Soldiers and Sailors Monument (Delphi, Indiana) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Soldiers and Sailors Monument |
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| Artist | Rudolf Schwarz Bruno Schmitz |
| Year | 1882-1888 |
| Type | Bronze Granite |
| Dimensions | 300 cm × 91 cm × 91 cm (120 in × 36 in × 36 in) |
| Location | Carroll County Courthouse, Delphi, Indiana, United States |
| 40°35′10.52″N 86°40′27.74″W / 40.5862556°N 86.6743722°W | |
| Owner | Carroll County Commissioners |
The Soldiers and Sailors Monument is a special statue located in Delphi, Indiana, in the United States. You can find it at the Carroll County Courthouse. This monument is part of a group of important historical places listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which includes the courthouse and the area around it.
Contents
What the Monument Looks Like
This monument is a memorial made from bronze and has a strong base made of granite. At the very top of a tall pole, there's a statue of a color bearer from the American Civil War. A color bearer was a soldier who carried the flag into battle.
Details of the Statue
The color bearer holds a rolled-up flag in both hands. It is held close to his left side. The tall pole he stands on is decorated with two pieces of bunting, which are like decorative cloths. You can also see eagles, military medals, and a row of mortar shells and round shot. These were types of old cannonballs.
The Base and Its Art
The bottom part of the monument looks like a castle wall, called a battlement. Each corner of this battlement has a bronze musket, which is an old type of gun. There are four muskets in total.
There are also four bronze pictures, called relief panels, on each side of the base. These pictures show different scenes from battles:
- One panel shows six infantrymen (foot soldiers) fighting eight artillerymen (soldiers who used cannons). This scene represents the Battle of Shiloh and the Battle of Stones River.
- Another panel shows soldiers leaving for battle and saying goodbye to their families. This represents fights at the Battle of the Wilderness and the Battle of Cedar Creek.
- A third panel is called The Return Home. It shows soldiers coming back from battles like the Siege of Vicksburg and the Battle of Champion Hill.
- The last panel shows cavalrymen (soldiers on horseback) fighting infantrymen. This represents the Battle of Antietam and the Battle of Gettysburg.
One of these panels is named "The Dying Soldier," but it's not clear which one it is. The base also has special cut stones decorating it.
Special Plaque
On the east side of the monument's base, there's a bronze plaque. It says:
- ERECTED BY CARROLL COUNTY INDIANA
- IN MEMORY OF HER SOLDIERS AND SAILORS
This means the people of Carroll County, Indiana, built this monument to remember their soldiers and sailors.
How the Monument Was Made
Carroll County decided to hold a worldwide competition to find the best design for this monument. This competition happened in 1887. A famous architect named Bruno Schmitz won the contest. He then hired Rudolf Schwarz to be the sculptor, meaning he would create the statues and figures.
When It Was Built
The exact date when the monument was put in place is a bit of a mystery. Records show that it might have been installed in 1882, 1886, or 1888.
More Interesting Facts
Historians have said that this monument combines an "Egyptian obelisk form with Romantic classical elements." An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument. This means it mixes old Egyptian styles with more artistic, classical designs.
The sculptor, Rudolf Schwarz, also worked on another very famous monument: the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument in Indianapolis. Because of this, the Delphi monument has some similar artistic ideas and influences.
How It's Kept Up
In 1993, a group called Save Outdoor Sculpture! checked on the monument. They found that it was being "well maintained." This means it was in good condition and being taken care of properly.
