contribution will secure a handsome ornament for the school, lodge, club room or armory. These lithographs might be acceptably used as rewards of merit in lieu of medals, books, &c., to which end they will be supplied to teachers on satisfactory terms. A large sum is now in hand for the monument, and a generous response to this appeal will enable the managers to proceed at an early day to arrange for its construction. By order of the Board.
Board of Managers—The Governor of Virginia, the Treasurer of the Commonwealth, the Auditor of Public Accounts.
We may add that the original photograph from which this lithograph is made, was taken in Lexington by Miley, and is one of rare excellence. The shading of his hat somewhat obscures General Lee's features, but his form and manner of sitting his horse are perfect. The likeness of "Traveler" could scarcely be improved, and many veterans of the Army of Northern Virginia will give it a delighted recognition. We remember hearing General Lee say the day after the photograph was taken, "I do not care for a likeness of myself, but I am very much gratified to have so good a one of Traveler."
The lithograph makes a really beautiful picture, which we hope will adorn every large number of our Southern schools and homes.
