"USCT Monuments" Topic

I was honestly hoping for a larger monument.

New monument in Franklin:

link

List of monuments:

link

That would have been a great day to be in Franklin.

Maybe they wanted to keep this monument similar in size to the one already there?

It's a wonderful monument, but I think it would have been better placed on the grounds of the Tennessee state capital in Nashville. USCT took an active part in the Battle of Nashville, but they weren't present at the Battle of Franklin.

However, antebellum culture in Tennessee was centered in Williamson and the surrounding counties, so it does make a statement, I suppose. Today, Williamson is one of the most affluent counties in the US.

FWIW, I've found 8 African Americans from Williamson County who served in the US military during the ACW: Five with the same last name were in the USN and the other three were in the USCT.

Also FWIW, in the 1960's I attended a boarding school that was then located on the Franklin battlefield, just up Columbia Pike from the Carter House. Whenever they did any excavation, you could pick up minie balls by the handful, and the occasional button, buckle, or piece of grapeshot.

Good Story about soldiers whos contribution to the Federal victory is under reported.

Couple of points:

"a larger monument":

Monuments are expensive and usually erected by private donations. The 54th MA memorial in Boston (more later) was not unveiled until 1897 even though money was beginning to be collected in 1863, 34 years to raise it. It is the same sort of time frame for other Civil War memorials, both Confederate and Federal.

The editors comments on keeping a constant theme to the size of statues making the area uniformed in view is also valid. A 100 foot statue would look foolishly out of place.

"it would have been better placed…weren't present at the Battle of Franklin":

Most likely better at the state capital building, but I believe it was focused upon the 300 men from that county that joined the USCT.

On the other hand, it could be seen as putting up a memorial on this site because of actions / policy that were common in that social environment at least 65 year ago. I got that feeling from the article.

To someone focused on history it is might seem similar to putting up a memorial to US Marines on Omaha Beach. The Marines fought on our side somewhere, so lets put it up here.

Also, Nashville gets a lot of visitors, this might be something to get people to visit Franklin. Although I've been to Franklin several times, it is beautiful area and really doesn't need more reasons to visit. I will seek this memorial out the next time I am there.

As a side note the memorial to the 54th MA (movie "Glory" fame) was the first memorial put up in recognition of the contribution of Black men fighting for the Federal government in the Civil War.

It was vandalized during the protests in 2020 by those protesting for "racial justice" who claim to know "their history". Ironic.

The memorial to Col Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts in Boston-it's located on Boston Common-is a magnificent sculpture which captures the essence of the regiment and its commander.

I saw it in 1991 and it more impressive in person.

And the regiment certainly deserved the memorial. It was an excellent unit, and contrary to popular opinion, it was not composed of former slaves. The troops were teachers, tradesmen, and sailors among other professions. They were northern freedmen. They were recruited in New England and Canada.

The Marines fought on our side somewhere, so lets put it up here.

The US Marine Corps fought in the Pacific and were recruited up to a stength of six divisions.

It is also noteworthy that between the wars the Marine Corps developed the amphibious doctrine that was employed by the US, Marine Corps and US Army, during War II. The Army was trained in amphibious warfare initially by the Marine Corps.

I am just seeing this now. What a great photo of the kid looking up at the statue. It does the heart good in these troubled times, much thanks.