Confederate Memorial, (sculpture).

Confederate Memorial, (sculpture).

Reid, Robert, sculptor.

Richards, David, 1829-1897, sculptor.

Montreal Marble Works, fabricator.

Confederate Memorial, (sculpture).

Commissioned and modeled 1874. Unveiled May 12, 1875. Dedicated May 24, 1875. Solider: dedicated May 1879.

Digital Reference:

Soldier: bronze; Base: Nova Scotia sandstone and Montreal limestone.

Base: approx. H. 50 ft.

(On shaft:) TO THE/CONFEDERATE DEAD/1861-1865/"COME FROM THE FOUR WINDS, O BREATH,/AND BREATHE UPON THESE SLAIN, THAT THEY MAY LIVE" unsigned

Large ornate memorial with military figure at the apex. The soldier is dressed in uniform, with hat and coat. His arms are crossed in front of him at the waist, with proper left hand over proper right hand. His rifle is tucked under his proper right hand, with butt end resting in front of his proper right arm. On the lower north side near the bottom of the memorial is a relief of a reclining woman in mourning. She holds what appears to be a laurel branch in her proper left hand. The memorial shaft is decorated on each side with two wreaths, two upside-down torches, and two crossed flags with laurel wreath ribbons above. There are cannonballs on each lower corner of the shaft; and one cherub on each corner about half-way up the shaft. There are also carved drums, sword handles, bugles and anchors, arranged symmetrically.

History -- United States -- Civil War

Figure male -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Figure female -- Full length

Allegory -- Passion -- Melancholy

Portrait male -- Branch, Hamilton M. -- Full length

Portrait male -- Bacon, A. S. -- Full length

Object -- Other -- Flag

Outdoor Sculpture -- Georgia -- Savannah

Administered by City of Savannah, Park & Tree Department, P. O. Box 1027, Savannah, Georgia 31402

Located Forsyth Park, Extension, Savannah, Georgia

The cornerstone for the memorial was laid June 16, 1874. The memorial was designed by Robert Reid and cost approximately $25,000. His original design was topped by a marble female figure of Judgment (now located in Thomasville, GA, see IAS record GA000071). Near the bottom of the base was a marble shrouded female figure of Silence (removed in 1878 and now located in Laurel Grove Cemetery, see IAS record 76009997) and there were four figures planned for the corners of the base, representing the Artillery, the Cavalry, the Infantry, and the Navy. Funds for the memorial were raised by the Ladies Memorial Association.

Discontent with the symbolic nature of the memorial, apparently led to its redesign, with the figures of Judegment and Silence removed. A new bronze soldier was sculpted by David Richards and placed atop the memorial. Newsclippings differ on who posed for the Confederate solider. The model, either Hamilton M. Branch or A. S. Bacon. The bronze soldier, which cost $5,000, and the monument's reconstruction costs which included filling in the canopy were funded by George Wymberly Jones DeRenne.

IAS files contain related newsclippings from Savannah Press, Oct. 24, 1924, Savannah News Press, and Savannah Morning News, Sept. 29, 1952 and April 24, 1932.. IAS files also contain intern report "The Monuments & Fountains of Savannah," by Dorothy H. Stewart, June 1993. IAS files also contain unmounted photocopies showing original monument, with figures of Judgement and Silence in place. A folder on the memorial is on file with the Georgia Historical Society (Savannah, GA).

Treated 2005 November-2006 January. Kreilick Conservation, LLC (Oreland, PA). Treatment report on file with conservator and Sterling Builders & Restoration, Inc., Savannah, Georgia.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Georgia survey, 1993.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985.

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, GA0066, 1989.

Monumental News, Oct. 1910, pg. 745.

SOS Achievement Award, 1997.

SOS Conservation Notification Report, 2008.

For component part see: GA000071.

For component part see: GA000716.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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