the Southern Monuments at Gettysburg

A photo tour of the Southern state memorials at Gettysburg (all of these monuments are located on Seminary Ridge and West and South Confederate Avenues)

North Carolina

Dedicated July 3, 1929, the North Carolina Monument was sculpted by Gutzon Borglum of Mount Rushmore fame. It is located approximately where Pettigrew’s brigade emerged in the Pickett-Pettigrew-Trimble Charge. The figures represent a wounded officer pointing out the enemy to the front, while to his rear a veteran whispers encouragement to a younger comrade. It also features a colorbearer who was modeled after Orren Randolph Smith. Smith designed the Confederate national flag known as the Stars and Bars. The monument stands nearly 16 feet high.

Tennessee

Tennesse’s monument has three soldiers — representing the three Tennessee regiments. The last of the Confederate state monuments, it was dedicated July 2, 1982. It is the only state memorial built exclusively from private funding. The three stars at the top represent the divisions of the state while the base is carved in the outline of the state. The base is sixteen feet long because Tennessee was the 16th state.

Virginia

The first monument on the field for the South (as well as the largest and most expensive monument), the Virginia state monument was dedicated June 8, 1917. It features an equestrian staute of Robert E. Lee reputed to be one of the finest equestrians in the world and one of the best likenesses of Confederate commander Lee.

The seven figures at the base represent the diverse elements that made up Lee’s army — a professional, a mechanic, an artist, a businessman, and a farmer. The scultuor of the entire monument was Frederick Sievers.

Florida

Florida’s state memorial was dedicated July 3, 1963 — the 100th anniversery of the battle. Consisting of select southern granite, it is a stark, simple monument.

The three stars above the inscription represent the three small Florida regiments that fought at Gettysburg and from this location participated in the Pickett - Pettigrew - Trimble Charge. The larger plinith contains the state seal.

(The flag at the base is the First National, “Stars and Bars”)

Louisana

The beautiful Louisana memorial was dedicated on June 11, 1971 and features a nine foot mortally wounded artilleryman from the Washington Artillery in New Orleans. He is covered with a Confederate flag. The ten foot tall soaring feature is represenative of the “Spirit of the Confederacy.” Because of the flame in her hand, it is also said that this figure may also be Saint Barbara, the patron saint of the artillery service.

Mississippi

Executed by Donald DeLue (who also did the next-door Louisana Monument), Mississippi’s monument stands where William Barksdale’s brigade launched its attack on the Peach Orchard.

Dedicated on October 19, 1973, it represents two of Barksdale’s men. One soldier has fallen mortally wounded while the other swings his musket like a club to defend the fallen flag and his comrade — a scene that must have taken place often on the field.

Georgia

Georgia erected identical, simple monuments at Gettysburg and Sharpsburg. Featuring the state seal the only inscription reads “We sleep here in Obedience to Law. When Duty Called, We Came. When Country Called, We Died.” The front and back of the monument are identical (this is the reverse side).

This monument was dedicated September 21, 1961 and is made of Georgia blue granite. It stands where Semmes’ brigade launched its assault on the Wheatfield.

South Carolina

This is the reverse side (facing west). Dedicated on the 100th anniversery of the July 2d battle, this memorial contains carved palmetto trees and the front details the names of each South Carolina unit to fight at Gettysburg. It stands where Kershaw’s Brigade attacked the Rose Farm and the Wheatfield. The front of the monument also contains a line from Henry Timrod’s “Ode at Magnolia Cemetery” appropriate to all Confederate soldiers at Gettysburg: “There is no holier spot of ground than where defeated valor lies, by mourning beauty crowned.”

Arkansas

Dedicated June 18, 1966 and containing an outline of the state, Arkansas’s monument represents its single regiment in the Army of Northern Virginia — the 3d which served in the “Texas Brigade.” At the corners of the monument are aluminum blocks, representing Arkansas’s role as a leading aluminum production state.

Texas

There are eleven identical monuments at battlefields on which Texans fought — this one was dedicated in September 1964. It is made of red granite from Texas and it details the courage and sacrifice of the “Texas Brigade” (Robertson) which from this location launched an assault on Devil’s Den and Little Round Top.

Identical monuments were chosen to ensure that the sacrifice of Texas’s soldiers on each battlefield was equally honored.

Alabama

Dedicated November 12, 1933, the Alabama monument was designed to represent the spirit of Alabama. The two soldiers represent “Spirit” and “Determination” — virtues of the Alabama soldiers. An ammunition pouch is passed to indicate the continuance of the struggle between the wounded soldier and his comrade. Little Round Top is viewable from this monument which stands where Law’s brigade launched its assault.

Tags: Army of Northern Virginia, Confederate Avenue, Confederate State, Gettysburg, Monument Project