Monuments Men

[Hunter]

Excluding cemeteries, was it appropriate to erect statues on public property depicting Confederate leaders or soldiers? Was it opposed by any Southerners at the time? Did we erect these memorials on a broad, systematic scale after the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Spanish-American War, etc.?

 

[CMWinkler]

Excluding cemeteries, was it appropriate to erect statues on public property depicting Confederate leaders or soldiers?

I'll leave appropriate to others, but vast swaths of military age men were killed in these Southern communities and they wanted that sacrifice remembered.

Was it opposed by any Southerners at the time?

I am sure there were those opposed.

Did we erect these memorials on a broad, systematic scale after the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Spanish-American War, etc.?

No. There is a Mexican War Monument in the Gallatin City Cemetery to those who died, but it was not systematic.

 

[dlavin]

Given what magnitude of death and destruction the ACW left on the nation, and that it happened in our backyard, is it wrong that they did? I wouldn't think so, but I am 150+ years too late.