Washington Monument A History

Members of the Joint Commission
Descriptions on four faces of apex of the Monument
Order of Procession on the Dedication of the Washington National Monument, February 21, 1885

CHARTER MEMBERS OF THE WASHINGTON NATIONAL MONUMENT SOCIETY¹

1. A Brief of History, WNMS, pp. 3-39.

LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE JOINT COMMISSION, COMPLETION
OF THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT.

ACT OF AUGUST, 2, 1876.

[Commission dissolved October 2, 1888.]

Presidents.

Chiefs of Corps of Engineers, U. S. A.

Architect of the Capitol.

EDWARD CLARK.

Architects of the Treasury.

First Vice-President of Washington National Monument Society.

W. W. CORCORAN, Chairman.

Secretary.

FREDERICK L. HARVEY, JR.

Engineers in charge under Joint Commission.

Assistants.

Master Mechanic—P. H. MCLAUGHLIN.
Chief Clerk—JAMES B. DUTTON.
Draftsman—GUSTAV FRIEBUS.

INSCRIPTIONS ON THE FOUR FACES OF THE
ALUMINUM POINT CROWNING
APEX OF MONUMENT.

(NORTH FACE.)

JOINT COMMISSION
AT
SETTING OF CAPSTONE.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
W. W. CORCORAN, Chairman.
M. E. BELL.
EDWARD CLARK.
JOHN NEWTON.
Act of August 2, 1876.

(WEST FACE.)

CORNER STONE LAID ON BED OF FOUNDATION
JULY 4, 1848.

FIRST STONE AT HEIGHT OF 152 FEET LAID
AUGUST 7, 1880.

CAPSTONE SET DECEMBER 6, 1884.

(SOUTH FACE.)

CHIEF ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT,
THOS. LINCOLN CASEY,
     COLONEL, CORPS OF ENGINEERS.

Assistants:
GEORGE W. DAVIS,
     CAPTAIN, 14TH INFANTRY.
BERNARD R. GREEN,
     CIVIL ENGINEER.

Master Mechanic.
P. H. MCLAUGHLIN.

(EAST FACE.)

LAUS DEO.

PROCEEDINGS ON THE OCCASION OF LAYING THE
CORNER STONE OF THE WASHINGTON
NATIONAL MONUMENT, JULY 4, 1848.

ORDER OF PARADE.

The President of the United States, the Secretary of State, and the
President's private secretary, in a carriage, attended by
the marshal and deputy marshal of the District of
Columbia and several assistant marshals, with
batons, rosettes, and sashes.
The members of the Cabinet, in carriages.
The marshal of the day (Joseph H. Bradley, esq.), on horseback,
attended by his aids on horseback, with batons and sashes.
Major-General Quitman, commander in chief, and staff.
Military escort, consisting of the following cavalry,
commanded by Colonel May:
Laurel Troop, Captain Capron.
Marlborough Cavalry, Captain Tuck.
Mounted Carbiniers, a Baltimore troop, Captain Murdock.
Ringgold Cavalry, from Alexandria.
Eagle Artillerists, of Baltimore, Captain Kane.
Capitol Hill Artillerists, Captain Robinson, a juvenile corps.
Infantry, under the command of General Cadwalader.
United States Marines, with their powerful band, under Major Walker.
Independent Blues, of Baltimore, with their excellent band.
Captain Shutt.
Baltimore City Guards, Lieutenant McDonald.
Independent Greys, of Baltimore, with their excellent band, Captain Hall.
Fredericksburg Guards (Virginia), Captain Jackson.
Washington Light Infantry, Captain Tate.
National Blues, of Washington, Captain Bacon.
Maryland Cadets, Captain Harris.
Baltimore Sharpshooters, with their excellent band, Captain Lilly.
Boston Light Guard, Captain Clarke.
Independent Greys, of Georgetown, Captain Wright.
Mount Vernon Guards, of Alexandria (Virginia), Lieutenant Price.
Columbia Riflemen, of Baltimore, with their excellent band,
Captain McAllister.

The fire companies in the following order:

Vigilant Fire Company, of Baltimore, hauling their splendid suction, numbering 58 men, each wearing a uniform cap with the letter V in front.

Washington Company, of Baltimore, with their handsome suction, numbering 35 men, uniformed like the Vigilant, and having the letter W in front of their caps.

Howard Company, of Baltimore, numbering 40 men, hauling their handsome new suction, uniformed like the preceding companies, with the letter H on their caps.

The Anacostia, Columbia, Franklin, and Perseverance Fire Companies, of Washington, and a delegation from the Northern Liberties, in full uniform. These four companies numbered each about 50 men. Their engines were in splendid order and handsomely decorated with flowers, flags, etc. The firemen wore red jackets and white pantaloons, and made a handsome appearance.

The fire department was in charge of Mr. G. S. Gideon, as chief marshal, assisted by Mr. Jonas B. Ellis, of the Anacostia; Mr. John C. Whitwell, of the Columbia; Mr. Lepreux, of the Franklin, and Mr. John D. Thompson, of the Perseverance.

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
comprehending the officers and members of various lodges in charge of
Mr. William F. Bayly and Mr. J. T. Towers.
Senators and Members of Congress.
The Order of Red Men, under Mr. C. W. Boteler, jr., as marshal,
Delegations from the States.
Temperance societies, under Mr. A. F. Cunningham, as marshal, consisting of:
The Freemen's Vigilant Total Abstinence Society.
The Sons of Temperance.
Junior Brothers of Temperance.
Knights of Temperance.
Delegations of temperance societies from different States.
A car, bearing a large cask of cold water, inscribed "Fountain of Health."
The Corporation of Washington.
The Washington Benevolent Society, with their handsome banner.
The German Benevolent Society, with numerous banners.
Literary Associations.
The Young Men's Baltimore Delegation, with a handsome silk banner,
representing Justice on one side, and inscribed on the other,
"Young Men's Baltimore Delegation. "
Citizens not delegates of States.
Carriage containing the venerable Mrs. Hamilton, her daughter, Mrs.
Holly, G. W. P. Custis, esq., and Gen. Walter Jones.
Carriage containing the Speaker of the House of Representatives, orator
of the day, Mayor of Washington, and the chairman of
the Committee of Arrangements.
Carriage containing the architect of the Monument, having in charge the
books and other articles to be deposited in the corner stone.

INSCRIPTION ON COPPER PLATE COVERING DEPOSIT-RECESS
IN THE CORNER STONE OF MONUMENT.

4TH JULY 1776.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

4TH JULY, 1848.

THIS CORNER STONE LAID OF A MONUMENT,
BY THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, TO THE
MEMORY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON.

JAMES K. POLK,

President of the United States and ex-officio President of the Board of Managers.

WILLIAM BRENT, 1st Vice-President.
WILLIAM W. SEATON, Mayor of Washington, 2d Vice-President.
GEN'L. A. HENDERSON, 3d Vice-President.
J. B. H. SMITH, Treasurer.
GEORGE WATTERSTON, Secretary.

BOARD OF MANAGERS.

BUILDING COMMITTEE.

COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS.

ARTICLES DEPOSITED IN RECESS IN THE CORNER STONE OF THE MONUMENT ON JULY 4, 1848.

NEWSPAPERS DEPOSITED IN CORNER STONE:

NOTE.—The papers above all contained articles relative to General Washington or the erection of the proposed National Monument to his. memory.