The Corpse and the Name The Civil War

The Corpse and the Name: The Civil War and the Origins of Modern Commemoration

A Contrast: Federal Buried, Rebel Unburied, Where they fell at the Battle of Antietam. Copyrighted by Alexander Gardner, Oct. 7, 1862. “Album card” from the collection of Gen. George B. Mc. Clellan, Princeton University, image approx. 3” x 4” unmounted.

Confederate Soldiers, As they fell inside the fence on the Hagerstown Road, at the Battle of Antietam. Copyrighted by Alexander Gardner, Oct. 7, 1862. National Gallery of Canada.

Gardner, Confederate Dead Gathered for Burial, Antietam, Sept 1862

Monument to William Hargrave, Westminster Abbey, 1757. Louis Francois Roubiliac.

Grave of Lt. John A Clark, Woodland Cemetery, Monroe Michigan. No Union soldier monument was erected in Monroe County, Michigan until 2012.

Sprowls brothers cenotaph, probably erected late 1860 s

Stoney Point cemetery, East Finley township, Washington County, Pa.

JESSE M. SPROWLS Late Private, Co. K. 140 Reg. P. Vol. Killed at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863; In the 24 Year of his Age. ----The subject of this memoir, was the younger of two brothers, who rallied promptly at their Countr -ys call, in the dark hour of Rebellion, to meet the armed hordes of treason. He served faithfully with his Regiment, in the battle of Chancerllorsville, up to that decisive and memor able struggle, that filled many a home with sorrow, where fighting in the hot front, he yielded up his life on the blood-stained and glorious heights of Gettysburg. As a soldier he was tried and true. As a friend he was one in whom confidence could ever securely repose. As a son and brother, he was ever dutiful and affectionate, and as a Christian he was exemplary, both in the private walks of home and amid the hardships and temptations of the field. To the memory of such a son, brother and soldier, this monument is affectionately erected.

GEORGE SPROWLS Late Private, Co. K, 140. Reg. Pa. Vol. Supposed to have died at Andersonville Aged about 27 Years. -------He to whom this monument is partially dedicated by those so sorely bereaved, was the elder of the two brothers referred to, who both enlisted in the service of their Country, early in the Fall of 1862. He served meritoriously with his Regiment, in the many memorable engagements in which it participated; including Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Bristow Station, Mine Run, the several battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania. In the latter named terrible battle, whilst his Regiment was making a charge, he was wounded and taken prisoner with others, and sent to Richmond, and placed in the 3 rd ward Hospital, where he remained, until sent to Andersonville – that prison of untold horror and suffering; and here, all further knowledge of his fate ends.

Poor George; Alas! that we [? ] must write [? ] your death and very age a blank unknown – your Epitaph records another of those many victims for whose return loving eyes have so often watched in vain. Another above whose last end the veil of mystery shall hang, until the Angels trump shall awake each Slumberer from his unkn own resting place. Another for whose loss a nations tears have fallen, and shall still fall while it holds them in lasting, grateful rem embrance. A tried soldier, a faithful fr iend: a dutiful and affectionate son and brother: and a Christian at home and in the field, may you have entered that bright world where battle thunders never roll and sorrows never come.

Memorial Location Date Names Battle Monument (War of 1812) Baltimore 1825 36 Arc de Triomphe Paris 1836 660 44 th & 12 th New York regiments Gettysburg 1893 1600+ Allegheny Co Soldiers & Sailors Pittsburgh 1910 25, 930 Pennsylvania State Memorial Gettysburg 1910 32, 114 First Division Monument Washington DC 1924 5, 516 Menin Gate Ypres, Belgium 1927 54, 389 Missing of the Somme Thiepval, France 1932 72, 194 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Washington DC 1982 58, 209