Title
Description of Our Heroes: Civil War Monument
Description
Excerpt from Chicago Tribune with information on the Our Heroes: Civil War Monument.
Source
"Decoration Day," Chicago Tribune, May 31, 1870.
Date
May 31, 1870
Original Format
Newspaper
Text
DECORATION OF THE MONUMENTS.
Both monuments were handsomely decorated with wreaths and flowers. Especially noteworthy was a monster wreath, furnished by the ladies of Evanston, which was twined about the general soldiers’ monument, reaching from the cap of the soldier’s figure to the base. Bridges’ Battery monument was fairly covered with beautiful wreaths, and showers of red roses surrounded the base.
THE DEDICATION.
The principal event of the day was the dedication of the two monuments – the first generally commemorative of the deceased soldiers of Chicago and Cook Country, and the second a special tribute to the noble dead of Bridges’ Battery. An immense train, composed of twenty-three cars, was found necessary to transport the people who desired to attend the ceremonies. These, added to the number which had taken the forenoon train, as well as those who had proceeded to the spot in carriages, swelled the attendance to over five thousand persons, there being about an equal number of ladies and gentlemen. Arrived at Rosehill the crows formed into a procession and, headed by Nevans & Dean’s full band, marched to the music of a dirge to the vicinity of the monuments, where a few moments were occupied in the inspection of the structures.
THE GENERAL MILITARY MONUMENT.
About one year ago the joint committees of the Board of Supervisors and the Board of Trade, appointed for the purpose, made choice of a design, submitted with many others, for a monument to be erected in Rosehill Cemetery in memory of the deceased soldiers buried there, and to cost in the neighborhood of $12,000. The monument is erected on the site of the old greenhouse, fronting the main entrance to the cemetery, near which many of the soldiers are buried, and consists of a solid granite structure from the New England quarries, about forty feet in extreme height. A broad base, die and cap form a massive and substantial pedestal, upon which rests a column in the octagonal form, upon the summit of which stands a statue of heroic size in fine Italian marble, representing a Color Sergeant or standard bearer holding a partly unfurled flag by his left side, with right hand resting on the hilt of his sword, and dressed in the regulation uniform. The pedestal is ornamented with four high bas-reliefs in standard bronze, representing the four principal branches of the military service – the infantry, cavalry, artillery, and marine. The infantry is represented by a soldier standing guard in front of a camp; the artillery by “Man No. 1,” with swab in hand, standing by the side of his gun, and apparently watching for its discharge; the cavalry by rider and horse taking a reconnaissance; while the marine is represented by a sailor, capstan, and anchor. A number of appropriate ornaments are carved in solid granite, and the words, “Our Heroes,” are cut in raised letters on the cap-stone of the pedestal; and on each side, at the base of the shaft, are four circular panels, which are inserted with the seals of the United States, State of Illinois, Cook County, and Board of Trade, in bronze metal. The monument was designed and erected by the Chicago Marble and Granite Manufacturing Company. The statute of the “Standard-Bearer” and the bas-reliefs for the pedestal are the work of Leonard W. Volk. The reliefs are the first works in bronze ever produced for any public work in the Northwest, and were cast in the metal from Mr. Volk’s models by Robert Wood & Co., of Philadelphia.
Both monuments were handsomely decorated with wreaths and flowers. Especially noteworthy was a monster wreath, furnished by the ladies of Evanston, which was twined about the general soldiers’ monument, reaching from the cap of the soldier’s figure to the base. Bridges’ Battery monument was fairly covered with beautiful wreaths, and showers of red roses surrounded the base.
THE DEDICATION.
The principal event of the day was the dedication of the two monuments – the first generally commemorative of the deceased soldiers of Chicago and Cook Country, and the second a special tribute to the noble dead of Bridges’ Battery. An immense train, composed of twenty-three cars, was found necessary to transport the people who desired to attend the ceremonies. These, added to the number which had taken the forenoon train, as well as those who had proceeded to the spot in carriages, swelled the attendance to over five thousand persons, there being about an equal number of ladies and gentlemen. Arrived at Rosehill the crows formed into a procession and, headed by Nevans & Dean’s full band, marched to the music of a dirge to the vicinity of the monuments, where a few moments were occupied in the inspection of the structures.
THE GENERAL MILITARY MONUMENT.
About one year ago the joint committees of the Board of Supervisors and the Board of Trade, appointed for the purpose, made choice of a design, submitted with many others, for a monument to be erected in Rosehill Cemetery in memory of the deceased soldiers buried there, and to cost in the neighborhood of $12,000. The monument is erected on the site of the old greenhouse, fronting the main entrance to the cemetery, near which many of the soldiers are buried, and consists of a solid granite structure from the New England quarries, about forty feet in extreme height. A broad base, die and cap form a massive and substantial pedestal, upon which rests a column in the octagonal form, upon the summit of which stands a statue of heroic size in fine Italian marble, representing a Color Sergeant or standard bearer holding a partly unfurled flag by his left side, with right hand resting on the hilt of his sword, and dressed in the regulation uniform. The pedestal is ornamented with four high bas-reliefs in standard bronze, representing the four principal branches of the military service – the infantry, cavalry, artillery, and marine. The infantry is represented by a soldier standing guard in front of a camp; the artillery by “Man No. 1,” with swab in hand, standing by the side of his gun, and apparently watching for its discharge; the cavalry by rider and horse taking a reconnaissance; while the marine is represented by a sailor, capstan, and anchor. A number of appropriate ornaments are carved in solid granite, and the words, “Our Heroes,” are cut in raised letters on the cap-stone of the pedestal; and on each side, at the base of the shaft, are four circular panels, which are inserted with the seals of the United States, State of Illinois, Cook County, and Board of Trade, in bronze metal. The monument was designed and erected by the Chicago Marble and Granite Manufacturing Company. The statute of the “Standard-Bearer” and the bas-reliefs for the pedestal are the work of Leonard W. Volk. The reliefs are the first works in bronze ever produced for any public work in the Northwest, and were cast in the metal from Mr. Volk’s models by Robert Wood & Co., of Philadelphia.