The Civil War may seem done and gone
But its schisms and memory lingers on
The Union won, we view from that side
Which can lead us to question Confederate pride
They were all mother's sons, believed in their cause
Sacrificed for a passion -- enough to give pause.
In the right or the wrong? I'll let God declare
For the folk on both sides, will send up a prayer.
“Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side...” --Abraham Lincoln
INSCRIPTION ===========================
TO OUR
CONFEDERATE HEROES
ERECTED BY
BELL COUNTY CHAPTER
NO. 101,
UNITED DAUGHTERS
OF THE CONFEDERACY
OCTOBER 1916
down below, across the base reads, in raised block letters:
CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS
On right side of base, front, raised: 1861
On left side of base, front, raised: 1865
BACKGROUND ============================
The Civil War may seem like distant history, but feelings apparently still burn like a coal seam fire. This sculpture can bring about mixed reactions (judging from a couple hits as I was collecting information), and maybe it should.
Heck, Texas' Secession was a mixed bag:
(
visit link)
Texas Historical Commission Brochure: "Texas in the Civil War"
The United States was rife with conflict and controversy in the years leading to the Civil War. Perhaps nowhere was the struggle more complex than in Texas. Some Texans supported the Union, but were concerned about political attacks on Southern institutions. Texas had been part of the United States just 16 years when secessionists prevailed in a statewide election. Texas formally seceded on March 2, 1861 to become the seventh state in the new Confederacy. Gov. Sam Houston was against secession, and struggled with loyalties to both his nation and his adopted state. His firm belief in the Union cost him his office when he refused to take an oath of allegiance to the new government. [He was removed from office by the Texas secession convention in March 1861.]
"Let me tell you what is coming. You may alter the sacrifice of countless millions of treasures and hundreds of thousands of precious lines, win Southern independence, but I doubt it. The North is determined to preserve this Union. They are not a fiery impulsive people as you are, for they live in colder climates. But when they begin to move in a given direction,they move with the steady momentum and perseverance of a mighty avalanche."
From an 1861 speech by Gov. Sam Houston at Galveston, a few days prior to passage of the Ordinance of Secession.
(
visit link) (Lena Armstrong)
Confederates:
Over a thousand Bell County and Belton men joined the Confederate Army and Belton women did their part by meeting daily at the courthouse to sew clothing for the soldiers. There was only one sewing machine in Belton, and it saw constant use. As the War progressed, the effects of the War were felt strongly. Supplies and inventories, as well as currency dwindled and many stores were forced to close. War's end, and defeat, saw all elected officials from the Governor to Mayors replaced with Union appointees. Federal troops patrolled the streets of Belton giving little protection to the citizens and their property. Outlaws roamed the area stealing, assaulting and killing to such an extent that Belton men decided to do something. In the dark of the night, bands of horsemen arrived at the County jail (still standing) where ten prisoners were jailed. The horsemen dismounted, moved into the jail and shot nine men to death. It is said that for decades after, outlaws rode wide around Belton. Sam Bass, on his way to rob a bank, refused to enter Belton, saying "Those Belton men are too tough for me."
More reading "Daughers of the Confederacy": (
visit link)
Daughters of the Confederacy Confederate Veteran Volume10, Number 1, Page 9-11 January 1902
Why We Remember (
visit link)
THE SCULPTURE =========================
Politics aside (as much as possible), visually, the sculpture is a lovely thing standing on the Courthouse Lawn, though deuced little digital information exists on the sculpture itself. Perhaps more records will be digitized in time.
Meanwhile, here's what I *could* find in a morning of Googling. Future waymarkers are ENCOURAGED to add any information you may be able to collect. (Especially if you have access to the Bell County records -- probably in the Museum just down Main Street.)
(
visit link)
Directory of Memorials, Monuments and Statues for Veterans Texas Veterans Commission 1985
p.3. BELL COUNTY
Veterans memorial information gratefully accepted from
Harold P. Smedley and Robert S. Hickerson, Texas Veterans
Commission, and Ms. Veda Sutton, Administrative Assistant
to Bell County Judge
Location: NW corner Courthouse grounds, Belton, Texas
Description: Confederate monument
Dedicated to: Confederate veterans
Furnished by: Bell County Camp of United Daughters of the
Confederacy
This sculpture does, however, appear in the Smithsonian Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture (which saves me from re-examining my photos for traces of an artist's mark).
(
visit link)
Artist: Unknown, sculptor.
Title: Confederate Monument, (sculpture).
Dates: ca. 1916. Installed Oct. 1916.
Medium: Figure: marble (?); Base: granite (?).
Dimensions:
Figure: approx. H. 8 ft. x W. 2 1/2 ft.;
Base: approx. H. 16 ft. x W. 5 ft.
Inscription: (see above)
Description: A figure of a Confederate soldier, dressed in a military uniform that includes a brimmed hat. He stands against a tree trunk at his proper right side and holds the barrel of a rifle in front with both hands, the butt rests at his feet. On front of base is, bas-relief Confederate flag with five cannon balls on either side. Figure is atop multitiered base.
Subject: History -- United States -- Civil War
Figure male -- Full length
Occupation -- Military -- Soldier
Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform
Object -- Weapon -- Gun
Object Type: Outdoor Sculpture -- Texas -- Belton
Owner: Administered by County Commissioner's Court, Belton, Texas
Located Bell County Courthouse, East Central & South Main, Belton, Texas
Remarks: Erected by Bell County Chapter No.101, United Daughters of the Confederacy.
Condition: Surveyed 1993 October. Treatment needed.
[2010 note: the marble shows some staining, but it appears the sculpture was cleaned up during the general courthouse restoration and downtown revitalization (circa 1997). See waymarks regarding the Bell County Courthouse for a bit more info. --bj]
References: Save Outdoor Sculpture, Texas survey, 1993.
Note: 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.
Repository: Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Control Number: IAS TX000528
PARTING THOUGHT =======================
(just because I'm a sentimental ol' gal)
(
visit link)
Directory of Memorials, Monuments and Statues for Veterans Texas Veterans Commission 1985
MEMORIAL DAY
At Gettysburg, at San Juan Hill,
In Flanders Fields now all is still,
But men still drill and march away
Like you who made Memorial Day.
In Normandy, and on Bataan,
At Inchon, Khe Sanh, and in Iran,
Selflessly the need you met.
And now we know we must not forget.
Those who fought and those who fell,
To hear the bell of freedom knell.
We crouch beside your graves today;
These wreaths of vernal buds to lay.
And to you who died for freedom’s sake,
A pledge to carry on we make:
The torch that you so bravely bore
Shall be our beacon evermore.
We pray that by its guiding light
We’ll find our course and hold it right.
We hope it may throughout the years
Bring an end to blood and tears.
For we’re a nation proud and free,
And sometimes it is hard to see
Where friendship for our cause abides
And where a foe of freedom hides.
You have found peace while we still weep
And wail o’er charges we must keep.
There’ll be no peace until we find
A way that’s just for all mankind.
-William J. Acker WWI Veteran