Saving History Saturday: A Summer of Restoration for the Kirkland Monument at Fredericksburg Battlefield

The Sergeant Kirkland Monument within the boundaries of Fredericksburg-Spotsylvania National Military Park and near the Sunken Road and Marye’s Heights is an iconic symbol. Depicting the Confederate sergeant giving water to a wounded Union soldier, it’s a powerful reminder of both the incident in Fredericksburg’s battle history and of the compassion that was shown by some in the aftermath of combat.

This summer the Kirkland Monument is undergoing planned restoration by the National Park Service. So, if you happen to visit and see the dismantled statue, it’s actually good news. The base and pedestal is getting reinforced and the sculpture is getting cleaned and preserved. Yes, it’s all going to be put back together!

Here are some photos from earlier this week of the project’s progress and a close up of the new interpretive panel explaining the process and preservation goals: