Monument to the state of Louisiana at Gettysburg.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? June 11, 1971.
What is it made out of? Sculpture: bronze; Base: polished green granite.
What size is it? Overall: approx. H. 22 ft.; Female figure: approx. H. 10 ft. 6 in.; Recumbant male figure: approx. L. 9 ft.; Base: approx. 3 ft. x 9 ft. 10 in. x 9 ft. 10 in.
Who made it? De Lue, Donald, 1897-1988, sculptor. Unknown (Italy), founder.
What does it depict? A female figure representing Peace and Memory, floats above a recumbent male artilleryman, with the Confederate battle flag clutched to his heart. She blows a trumpet over his dead body, and her proper right arm is outstretched above her head. The soldier portrayed is from the Washington Artillery of New Orleans. The monuments female figure is over 10 feet in height, while the fallen soldier below her is 9 feet long. The monument has a total height of about 22 feet. Some theorize that the female figure is intended to represent St. Barbara, the patron saint of artillerymen.
How is it inscribed? 1971 LOUISIANA/July 1-2-3/1863 LOUISIANA STATE MEMORIAL. This memorial was erected by the State of Louisiana to honor her sons who fought and died at Gettysburg July 1-2-3 1863. In particular it memorializes the 2300 infantrymen of Hays and Nicholl’s Louisiana Brigades. The cannoneers in the Washington Artillery of New Orleans and those in the Louisiana Guard Madison and Donaldsonville Artillery Batteries. Dedication plaque on back given by State of Louisiana under administration of John McKeithen signed.
When was this photograph taken? December 10, 2006.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325 West Confederate Avenue, near Warfield Ridge and Pitzer Woods.
Is this monument located along the NPS Auto Tour route? Yes.
Has this monument been moved or changed? This monument has not been moved or materially altered.
Monument Details, Alternative Views, and Contextual Views
Other Confederate State Monuments at Gettysburg
Alabama – Arkansas – Florida – Georgia – Louisiana – Mississippi – North Carolina – South Carolina – Tennessee – Texas – Virginia
5 Comments
DeLue’s depiction of his subject’s feet causes me concern. Sort of a “Planet of the Apes” meets “Killer Angles” kind of thing going on there if you ask me.
I’m guessing it has some sort of artistic symbolism ……. I gave up understanding art when they put up the Free Stamp here in Cleveland. :)
I saw this monument last spring. It seemed so…gay to me. Maybe because the angel is so jacked, I wasn’t completely sure it was a woman.
Actually, if you roam the battlefield enough, you can find an American Indian, plus a soldier and fireman holding hands. We’re almost to the Village People! In bronze.
Matt,
I’m sure you won’t be back here; it’s been over a year since your post. Your ignorance of these monuments and their meaning is well…. monumental. The 73rd New York Fireman’s monument symbolizes the fact that this regiment was raised almost entirely from NY firefighters, These men were kept on the roles of the fire department throughout the war. The soldier and the fireman holding hands are in fact the same man – look at the face and the features. It is symbolic of the firefighter/soldier serving his city/country and performing his duty.
The American Indian is Chief Tamminand, the symbol of Tammany Hall in HY City. The 42 NY volunteers were sponsored by Tammany Hall, and the symbol of Tammany Hall was used on their monument.
As for any of these monuments or men looking ‘gay’ you should understand the ethics of the time. Men held hands in photographs, and were not somehow homophobic by your current standards. They showed their love and honor to their fellow soldiers in a way that isn’t done today, but we don’t judge them by the standards of today. They can’t understand you 125 years in the future, but if you were any kind of historian you could understand them in the past.
Your ignorance is apalling. You are an idiot. I hope you don’t consider yourself a Civil War historian.
Honor these men who saved our Union and guaranteed your freedoms.
Steve
i wish the sculptor were alive today so i could compliment him on his work. both the louisiana monument and the mississippi monuments are my favorites on the field. he portrayed these subjects of our “lost cause” with beauty and sensitivity. the ragged condition of the soldiers shoes and clothing attest to the dire want and need of our vanquished heroes. after all, we went to gettysburg “looking for shoes”. even though we were reduced to dire extremities, our courage and dash made up for it. thanks for your insight and artistic skill, donald de lue.