Monument Monday, November 4, 2019

James N.

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Although not the largest of the many state monuments at Vicksburg NMP, Mississippi - that honor goes unquestionably to the Illinois Memorial - that of Iowa shown here is certainly one of the best and most memorable! Positioned on Union Avenue directly across from the Texas Monument at the Railroad Redoubt Iowa's is classical in style, featuring a handsome mounted standard bearer carrying the National Colors.

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Six bronze panels feature scenes of action and boast remarkably accurate depictions of period weapons and accouterments, something all builders of these should have striven for but often came up short!

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Even the Federal ironclad fleet above and the Confederate defenders below received their own share of treatment!

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The panel below is directly behind the standard bearer and lists Iowa's many units participating in the Campaign and Siege of Vicksburg:
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Although not the largest of the many state monuments at Vicksburg NMP, Mississippi - that honor goes unquestionably to the Illinois Memorial - that of Iowa shown here is certainly one of the best and most memorable! Positioned on Union Avenue directly across from the Texas Monument at the Railroad Redoubt Iowa's is classical in style, featuring a handsome mounted standard bearer carrying the National Colors.

View attachment 332591

Six bronze panels feature scenes of action and boast remarkably accurate depictions of period weapons and accouterments, something all builders of these should have striven for but often came up short!

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Even the Federal ironclad fleet above and the Confederate defenders below received their own share of treatment!

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The panel below is directly behind the standard bearer and lists Iowa's many units participating in the Campaign and Siege of Vicksburg:
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That's one of my favorite monuments in the Vicksburg National Military Park.
 
I thought the Texas monument looked a little sad...

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I wonder if they'd allow volunteers to come clean it up and re-paint the letters where it can be read.

In all honesty . . . every monument, memorial, statue, bronze plaque or basic historical marker in there needs a makeover.
For whatever reasons, It basically comes down to one fact . . . budget cuts to the National Park Service.

Bless the Park Service staff !

They have worked wonders with what little funds they have.
(And this dilemma is not specific to Vicksburg. It applies to virtually all National Parks . . . military or not)


I wonder if they'd allow volunteers to come clean it up and re-paint the letters where it can be read.

I think so.
Here's a site you may wish to explore.

 
I thought the Texas monument looked a little sad...

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I wonder if they'd allow volunteers to come clean it up and re-paint the letters where it can be read.

Why, oh why do we have to use Texas pink granite? It really is impossible to read, even in person and close up. I suppose it's treasonous to suggest using something else, but I always cringe when I try to read the text!
 
This is a biggie from our trip to Greenwood. The monument on the courthouse lawn is unique. A local woman who donated the $$ for the monument and the Confederate Hall/Library had her daughter used as the model for both the women depicted. The young man shown in the arms of the woman? He was (@Mark F. Jenkins?) either her boyfriend or cousin or...something (I slept since then). It's interesting because it's one of the few statues featuring women. Here's some info on the imagery and statue
....http://aboutgreenwoodmississippi.com/confederate-monument.html

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The ship's wheel is a nod to the Star of the West, which was sunken in the Yazoo River at Fort Pemberton, to stop gunboats from going down the river...

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I wasn't going to say anything, but I always wondered about that myself.
Well, it's the same granite as the Texas capitol building--and it's used on all of our Civil War monuments. Don't ask me. Cheap, maybe? I forgot to mention the hair on the chest of the Texas guy--Ed Bearss told us only Texas monuments (this one and the statue of Dick Dowling at Sabine Pass) have hair on their chests. So far, it seems to be true...I'm doomed to visit battlefields and look at the chests of the soldiers. :D
 
The Missouri monument Vicksburg.
I couldn't help but notice how the panel in your 3rd photo has what appears to be a splattering of paint on the figures. I can only assume this was caused by the rain polishing the parts of the statue that was not under the protection of the wall. It appears to have polished some of the patina off but not enough to make it look bronze.
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Do you agree?

This is a biggie from our trip to Greenwood. The monument on the courthouse lawn is unique. A local woman who donated the $$ for the monument and the Confederate Hall/Library had her daughter used as the model for both the women depicted. The young man shown in the arms of the woman? He was (@Mark F. Jenkins?) either her boyfriend or cousin or...something (I slept since then). It's interesting because it's one of the few statues featuring women.
@Nathanb1

While researching the history of our town, I found a description of the dedication of this monument. The article states that they had people stand in as actors for the figures on the monument. It reads:

On the courthouse side is a woman with hands kneaded together, described in the contract as "a sure enough woman," with no hint of angelic origins. She is modeled after Sallie Morgan Kimbrough Clements. Facing east is a rare double figure, with a kneeling woman tending to a young soldier. This little drama was dedicated to the memory of Lewis Sharkey Morgan, killed at age fifteen in the Battle of Collierville. His niece, Mrs. L. P. Yerger, and his great-nephew, William Morgan Kimbrough, posed for the figures.

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You might read that to mean the soldier named Lewis Morgan was 15 when he enlisted OR that he was 15 when he was killed. I had to search to see if there was a soldier by that name. (I think I posted this info on a forum thread years ago.)
NARA records shows there was a L. Morgan, Private, of Company D, 5th Mississippi Cavalry. No age listed. No record of KIA. Last entry dated Oct 31, 1863; Present for duty. The 5th Mississippi Cavalry was part of General Chalmers' cavalry division at the 2nd Battle of Collierville on 3 November. If he was killed on 3 Nov, then this would be his last entry in the company roster.

I did relate this information to Larry McCluney so he could pass it along during your tour. I don't think he had the info right but this is what was recorded in "Muse See Mississippi" by Mary Carol Miller.

Dedication ceremony of the statue in front of the Leflore County Court House.
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{Edited}
Oh, Here is a photo of the other woman depicted on the monument. Two women on one monument!
The soldier on the left represents a cavalry trooper; his sword is broken and also the barrel of the carbine slung on his back.
The soldier on the right represents an artillery soldier: his ramrod on his left side is broken.
The figure mounted at the top is General Humphreys.
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Here are two records from Morgan's files. As I recall, these are the last two entries.
"McNutt, Miss" is now the town of Schlater.
"George's Regiment" refers to Colonel J. Z. George who was captured on 3 Nov as they lead the charge against the Union position at Collierville.

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