Suffolk, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Confederate Monument

Photographed By Cynthia L. Clark, April 28, 2017

1. Confederate Monument

Inscription.
(front) Confederate Dead

Erected by Thos W. Smith in memory of his comrades.

(side) This shaft on which we carve no name, shall guide Virginia's youth - a sign-post on the road to fame, to honor and to truth.

A silent sentry, it shall stand to guard thro' coming time their graves who died for native land and duty most sublime.

(side) With shouts above the battle's roar they join the legions gone before; they bravely fought, they bravely fell, they wore the Gray and wore it well.

(rear) 1861-1889.

Erected 1889 by Col. Thomas W. Smith.

Topics. This monument and memorial is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, US Civil.

Location. 36° 44.097′ N, 76° 34.745′ W. Marker is in Suffolk, Virginia. Memorial can be reached from Mahan Street, 0.2 miles east of North Main Street. The monument stands in Cedar Hill Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 105 Mahan Street, Suffolk VA 23434, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Siege of Suffolk (here, next to this marker); Remembrance Garden Monuments (within shouting distance of this marker); Watering Fountain (within shouting distance of this

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marker); Civil War Militia of Suffolk and Nansemond County (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Spanish War Veterans Memorial (about 500 feet away); World War I Monument (about 600 feet away); World War II Memorial (about 800 feet away); Korea and Vietnam Wars Memorial (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Suffolk.

More about this monument. Traditionally referred to as the “Confederate Monument,” the inscription on the shaft’s base is “Confederate Dead.” This monument is described in documentation filed with the National Register of Historic Places and Virginia Landmarks Register. John P. Hall of Norfolk, Virginia is named as the designer. It is also included on Virginia Civil War Trails.

A photo of the monument is in the book, Suffolk: A Celebration of History, by Kermit Hobbs and William A. Paquette where the caption states that it was unveiled on November 14, 1889. And that “Col. Thomas W. Smith, president of First National Bank in Suffolk, provided the money to erect a monument in the center of Cedar Hill Cemetery.”

The

Site of the Confederate Monument. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cynthia L. Clark, May 10, 2017

2. Site of the Confederate Monument.

Illuminated by late afternoon sunlight, the monument faces west on its corner lot in Cedar Hill Cemetery. The two white pillars in the foreground wear plaques presented by the Tom Smith Camp No. 1702, Sons of Confederate Veterans (pictured left) and United Daughters of the Confederacy, Suffolk Chapter 173 (pictured right). A Virginia Civil War Trails marker, Siege of Suffolk, Bacon for the Confederacy, stands right of the gate.

monument’s site appears to change over time, based on various photographs of it. For example, in April 2009, the site was enclosed with a black gated fence. But in May 2017, the fence is gone; only the gate and fence posts are standing. See the nearby marker section for “Siege of Suffolk, Bacon for the Confederacy” to compare.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . .
1. A Cedar Hill Cemetery brochure. (Submitted on May 31, 2017, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia.)
2. A list of Confederate monuments and memorials (wikipedia.org). (Submitted on May 31, 2017, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia.)
3. Virginia Landmarks Register listing for the City of Suffolk. (Submitted on May 31, 2017, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia.)
4. Cedar Hill Cemetery website. (Submitted on May 31, 2017, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia.)

A rear view of the Confederate Monument. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cynthia L. Clark, May 10, 2017

3. A rear view of the Confederate Monument.

The filtered light of a partly cloudy day reveres the monument and its surrounding area.

A right side (north) view of the Confederate Monument. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cynthia L. Clark, April 28, 2017

4. A right side (north) view of the Confederate Monument.

Pictured in the lower left corner, at the right of a short black fence pole, is a small monument inscribed with the name, “Thos. W. Smith.” See the close-up of it.

A left side (south) view of the Confederate Monument. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cynthia L. Clark, April 28, 2017

5. A left side (south) view of the Confederate Monument.

In the left foreground, near the red flowers, is a small monument inscribed with the name, “Thos. W. Smith.” See the close-up of it.

A monument inscribed with Thos. W. Smith. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cynthia L. Clark, May 10, 2017

6. A monument inscribed with Thos. W. Smith.

This monument stands adjacent to the Confederate Monument site. It is pictured in the photos of left side (south) and right side (north) views.

Detail of the monument’s north panel inscription. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cynthia L. Clark, April 28, 2017

7. Detail of the monument’s north panel inscription.

Detail of the rear base inscription. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cynthia L. Clark, April 28, 2017

8. Detail of the rear base inscription.

Cedar Hill Cemetery and Virginia Civil War Trails Signs. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cynthia L. Clark, May 10, 2017

9. Cedar Hill Cemetery and Virginia Civil War Trails Signs.

The two signs are on the right side (east) of North Main Street, heading north. What appears to be a driveway near the utility pole is Mahan Street, the main entrance lane to Cedar Hill Cemetery. Monument Alley, a war memorial exhibition, is on the median of that street.

Detail of the monument’s south panel inscription. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cynthia L. Clark, April 28, 2017

10. Detail of the monument’s south panel inscription.

Detail of the northwest pillar inscription. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cynthia L. Clark, April 28, 2017

11. Detail of the northwest pillar inscription.

(shield inscription): Sons of Confederate Veterans 1896. The Tom Smith Camp No. 1702, Sons of Confederate Veterans Suffolk, Virginia is proud to have made the restoration of this site possible. 1997-2001. Future generations must never forget the valor of the southern soldiers, the principles for which they fought, their loyalty to state, devotion to duty, and their personal sacrifices. Deo Vindice

Detail of the southwest pillar inscription. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cynthia L. Clark, April 28, 2017

12. Detail of the southwest pillar inscription.

This cornerstone was placed by the Suffolk Chapter No. 173, United Daughters of the Confederacy. 2000.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 31, 2017, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia. This page has been viewed 845 times since then and 65 times this year. Last updated on June 1, 2017, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 31, 2017, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia. 7, 8. submitted on June 15, 2017, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia. 9. submitted on June 1, 2017, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia. 10. submitted on June 15, 2017, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia. 11, 12. submitted on June 1, 2017, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.