Question of the Week: March 30, 2015

Vermont Monument at PHPLast week at Pamplin Historical Park we poured a small base to support a new monument hewn from Vermont granite. It will commemorate the six men from the Green Mountain State who received the Medal of Honor for their actions on April 2, 1865 at Petersburg.

Looking at the blank concrete pad that will support the stone got me thinking… what would I would inscribe if given the opportunity to dedicate a monument? What about you, readers? What Civil War individual, group, or event that hasn’t been memorialized deserves a monument?



4 Responses to Question of the Week: March 30, 2015

  1. I think there should be a monument to Civil War musicians. (As far as I know, such a monument does not exist, although I have heard of an effort to that effect.) Music played a huge role in the Civil War in framing the debate and inspiring people to devote themselves to the war effort. Many times have I read comments of soldiers who were uplifted by a song in the midst of battle or during a long, exhausting march. Military and political leaders understood the power of music. Secretary Stanton arrested Septimus Winner, famous composer of Listen to the Mockingbird, for his song demanding the return of McClellan. And Benjamin Butler shut down one of the country’s largest music publishers, Blackmar of New Orleans, throwing the owner in jail and burning his stock. Military bands and musicians provided an essential service and presence. Thus said General Lee, “I don’t believe we could have an army without music!”

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