32nd Indiana Monument facts for kids
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August Bloedner Monument
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Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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The Monument, during restoration
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| Location | Louisville, Kentucky |
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| Built | December 1861 or January 1862 |
| Architect | Adolph Bloettner |
| MPS | Civil War Monuments of Kentucky MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 97000688 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 17, 1997 |
| Removed from NRHP | November 19, 2010 |
The 32nd Indiana Monument, also known as the August Bloedner Monument, is a special memorial. It honors the Union soldiers of the 32nd Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment. This group was also called Indiana's "1st German" regiment. These brave soldiers died in the Battle of Rowlett's Station on December 17, 1861. This battle happened near Munfordville, Kentucky.
The monument was first placed at Fort Willich in January 1862. Later, in June 1867, it was moved to Cave Hill National Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky. Because it was very old and fragile, the monument was moved again in 2008. It was carefully repaired at the University of Louisville. In August 2010, it went on display at the Frazier History Museum in Louisville. Even though it's not in its first spot, many people believe the 32nd Indiana Monument is the oldest surviving memorial from the American Civil War. A new monument was put at Cave Hill National Cemetery in December 2011.
Contents
The Monument's Journey: A Look at Its History
On December 17, 1861, the 32nd Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment fought its first big battle. This was the Battle of Rowlett's Station, south of Munfordville, Kentucky. The soldiers successfully defended an important bridge. Newspapers across the country praised them for holding their ground. This battle was special because the Union infantry fought well in the open. They stopped repeated attacks from Confederate cavalry. The 32nd Indiana lost 46 soldiers in this fight. Thirteen were killed, 28 were wounded, and 5 were captured.
How the Monument Was Made
Soon after the battle, a soldier named Christian Friedrich August Bloedner created a memorial. He was a private in the 32nd Indiana from Cincinnati, Ohio. He carved the monument from limestone to remember his friends who had died. The monument was placed where the Union soldiers were buried. This was at Fort Willich, near Munfordville, Kentucky, in mid-January 1862.
Moving to a New Home
In June 1867, a new cemetery was built. It was called Cave Hill National Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky. The monument and the bodies of 21 Union soldiers were moved there. Fourteen of these soldiers were from the 32nd Indiana. They were moved from Fort Willich to the new national cemetery.
Protecting the Oldest Civil War Memorial
On July 17, 1997, the 32nd Indiana Monument was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list recognizes important historical sites. Over time, the monument's limestone has been damaged by pollution and weather. Most of the original words carved on it have faded away. A wooden cover was put up to protect it.
Because it was in such bad shape, the monument was moved in December 2008. It went to the University of Louisville for special care. Experts cleaned it and fixed the stone. They suggested that the monument should be kept indoors to protect it.
Finding a Permanent Display Spot
There were ideas to move the monument indoors to the Hart County Historical Society Museum. This museum is in Munfordville. They also thought about making copies of the monument from granite. These copies would go to Cave Hill National Cemetery and the original spot at Fort Willich.
Other museums also wanted to display the monument. The Frazier History Museum in Louisville and the Patton Museum at Fort Knox, Kentucky were interested. The Frazier History Museum was chosen to keep the monument for a long time. In August 2010, the repaired monument was placed in the museum's lobby. Visitors can see it there without paying.
On November 19, 2010, the monument was removed from the National Register of Historic Places. A new monument for the 32nd Indiana was placed at Cave Hill National Cemetery. It has words in both German and English. This new monument was dedicated on December 16, 2011.
What the Monument Looks Like
The monument was first meant to lie flat on the ground. But when it moved to Cave Hill National Cemetery, it was set upright. The German community in Louisville helped add a stone base. This base was about 16 inches (41 cm) wide and 67 inches (170 cm) long. It stood 8 inches (20 cm) above the ground. The monument itself weighs about 3,500 pounds (1,588 kg).
Carvings and Inscriptions
At the top of the monument's front, there is a carving of an eagle. The eagle holds two cannons with cannonballs below them. On each side, there are olive and oak branches next to American flags. Below this carving, a stone tablet has words in German. It also lists the names of 13 soldiers from the 32nd Indiana. These soldiers died at the Battle of Rowlett's Station. Their ranks and birth years are also listed.
The German words on the monument are hard to read now. But old records show what they said in English:
HERE REST THE FIRST HEROES OF THE 32ND INDIANA GERMAN REGIMENT WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES FOR PRESERVATION OF THE FREE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF NORTH AMERICA. THEY WERE KILLED DECEMBER 17, 1861. IN A FIGHT WITH THE REBELS AT ROWLETT'S STATION, KENTUCKY, IN WHICH ONE REGIMENT TEXAS RANGERS, TWO REGIMENTS OF INFANTRY, AND A BATTERY OF SIX CANNON, OVER 3,000 STRONG, WERE DEFEATED BY 500 GERMAN SOLDIERS.
There are also words in English on the monument's base. They say:
IN MEMORY OF THE FIRST VICTIMS OF THE 32 REG. INDIANA VOL. WHO FELL AT THE BATTLE OF ROWLETT'S STATION DECEMBER 17, 1861
Why This Monument is Important Today
Even though the 32nd Indiana Monument has been moved, it is often seen as the oldest surviving memorial from the American Civil War. The National Park Service considers another monument, the Hazen Brigade Monument, to be the oldest intact Civil War monument in the United States. This monument is at Stones River National Battlefield, Tennessee. It was placed in 1863, a year after the 32nd Indiana Monument was first put up. An even earlier monument was built after the First Battle of Bull Run (1861) in Virginia, but it no longer exists.
