Soldiers' Monument - New Britain, CT - American Civil War Monuments and Memorials on Waymarking.com

The New Britain Soldiers' Monument is a highly ornate structure which exhibits both Classical and Beaux Arts elements. The monument was designed by Ernest Flagg, the contractors were M.J. O'Connor, James Muir, and Thomas Fahy, and the engineer for the project was Thomas S. Bishop. It was dedicated on September 19, 1900 to the citizens from New Britain who served in the Civil War.

The 51' high limestone monument contains three parts: the base, tomb and attic, and a dome topped by a gilded figure of Winged Victory. Winged Victory is depicted standing on a globe with her wings outspread. She is wearing sleeveless flowing robes and holds a wreath in her outstretched right hand. The attic below the statue contains reliefs and tablets and four gilded torches at each corner.

The each side of the middle tomb is decorated with a pair of Ionic columns topped by pediments and flanked with a window covered with triangular pierced stone plates. The base has a pair of iron doors and two tiered lion head fountains which are now inoperable. Four columns stand outside the corners of the monument. Each column has the names of 16 Civil War battles inscribed on the pair of adjacent outside faces of the column, eight to to a face. Total number of battle names = 64.

Inscriptions appear on each side of the monument. The tablet on the lower front (south) face is inscribed:

OH RARE AND ROYAL
WAS THE SACRIFICE

Above, the tablet in attic is inscribed:

WITH MALICE TOWARD
NONE WITH CHARITY
FOR ALL WITH FIRM
NESS IN THE RIGHT

LINCOLN

On the east face above the fountain is the inscription:

THIS MONUMENT IS BUILT IN
GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF
THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS
WHO IN THE WAR TO MAINTAIN
THE UNION OFFERED THEIR
LIVES IN THE CAUSE OF MANKIND
THAT COMING GENERATIONS
TAUGHT BY THEIR EXAMPLE MAY
CHERISH THE FRUITS OF THEIR
VALOR AND DEVOTION AND MAKE
THEIR MEMORY IMMORTAL

Between the columns is the inscription:

FOR YOU AND ME THEY
PUT THEIR ARMOR ON

Above on the tablet in the attic is the inscription:

LET US HAVE PEACE

GRANT

On the north face is the inscription:

FOR YOU AND ME THEY
STOOD IN GRIM ARRAY

Above on the tablet in the attic is the inscription:

LIBERTY AND UNION
NOW AND FOREVER
ONE INSEPARABLE

WEBSTER

On the west face above the fountain is the inscription:

MDCCCLXI - MDCCCLXV
ERECTED BY THE
CITIZENS OF NEW BRITAIN
MDCCCXCIX

Between the columns is the inscription:

THEY JOINED THE MORTAL
STRUGGLE AND WENT DOWN

Above on the tablet in the attic is the inscription:

TO HEROES LIVING
AND DEAR MARTYRS
DEAD

LOWELL

To log a visit, a waymarker must visit the monument or memorial in person and post a photo. Personal observations and comments will be appreciated.