Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 27.djvu/136

 128 Southern Historical Society Papers.

M. Woodruff, and Generals Wade Hampton and John C. Under- wood.

[From the Time* Union and Citizen.]

THE MONUMENT.

The Confederate monument is regarded by everybody as being most beautiful in design and finish in every way. The monument was selected as having been the choice of three different committees that were appointed, each committee being unknown to the other, and as being the best from the designs submitted. Two of the best artists in the United States have approved the design as being the best for purity, simplicity and design. The contractor for the monument, and who has been in the city superintending its erection, is George H. Mitchell, of Chicago.

The monument is sixty-two feet in height, being surmounted by a Confederate soldier in winter uniform, standing at ease with his gun resting on the ground. On his cap are the initials " J. L. I."

The foundations consist of three steplike elevations, the bottom and largest one being twenty feet, eight inches square. On this are several other stones, on which rests the die stone. The shaft of the monument, which is round, is seventeen and one-half feet in length, and is one solid piece of Vermont granite. The weight of the die stone is ten tons.

On the north side of this stone is the bronze bust of General E. Kirby Smith, one of the noted Confederate leaders, who was born in St. Augustine. Above the bronze plate, which is inserted in the die stone, two crossed rifles are carved. Above the bust on the bronze plate is inscribed in raised letters, "Christian Soldier," and beneath the bust, the name, " E. Kirby Smith."

On the east side, on the top of the die stone, is carved an anchor and a p^ir of oars, representing the navy of the Confederacy, and below, on the bronze plate, are the words:

" To the Soldiers of Florida. This shaft is by a comrade raised in testimony of his love, recalling deeds immortal, heroism unsur- passed.

" With ranks unbroken, ragged, starved and decimated, the South- ern soldier, for duty's sake, undaunted, stood to the front of battle until no light remained to illuminate the field of carnage, save the luster of his chivalry and courage.