General Nathaniel Lyon Memorial, (sculpture).

General Nathaniel Lyon Memorial, (sculpture).

Unknown, sculptor.

General Nathaniel Lyon Memorial, (sculpture).

Digital Reference:

Approx. 17 ft. x 7 ft. x 7 ft.

(On east side of shaft:) THOUGH HE DIED FOR HIS COUNTRY, YET HE LIVES IN THE HEARTS OF HIS COUNTRYMEN. THOUGH HE FELL IN WAR, IN PEACE HE IS NOT FORGOTTEN. CHERISHING HIS VIRTURES; COMMENDING HIS PATRIOTISM; WE HONOR HIS MEMORY. (On west side of shaft:) ERECTED BY THE CITIZENS OF SPRINGFIELD TO THE MEMORY OF GENERAL NATHL. LYON WHO FELL AT THE BATTLE OF WILSONS CREEK, WHILE COMMANDING THE UNION ARMY AUG. 12, 1861

A marble shaft topped with a knight's helmet and adorned on the sides with relief carving of a military symbols. On the bottom front, just above the name LYON, is a relief carving of crossed cannons. On the next tier there are four shields carved in relief, one on each side of the shaft, with inscriptions dedicated to General Lyon appearing in the shields on the east and west sides. On the next tier, shields carved in relief appear on the north and south sides, a wreath is carved in relief on the west side, and a circle is carved in relief on the east side. The top two tiers are carved to resemble fasces, or bundles of sticks indicating the Roman symbol of power.

History -- United States -- Civil War

Homage -- Lyon, Nathaniel

Object -- Weapon -- Cannon

Object -- Other -- Wreath

Dress -- Accessory -- Helmet

Dress -- Historic -- Armor

Outdoor Sculpture -- Missouri -- Springfield

Administered by United States Department of Veterans Affairs, National Cemetery Administration, 810 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20420

Located Springfield National Cemetery, 1702 East Seminole Street, Springfield, Missouri 65804

The memorial was erected in honor of General Nathaniel Lyon who died while commanding the Union army at the battle of Wilsons Creek on Aug. 12, 1861. The memorial was erected by the citizens of Springfield, Missouri.

National Cemetery Administration Memorials Inventory Project, 2002-2005.

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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