Little Boots
Private
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2023
I recently stumbled upon the following thread on Reddit, depicting Richmond's Confederate Monuments in storage nearby the sewage treatment plant. However, what struck me - and saddened me - was the overt hatred expressed towards these monuments. All I see is open expressions of hatred and disgust; a longing pleasure to see to the destruction of these historic artifacts out of a false belief. I find this to be deplorable behavior; one that is fed by ignorance on the subject of why these monuments exist in the first place.
To summarize the existence of these monuments, you only need look at a microcosm of this. A preferred case study is that of the Windham brothers of Alabama.
Four Brothers - Oliver Windham, Benjamin P. Windham, John R. Windham, and Levi B. Windham - would enlist in the American Civil War. Oliver, Benjamin, and Levi would end up enlisting with Company F of the 11th Mississippi while John would end up with Company K of the 41st Mississippi. During the course of the war, Levi would be wounded at Gaines Mill on June 27th, 1862 and would pass away on July 16th, 1862 in Richmond. No less than three days later, Benjamin Windham ended up in a Railroad accident, was treated for a contusion in his foot, only to die on July 19th, 1862. Oliver would be severely wounded during the course of the war; enough so that he would be furloughed and not serve for the rest of the war; he would pass away in 1873. Out of the four, John was the only one to come out the other end relatively unscathed and wound out-live his three younger brothers.
In the years following, he'd taken the time to find out what happened to his older and younger brother and - after many decades - found where they were buried. Benjamin was buried in Charlottesville - in the Confederate Cemetery - upon his death while Levi was buried in Oakwood Cemetery's Confederate Section in Richmond, Virginia upon his death. In memory his two brothers, he marked each with a headstone.
On the obverse of Benjamin's headstone, he left the inscription "Erected by his brother."
On Levi's headstone, he left the inscription "Erected by his brother after fifty years search."
The ethos of the monuments is best illustrated by this microcosm: they did not exist to assert a narrative, but for something that is deeply human. They exist due to a lamentation; a mourning for those lost during that terrible civil war. This - above all else - is the reason why they exist.
They were not made to propagate a narrative. They were not made to promote segregation. They were made by the sorrow felt by countless numbers of men and women whom - in their desire for closure - left these monuments as a reminder of the pain they endured and - ultimately - the valor of these brave men; men who would never get to see their mothers again. To touch upon the story further, the Windham brothers' mother was still alive during this time. She was the one who filed for the compensation of pay for both Levi and Benjamin; something I know would have been difficult for her.
Whenever I see the hatred expressed towards these monuments, I remind myself why these monuments exist. Studying the stories of these men - cobbling together their pasts and, if for only a moment, to breathe life into them once more - has made this clear and has made me respect them. I pray that those who feel this way will take the time to study these men and come to realize the humanity behind it all; to reject the nonsensical politics - the endless stream of narratives - and find humanity.
__________________________________________
Link to Reddit post referenced:
Find-A-Grave Links:
www.findagrave.com
www.findagrave.com
www.findagrave.com
www.findagrave.com
Muster Roll Records:
To summarize the existence of these monuments, you only need look at a microcosm of this. A preferred case study is that of the Windham brothers of Alabama.
Four Brothers - Oliver Windham, Benjamin P. Windham, John R. Windham, and Levi B. Windham - would enlist in the American Civil War. Oliver, Benjamin, and Levi would end up enlisting with Company F of the 11th Mississippi while John would end up with Company K of the 41st Mississippi. During the course of the war, Levi would be wounded at Gaines Mill on June 27th, 1862 and would pass away on July 16th, 1862 in Richmond. No less than three days later, Benjamin Windham ended up in a Railroad accident, was treated for a contusion in his foot, only to die on July 19th, 1862. Oliver would be severely wounded during the course of the war; enough so that he would be furloughed and not serve for the rest of the war; he would pass away in 1873. Out of the four, John was the only one to come out the other end relatively unscathed and wound out-live his three younger brothers.
In the years following, he'd taken the time to find out what happened to his older and younger brother and - after many decades - found where they were buried. Benjamin was buried in Charlottesville - in the Confederate Cemetery - upon his death while Levi was buried in Oakwood Cemetery's Confederate Section in Richmond, Virginia upon his death. In memory his two brothers, he marked each with a headstone.
On the obverse of Benjamin's headstone, he left the inscription "Erected by his brother."
On Levi's headstone, he left the inscription "Erected by his brother after fifty years search."
The ethos of the monuments is best illustrated by this microcosm: they did not exist to assert a narrative, but for something that is deeply human. They exist due to a lamentation; a mourning for those lost during that terrible civil war. This - above all else - is the reason why they exist.
They were not made to propagate a narrative. They were not made to promote segregation. They were made by the sorrow felt by countless numbers of men and women whom - in their desire for closure - left these monuments as a reminder of the pain they endured and - ultimately - the valor of these brave men; men who would never get to see their mothers again. To touch upon the story further, the Windham brothers' mother was still alive during this time. She was the one who filed for the compensation of pay for both Levi and Benjamin; something I know would have been difficult for her.
Whenever I see the hatred expressed towards these monuments, I remind myself why these monuments exist. Studying the stories of these men - cobbling together their pasts and, if for only a moment, to breathe life into them once more - has made this clear and has made me respect them. I pray that those who feel this way will take the time to study these men and come to realize the humanity behind it all; to reject the nonsensical politics - the endless stream of narratives - and find humanity.
__________________________________________
Link to Reddit post referenced:
Find-A-Grave Links:
Oliver H.P. Windham (1829-1873) - Find a Grave...
(O.H.P.) - (Confederate Veteran) - May 25, 1829 – April 15, 1873 (Age 43 years, 11 months) Oliver H.P., Rachel A. and Thomas H. Windham are shown on the 1850 Census living with their half-brother Hugh G. Windham. In 1860 the Census of Fairfield, Pickens County shows Mary A. Windham, 45...
www.findagrave.com
Pvt. Benjamin P. Windham (1838-1862) - Find a...
Private Co.F, 11th Miss.Inf.Regt. CSA
www.findagrave.com
John Roberts Windham Jr. (1841-1918) - Find a...
CO K 41ST MISS REGT SHARP'S BRIGADE CSA
www.findagrave.com
Pvt Levi B Windham (1843-1862) - Find a Grave...
Pvt., Co. F, 11th Mississippi Regiment
www.findagrave.com
Muster Roll Records:
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