Federal Monument to the Unknown Dead - Salisbury, NC - American Civil War Monuments and Memorials on Waymarking.com

?Federal Monument to the Unknown Dead - A granite obelisk and base, 50 feet, 2 inches in height, with a base of 18 feet by 18 feet, erected by an Act of Congress approved March 3, 1873, (General Orders No. 47) to the memory of the unknown soldiers who died in the Confederate prison at Salisbury. The monument is located near the southwest corner of the cemetery. The shaft is crowned with a laurel wreath and the four sides are ornamented with laurel leaves. At the foot of the shaft are a helmet, sword and shield, bearing the National crest, coat of arms, and stars. Grouped with these is a chain with broken bracelets, suggesting the condition of the dead prisoners and their happy release from captivity. Just above the shield is a veiled tablet, indicating that the dead were unknown. Above the tablet is a small laurel crown enclosing the words “Pro Patria.”

Inscriptions:
"They died that their country might live."

In 18 trenches, just south of this spot, rest the bodies of 11,700 soldiers of the United States Army, who perished during the years 1864 and 1865 while held by the Confederate Military authorities as prisoners of war in a stockade near this place.

"For our country 'tis bliss to die"

This monument was erected by act of congress approved March 3, 1873 to the memory of the unknown Union soldires who died in the Confederate prison at Salisbury, N.C.

Date Installed or Dedicated: 03/03/1873 Name of Government Entity or Private Organization that built the monument: Congress of the United States of America Union, Confederate or Other Monument: Union Rating (1-5): Related Website: [Web Link] Photo or photos will be uploaded.: yes

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Date Logged Log User Rating   04/25/2023 Don.Morfe visited it 08/04/2018 NCDaywalker visited it 10/23/2012 FRESH AIR53 visited it 11/27/2009 Sneakin Deacon visited it 06/30/2008 3newsomes visited it

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