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? Let God declare
For the souls on both sides, I 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)
Some entertaining reading on Belton's History can be found at (
visit link)
And on Bell County www.bellcountytx.com
More links and detail can be found in nearby waymarks on the Courthouse itself, County Museum, Carnegie Library, and MKT Depot ... amongst others. A LOT of of historic and visual visit-worthy sites right around here.
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.
You already have the link to the Smithsonian Inventory (below), so I won't clutter up the page with that information. Of course, all that's left after a morning of Googling is one reference:
(
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
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.)
===================
Crossposted in American Civil War Monuments and Memorials
Confederate Heroes Monument, Bell County Courthouse, Belton, TX
Waymark Code: WM8KMZ