Cadwalader Heights in Trenton in Mercer County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Mercer County Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument

Front of Monument facing Park Entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Gary Nigh, December 2007

1. Front of Monument facing Park Entrance

On the base are two bronze Civil War figures, a Soldier and a Sailor. The Soldier is standing erect, with his gun resting vertically before him, his hands clasped around the barrel. The Sailor rests his proper right leg upon a coil of heavy rope, holding a telescope in his crossed arms.

Inscription. (Front): Mercer County to her sons
who served in the United States
Army and Navy
1861-1866.
Dedicated June 19, 1909
(Soldier’s Side): Liberty and Union
One Flag
One Land
One Nation Evermore
(Back): Erected as a tribute to Loyalty, Patriotism and Valor

(Sailor’s Side): Dulce et Decorum
Est
Pro Patria Mori
On fame’s eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread,
And glory guards with solemn round,
The bivouac of the dead.

Erected 1903.

Topics. This historical marker and monument is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is June 19, 1862.

Location. 40° 14.216′ N, 74° 47.29′ W. Marker is in Trenton, New Jersey, in Mercer County. It is in Cadwalader Heights. Marker is on Drive through Cadwalader Park, on the left. This marker is inside Cadwalader Park near the main entrance from Parkside Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Trenton NJ 08618, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Briar Patch (within shouting distance of this marker); Deer & Monkeys & Bears, Oh My! (within shouting distance of this marker); The Swamp Angel

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Cadwalader Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Trenton's Cadwalader Park (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cadwalader Park, Trenton (about 300 feet away); Ellarslie (about 500 feet away); Before the Park (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Trenton.

More about this monument. Etched in the granite around the perimeter of the base are battles where New Jersey units fought.
(East side): GETTYSBURG--APPOMATTOX
(West side): CHATTANOOGA--NASHVILLE
(North side): ANTIETAM--ATLANTA
(South side): NEW ORLEANS--MOBILE

Also, above the base on the column, carved into the column are the leaders, Farragut, Lincoln, and Grant.

Erected by the Mercer County Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument Association and funded by public subscriptions, for a total cost at the time of approximately $15,000. Charles P. Owen was the sculptor of the three bronze figures; Alfred R. Baxter, President of Alex. McDonald Company, was the architect and builder.

Related markers.

Back and Soldier's Side of Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Gary Nigh, December 2007

2. Back and Soldier's Side of Monument

Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. The soldier statue at the base of this monument is also featured on these monuments.

Also see . . . The Bivouac of the Dead. The short verse on the Sailor's side of the monument is from the poem The Bivouac of the Dead, by Theodore O'Hara. The poem has long been associated with national cemeteries throughout the country.

Also on the sailor's side of the statue is the Latin phrase Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori which is a line from the Roman lyrical poet Horace's Odes. The line roughly translates to: "It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country." (Submitted on December 12, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.)

Additional commentary.
1. Frank Palmer Price
Frank Palmer Price, from Trenton, NJ, modeled for the soldier on the statue. Frank P. Price served two tours during the Spanish-American War in the Fife, Drum and Bugle Corps. They made many molds of him and sold them around the country to towns for memorial parks. He is in Lambertville, NJ on a statue in Mary Sheridan Park; Flemington, NJ; Marathon, NY; California, etc.

I am his great-granddaughter and I have his fife and bugle and other memorabilia. His silver fife was played by a relative

Back and Sailor's Side of Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Gary Nigh, December 2007

3. Back and Sailor's Side of Monument

in the Civil War, both names are inscribed on the fife with the dates.

The recent photo does not show the four cannons that circled the monument. I believe the whereabouts of three are known.

Editor's Note: Thank you for sharing a piece of your family's history related to this marker. Note To Editor only visible by Contributor and editor

— Submitted August 19, 2010.

View of the entire Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Gary Nigh, December 2007

4. View of the entire Monument

The column features a capital of unfurling acanthus leaves, eagles and shields bearing the stars and stripes, supporting a single bronze figure of a Civil War Color Guard. He embraces the American flag in his left hand and reaches for the hilt of his sword with his right. Total heighth is approximately 50 feet.

Mercer County Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By A.L. Opdyke of Trenton, New Jersey, 1912

5. Mercer County Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument

5x7 inch glass negative is in the collection of Richard Burton, flickr user rich701, and reproduced here by kind permission.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 9, 2007, by Gary Nigh of Trenton, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 2,581 times since then and 34 times this year. Last updated on December 2, 2021, by Mary Gilbert of Tucson, Arizona. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 9, 2007, by Gary Nigh of Trenton, New Jersey. 5. submitted on May 6, 2012. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.