Confederate Memorial 1861-1865, (sculpture).

Confederate Memorial 1861-1865, (sculpture).

Mitchell, George H., sculptor.

Venable & Collins, contractor.

Confederate Memorial 1861-1865, (sculpture).

Confederate Monument, (sculpture).

Confederate Soliders of Florida, (sculpture).

1897-1898. Dedicated June 16, 1898.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze and granite; Base: granite, marble and bronze.

Sculpture: approx. H. 59 ft. x W. 4 ft.; Base: approx. H. 3 ft. x W. 9 ft.

(On relief plaque on front of base, raised letters:) (above bust:) TRIED AND TRUE (below bust:) J.J.DICKINSON (On relief plaque on back of base, raised letters:) (above bust:) A CHRISTIAN SOLDIER (below bust:) E. KIRBY SMITH. (On one side of base, on plaque, raised letters:) TO THE SOLDIERS OF FLORIDA/THIS SHAFT IS BY A COMRADE RAISED IN/TESTIMONY OF HIS LOVE, RECALLING DEEDS/IMMORTAL, HEROISM UNSURPASSED. WITH RANKS UNBROKEN, RAGGED, STARVED/AND DECIMATED, THE SOUTHERN SOLDIER,/FOR DUTY'S SAKE, UNDAUNTED STOOD TO/THE FRONT OF BATTLE UNTIL NO LIGHT/REMAINED TO ILLUMINE THE FIELD OF CAR-/NAGE, SAVE THE LUSTRE OF HIS CHIVALRY/AND COURAGE./"NOR SHALL YOUR GLORY BE FORGOT/WHILE FAME HER RECORD KEEPS,/OR HONOR POINTS THE HALLOWED SPOT/WHERE VALOR PROUDLY SLEEPS." (Below plaque, on base:) CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL/1861-1865 (On plaque on other side of base, raised letters:) OUR HEROES (below plaque, incised letters:) GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY/1898

A tall shaft, with at the top a young Confederate soldier of bronze, and at the bottom a rectangular base with four relief panels and pediment carvings. At the top, the soldier stands at parade rest, with both arms resting on the barrel of his rifle, the butt of which is on the ground in front of his proper right foot. He wears a visored cap, a great-coat and short cape which appears to ruffle in the wind.

The base is decorated with relief plaques on each side. The front plaque is a bust of J. J. Dickinson, dressed in the uniform of a Confederate officer, including a hat with feathers. Above him, the pediment is decorated with two crossed sabres and a bugle. The rear base plaque depicts a bust of E. Kirby Smith, also in military uniform. Above him are two crossed rifles. One side of the base has a text inscription plaque, with pediment decoration of two crossed oars and an anchor. The other side of the base has a relief plaque of a battle scene, with troops on horseback and on foot. Above them are two crossed cannons. The entire monument sits in a rectangular pool.

History -- United States -- Civil War

Portrait male -- Smith, E. Kirby -- Bust

Portrait male -- Dickinson, J. J. -- Bust

Figure male -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Object -- Weapon -- Sword

Object -- Weapon -- Cannon

Object -- Weapon -- Gun

Outdoor Sculpture -- Florida -- Jacksonville

Administered by City of Jacksonville, Department of Parks, Recreation & Entertainment, 851 North Market Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32202

Located Hemming Plaza, Downtown Central, bounded by Hogan, Laura, Duval & Monroe Streets, Jacksonville, Florida

The monument to Florida's Confederate soldiers was a gift of Charles C. Hemming, a Civil war veteran and Jacksonville native. Although by then a resident of Texas, he announced plans to erect a monument at the Feb. 22, 1896 meeting of Confederate Veterans, held in Ocala, Florida. The monument was erected in 1898, during a reunion of United Confederate Veterans. The park, then known as St. James Park, was renamed in Hemming's honor. For additional information see Wayne W. Wood's "Jacksonville's Architectural Heritage, Landmarks for the Future," Jacksonville Historic Landmarks Commission, 1989, pg. 50; the Florida Times Union and Jacksonville Journal, May 12, 1977 and June 23, 1981, pg. 12A. IAS files contain copies of text from the unveiling ceremony program.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Florida, Jacksonville survey, 1995.

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, FL0005, 1989.

Monumental News, May 1897, pg. 316.

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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