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“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
Chapel Hill in Orange County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
REMOVED
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Silent Sam

 
 
Silent Sam Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, April 29, 2018
1. Silent Sam Marker
To the Sons of the University who entered the war of 1861-1865 in answer to the call of their country and whose lives taught the lesson of their great commander that duty is the sublimest word in the English language.

The quotation "Duty is the sublimest word in the English language..." is misattributed to Robert E. Lee. It appeared in an 1852 letter supposedly from Lee to his son, G. W. Custis Lee which was published in the New York Sun on November 26, 1864. The letter has turned out to be a forgery.
Inscription.
To the Sons of the University
who entered the War of 1861-65
in answer to the call of their
country and whose lives
taught the lesson of
their great commander that
duty is the sublimest word
in the English language.

Erected under the auspices
of the
North Carolina Division
of the United Daughters of
the Confederacy
aided by the alumni of
the University

 
Erected 1913 by The United Daughters of the Confederacy, North Carolina Divsion.
 
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the United Daughters of the Confederacy series list.
 
Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 35° 54.832′ N, 79° 3.135′ W. Marker was in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in Orange County. Memorial could be reached from the intersection of East Franklin Street and Henderson Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Chapel Hill NC 27514, United States of America.

We have been informed that this sign or monument is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. University of N.C. at Chapel Hill (within shouting distance of this marker); Astronaut Training (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Strowd Building (about 500 feet away); Old Sawpit Site (about 600 feet away); Carolina Coffee Shop (about 600 feet away); Old East (about 800 feet away); University Florist (about 800 feet away); Kuralt Building (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chapel Hill.
 
Regarding Silent Sam. The monument's statue was toppled by a group of protesters and then removed on August 20, 2018.

The University says that “Silent Sam” was silent because he wears no cartridge box and so could not fire his rifle. Student forklore has it that Sam's rifle goes off whenever a virgin passes by, hence “Silent Sam.”
 
Also see . . .
1. Silent Sam. Wikipedia. (Submitted on November 13, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.) 

2. Confederate Monument. UNC Graduate School. (Submitted on November 13, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.) 
 
Silent Sam Marker image. Click for full size.
July 22, 2015
2. Silent Sam Marker
Erected under the auspices of the North Carolina Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy aided by the alumni of the University.
Silent Sam Marker image. Click for full size.
July 22, 2015
3. Silent Sam Marker
Silent Sam image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Wikipedia, March 24, 2007
4. Silent Sam
Silent Sam image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Wikipedia
5. Silent Sam
Model by John A. Wilson, in his studio.
North Carolina Urges a Student to Join the Cause. image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, April 29, 2018
6. North Carolina Urges a Student to Join the Cause.
In this panel on the front of the Confederate monument, a woman representing the State of North Carolina urges a student to abandon his books and join the Confederate cause.
John Wilson's Signature on the Confederate Monument image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, April 29, 2018
7. John Wilson's Signature on the Confederate Monument
Silent Sam image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, April 29, 2018
8. Silent Sam
Student image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, April 29, 2018
9. Student
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on May 11, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 667 times since then and 10 times this year. Last updated on May 11, 2023, by Michael Buckner of Durham, North Carolina. Photos:   1. submitted on May 6, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.   2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 13, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.   6, 7. submitted on May 6, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.   8, 9. submitted on May 7, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.

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Mar. 19, 2024