Snow and ice partially covers a fallen Mississippi color bearer on the Mississippi State monument. This view was taken facing west at approximately 9:00 AM on Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
This week’s snow and ice compelled us to take some photographs of the Mississippi State Monument on Wednesday morning. The monument, located along West Confederate Avenue near the intersection with the Millerstown Road, was erected in 1973. The sculptor, Donald Delue, has two other monuments at Gettysburg: The Soldiers and Sailors of the Confederacy Memorial (1965), and the Louisiana State Monument (1971).
The Mississippi State monument is located east of West Confederate Avenue on Seminary Ridge. Pitzer’s Woods are in the background. This view was taken facing east at approximately 9:00 AM on Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
This monument was erected to illustrate “the bravery, devotion, and sacrifice of the Mississippi soldier in the face of great odds.” This view was taken facing west at approximately 9:00 AM on Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
The monument depicts a color bearer falling, mortally wounded. Another Mississippian has stopped beside him and is using his musket as a club in an effort to defend the flag. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 9:00 AM on Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
Although the monument represents all Mississippi soldiers that fought at Gettysburg, it is located at the position occupied by Barksdale’s Mississippi Brigade on July 2, 1863. This view was taken from the facing west at approximately 9:00 AM on Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
At Gettysburg, Mississippi had eleven infantry regiments, one infantry battalion, one cavalry regiment, and one artillery battery. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 9:00 AM on Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
Mississippi’s 4929 soldiers engaged at the Battle of Gettysburg placed them tenth among all the states (north and south) at the battle. This view was taken facing south at approximately 9:00 AM on Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
Mississippi suffered 1725 casualties at Gettysburg, which placed them seventh among all of the states engaged in the battle. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 9:00 AM on Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
Mississippi’s casualty rate of 35% placed it ninth among all of the states with military units in the battle. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 9:00 AM on Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
The monument was dedicated on October 19, 1973 and cost $100,000. This view was taken facing east at approximately 9:00 AM on Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
The monument represents two infantry men of Barksdale’s brigade in their advance across the Sherfy and Trostle farms on July 2, 1863. The Sherfy farm, located along the Emmitsburg Road, is shown in the left background. This view was taken facing east at approximately 9:00 AM on Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
Barksdale’s Mississippians’ advance would be key in breaking the Union line along the Emmitsburg Road on the second day of the battle. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 9:00 AM on Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
Brigadier-General William Barksdale, the brigade commander, would be mortally wounded in this advance. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 9:00 AM on Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
This is the third and last monument at Gettysburg by sculptor Donald Delue. In 1965 he sculpted the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument, located farther down Seminary Ridge (Warfield Ridge) where West Confederate Avenue turns into South Confederate Avenue. In 1971 he produced the Louisiana State Monument which is shown in the background, just left of the Mississippi State monument. The Alexander Spangler Farm is in the right background. This view was taken from the facing north at approximately 9:00 AM on Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
The bronze figures on the Mississippi State Monument were cast in Italy. The base is made of Lac Dubonnet Granite. This view was taken facing north at approximately 9:00 AM on Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
The base is 7′ 11″ in length, and 3′ 11″ wide. The monument is 16′ 2″ in height. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 9:00 AM on Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
Sculptor Donald Harcourt DeLue was born October 5, 1897 in Boston, Massachusetts, and died on August 26, 1988 in Leonardo, New Jersey. He was 76 years old when he completed the Mississippi State Monument. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 9:00 AM on Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
Delue was a figurative sculptor known for monumental and commemorative bronzes portraying heroism and idealism. This view was taken facing west at approximately 9:00 AM on Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
In his later years he was also known for his overemphasis on feet… This view was taken facing west at approximately 9:00 AM on Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
…and hands. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 9:00 AM on Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
See the following related posts:
Soldiers and Sailors of the Confederacy Memorial on March 22, 2008.
Louisiana State Monument on June 18, 2008.