The Virginia State Monument: Latest Red Cloth Recipient

On late Friday night/early Saturday morning, the red cloth vandals returned to Gettysburg National Military Park. This time the victim was Traveler’s reins on the Virginia State Monument. This view was taken facing north at approximately 12:15 PM on Saturday, March 27, 2010.

A red cloth has returned to Gettysburg National Military Park. It was brought by someone who believes their exploits of climbing a monument almost 100 years old is as important or more important than the men who fought and died here, and for whom the monument was erected. The culprits feel that they can complete these acts without damaging the monuments.

We won’t say much more here except to note once again that the perpetrators feel that they have the opportunity to perform these stunts without being caught, as more serious vandals have successfully done in the past.

It has now been 1502 days since the monuments to the 114th Pennsylvania, the 11th Massachusetts, and the 4th New York Battery (Smith’s) were significantly vandalized. The monuments to the 11th Massachusetts and Smith’s Battery have still not been repaired over four years following the event, and the criminals have not been caught.

When is the last time that anyone who vandalized a monument at Gettysburg was apprehended?

The Virginia State Monument is located on West Confederate Avenue. It was dedicated on June 8, 1917, but work had begun on the monument as early as 1913, as depicted in some photographs of the 50th anniversary of the battle. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 12:15 PM on Saturday, March 27, 2010.

The Virginia monument was the first of the Confederate state monuments to be placed at Gettysburg. The monument honors the “common” soldiers from Virginia as well as Army of Northern Virginia commander Robert E. Lee on his horse Traveler. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 12:15 PM on Saturday, March 27, 2010.

The monument was designed and sculpted by Frederick William Sievers (1872-1966). This view was taken facing west at approximately 12:15 PM on Saturday, March 27, 2010.

The material used is Westerly Granite and standard bronze. The total cost was $50.000. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 12:15 PM on Saturday, March 27, 2010.

The base of the monument is 28 feet wide (north to south), and 32 feet six and a half inches long (east to west). The group of soldiers at the bottom are five feet wide (east to west), and 18 feet long (north to south). This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 12:15 PM on Saturday, March 27, 2010.

The tip of the Virginia flag is 16 feet tall. Overall, the monument is 41 feet in height. This view was taken facing north at approximately 12:15 PM on Saturday, March 27, 2010.

The monument is placed along the Confederate line at one of the locations where Lee watched Pickett’s Charge on July 3, 1863. He was also at the “point of woods” approximately 200 yards to the right or southeast of the monument. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 12:15 PM on Saturday, March 27, 2010.

Frederick Sievers used photographs and a life mask to capture the features of General Lee’s face. Those who knew Lee, and who were living at the time of the monument’s dedication, thought this sculpture was the best likeness of the General. Traveler’s bones were on display in Lexington, Virginia, where Lee had settled before his death. Sievers found a live horse that matched the size and shape of the bones as a model for Traveler. This view was taken facing north at approximately 12:15 PM on Saturday, March 27, 2010.

The State of Virginia suffered approximately 4800 casualties, or 23% of the men from Virginia who fought at Gettysburg. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 12:15 PM on Saturday, March 27, 2010.

See the following related posts:

US Regulars Monument Vandalism and Red Cloth Update on November 18, 2009.
Vandals Spray Paint U.S. Regulars Monument, Red Cloths Return on November 16, 2009.
Red Cloth Placed on East Cavalry Field’s Michigan Cavalry Brigade Monument on November 2, 2009.
Ball Placed Back on Top of Monument to Knap’s Pennsylvania Battery on July 9, 2009.
Peace Light Monument Mostly Cleaned of Vandalism on June 14, 2009.
It Has Now Been 145 Days Since the Peace Light was Vandalized on June 2, 2009.
153rd Pennsylvania Infantry Monument Update, and Peace Light Update on May 23, 2009.
Peace Light Cleaning Update: A Little More Progress on May 22, 2009.
Peace Light Cleaning Update: No Visible Progress on May 20, 2009.
Another Gettysburg Monument Vandalized on May 19, 2009.
Peace Light: Some Photographs Taken When the Vandalism was First Discovered on January 27, 2009.
Peace Light Monument Vandalism on January 10, 2009.
Eternal Light Peace Memorial Dedication Ceremony on January 1, 2009.
Red Cloths Finally Removed From Monuments on July 7, 2008.
Smith’s New York Battery Monument Still Awaits Restoration on May 31, 2008.
A New Type of Vandalism for Memorial Day on May 26, 2008.