Confederate Monument (Liberty, Mississippi) facts for kids
Works Progress Administration picture of the monument, c. 1936–1941
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| Location | Liberty, Mississippi |
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| Designer | A. J. Lewis |
| Material | Italian marble (shaft) Granite and brick (base) |
| Height | 21.5 ft (6.6 m) |
| Dedicated to | Confederate soldiers from Amite County, Mississippi who died in the American Civil War |
The Confederate Monument in Liberty, Mississippi, United States is a monument built to remember Confederate soldiers from Amite County, Mississippi who died in the American Civil War. It was officially opened in 1871. This monument was the first Confederate monument built in Mississippi. It was also one of the very first such monuments in the whole United States. In 1988, it was named a Mississippi Landmark, which means it's an important historical site.
A Look Back: The Monument's Story
The first stone for the monument was placed in 1866. This happened in a small park near the Liberty Presbyterian Church in downtown Liberty, Mississippi. The land for the monument was given by a local group called the Liberty Lodge of Masons in 1868.
A group called the Amite County Monument and Historical Association was formed in 1866. Over the next five years, they worked hard to collect more than $3,300. This money was used to create a monument for the Confederate soldiers from Amite County, Mississippi who had died.
The association hired A. J. Lewis from Brookhaven, Mississippi to design the monument. It was finished in March 1871. The monument was actually built in New Orleans. Then, it was shipped to Liberty. For the last 30 miles to the town, it was pulled by oxen. The monument was officially dedicated on April 26, 1871. It is special because it was the first Confederate monument in Mississippi. It was also one of the earliest ones in the entire United States.
On December 15, 1988, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) officially recognized the monument. They named it a Mississippi Landmark. This means it is an important historical place in Mississippi. The recognition was recorded on February 6 of the next year. In 2002, the MDAH put up a special sign, a historical marker, near the monument.
What the Monument Looks Like
The monument has a tall shaft that is about 20 feet (6.1 meters) high. This shaft is made of Italian marble. It sits on a base made of granite that is 7 feet (2.1 meters) square. This granite base then rests on a larger brick base that is 9 feet (2.7 meters) square. The entire structure stands over 21.5 feet (6.6 meters) tall.
At the very top of the monument, there is a star and a Greek urn. The monument has words carved into it. They say:
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF THE SOLDIERS FROM AMITE COUNTY WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. ERECTED BY THE CITIZENS OF AMITE COUNTY IN 1871.
Also, the names of 279 Confederate soldiers from Amite County who died are carved onto the shaft of the monument.
