State House, Raleigh, N.C. (Showing Confederate Monument.)
This week for Flashback Friday we feature a tinted white border postcard depicting the capital city’s iconic Confederate Monument. The grandiose 75-foot tall granite obelisk was the second monument to be erected on Capitol Square, and has anchored the head of Hillsboro St. since 1895.
Postmarked Raleigh, May 14, 1918 —
Arrived here this A.M. and expect to leave to-morrow or within a couple days. Frank
A ‘short and sweet’ message from Frank — I imagine he was on a stop-over in Raleigh on a business trip.
Dedicated ‘to our Confederate Dead,’ the memorial was erected on Capitol Square in remembrance of North Carolina’s military sacrifice during the Civil War. Nearly one quarter of all Confederate deaths were from North Carolina.
During construction of the Confederate Monument, a ‘time capsule’ was placed in the cornerstone. It contained various mementos, including Confederate currency, maps, legislative bills, newspapers, copies of journals, flags, a Confederate song book, and personal items belonging to General Robert E. Lee.
The elegantly carved granite obelisk is adorned with three bronze statues: representing the artillery, a soldier holds a cannon ramrod; representing the cavalry, a soldier wields his sword; and, at its summit, representing the infantry, a soldier stands at ease with his rifle by his side, symbolic of peace.
The Confederate Monument was unveiled on May 20, 1895. In attendance were many celebrated dignitaries, including Governor Elias Carr, and Julia Jackson Christian, the granddaughter of Stonewall Jackson.
The rare photo seen below was taken during the dedication ceremony. The view is identical to that of this week’s postcard.
State Archives of North Carolina photo
The Confederate Monument occupies a prominent site in Raleigh — Capitol Square. Interestingly, though, the siting of the monument was not without controversy. On December 12, 1892 the Durham Sun reprinted this editorial from the Raleigh Chronicle:
North Carolina’s Confederate Monument — The city of Raleigh will provide the place for [the monument], in what may be termed the most public square in the city [Nash Square] — the one in front of the new passenger station [Union Station]. The monument is to stand in the entire [sic] of the square.
Capt. Octavius Coke has granite quarries near here and generously offers … the stone desired, free of cost. The only cost will be the cutting of the stone, its transportation and placing into position.
Standing in the centre of Nash Square, which is State property, the position of the monument would be far more commanding than if it were placed in the Capitol Square.
The latter square is far too small, and the fine effect of space and elevation would be lacking.
Nonetheless, the Confederate Monument was erected on Capitol Square, after all.
‘Rob’ mailed this postcard to his sweetheart ‘Alice’ in Massachusetts in 1906. He must have made quite a few stops on his sojourn through the South.
Have seen a number of Confederate monuments on this trip.
Rob
As I mentioned earlier, the Confederate Monument was the second monument erected on Capitol Square. I wonder if any Goodnight Raleigh readers know which monument was the first? Extra credit question — which was the third?
This week’s ‘white border’ postcard was published by long-time Raleigh stationer James Thiem, and was produced by the renowned Chicago postcard printer Curt Teich Co.
Curt Teich Co.  1893-1974
Chicago, ILA major publisher and printer. Their U.S. factories turned out more cards in quantity than any other printer. They published a wide range of national view-cards of America and Canada. Many consider them one of the finest producers of White Border Cards. The Linen Type postcard came about through their innovations as they pioneered the use of offset lithography. They were purchased by Regensteiner Publishers in 1974 which continued to print cards at the Chicago plant until 1978.
“Flashback Friday†is a weekly feature of Goodnight, Raleigh! in which we showcase vintage postcards depicting our historic capital city. We hope you enjoy this week end treat!
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01/25/2013
It speaks volumes that there is no monument erected in appreciation of the millions of North Carolinians who were forced to sacrifice their lives, liberty and prosperity to labor for others’ wealth like working animals. Whenever I see these confederate memorials I think of the “Lost Cause” historical-revisionist movement to reinterpret memories and sacrifices of the Civil War in a more favorable light. No doubt the southern states had the superior military leadership, but the “Lost Cause” movement often crosses the line of historical revisionism by denying the South’s disastrous political, economic and religious leadership leading up to the ruinous Civil War. At the center of the revisionism is the lie that the secession rebellion (and war) was somehow not about slavery. Sadly too many youth throughout the south are taught this lie with confusing and vague excuses. One only need read the various formal secession documents issues by the confederate states — and numerous other contemporaneous historical documents available on the internet — to see that for the southern aristocracy the war first and foremost about protecting and advancing human slavery. There is a cautionary tale that today we can’t admit to our youth that our history includes a shameful willingness to be misled by political, business and religious leadership with such disastrous consequences as 600,000 dead on our own soil and untold hardship for decades to come — all in support of an immoral and inhumane cause. Semper fi!
01/25/2013
Recently visited this monument in April 2012 coming back from the 150th Fort Macon anniversary. Not sure which it is (third or first) but the monument to the first soldier killed in battle Henry Wyatt is one of them.
The above comment is in error. Of course once the Confederacy was formed there was never a time considered to invade the western United States territory for slavery. North Carolina itself was a Union state until after the firing on Fort Sumter indicated an invasion of its land was imminent. In fact North Carolina remained partly occupied from 1862 until fully occupied through Reconstruction. One can easily understand the resentment of a military occupation by looking at the consequences of our nation’s recent conflicts, but one cannot understand the resentment of a military occupation where land property is seized and constitutional rights are tossed aside despite North Carolina’s reluctance to join the Confederacy, overwhelming sacrifice in life and treasure, and desire to exercise a peaceful reunification as President Abraham Lincoln preferred.
There is a monument dedicated to those who served the Confederacy through forced labor (and also by choice amazingly) and these persons received hard fought for pensions that were granted in the 1920’s — sixty years after the war. I had the greatest privilege and honor to attend the dedication of this monument. It rests at the base of the Confederate monument at the Union County courthouse in Monroe. The men honored by name on this monument who lived their lives as second class citizens and most who lived in slavery some of their life, were the greatest contributors to their community and nation after the war. And despite the reprehension and skepticism about the Confederate cause as it is viewed today by those who do not understand, the descendants of these men bear witness to the fact that nothing takes away from being proud of where you come from and the adversity you have overcome.
To finish my comment, this monument was placed by the Sons of Confederate Veterans in December 2012.
01/27/2013
It is amazing to think that the main spatial defining elements are still there … the streets, sidewalks,buildings and trees. I am thinking these could be the same oak trees that are still there today unless they were replanted in the early 20th century. One is almost walking on an off a timeless stage or backdrop when in downtown at these historical sites!
01/31/2013
Steve: How right you are!
Joseph and Erik: We appreciate your interest and commentary, but please remember that GNR is not intended to be political forum. We simply report on the art, architecture, history and people of Raleigh.
The Henry Lawson Wyatt statue was the sixth to be erected on Cap Square — in 1912. Here’s a clue to the first (Father of Our Country) — erected 1857; and the third (twice governor of NC and US Senator) — erected 1900.