Unknown Soldier Monument

Unknown Soldier Monument. An Early Memorial. This 1869 memorial to unknown Confederate dead is one of the oldest Civil War monuments in Tennessee and is a rare example of Reconstruction-era memorialization. The monument's location within a cemetery reflects the mourning element common to the first Civil War monuments in the South., After the end of the war, local women raised funds to disinter the bodies of Confederate soldiers from throughout the country and rebury them here. Dr. John H. Morton and the Union City Fire Company promoted the project in the Union City Herald. Tennessee poet Annie Somers Gilchrist honored the women's efforts in “The Unknown Confederate Dead.”, Some of the men had died at nearby Camp Brown, a training camp, while others had belonged to the 7th Tennessee Cavalry. The cemetery planners recognized the significance of Union City as a railroad junction. Oaken steps led to the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad, and a double-arched gate faced it., On October 21, 1869, the Union City brass band led a procession here for the dedication ceremony. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the local Masonic fraternity participated. The Reverend W.T. Harris delivered the funeral oration at the Union City Cumberland Presbyterian Church., The base of the monument, later vandalized, contained a Confederate rifle, a Bible, and a history of the monument. About seventy years after the dedication, the Leonidas Polk Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy prevailed on county officials to spend $100 to repair it. The monument was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977., (Side panel) , The Unknown Confederate Dead , [Written while the ladies of Union City were engaged in the work of raising means to rebury the Confederate dead at that place in 1868.], Thrice noble aim befitting hands so fair, , Befitting hearts so gentle and so true, , Cause that might claim an angel's loving care , Now claims this pure and holy trust from you., Ah, broken hearts no doubt have waited long , For the return of each one sleeping here, , Waited and prayed and heard Hope's siren song, , Till wailing dirges reached each list'ning ear., Perhaps, dear friends, for one who came not back , You waited thus, prayed, wept, and watched; I have, , My brother perished on war's blasting track , And sleeps now in a lonely, unknown grave., Pale Sorrow, somewhat hushed, to-day arose, , And flitted slowly, through fond Memory's hall; , Again my soul bowed down beneath the throes , War gave when o'er the South he flung his pall., Five dreary winters have their dirges sung , Above my knightly playmate brother's grave; , Mayhap some stranger hand hath kindly flung , A chaplet o'er the mound of mine own brave., If so, a sister's heart would bless the hands, , E'en as the loved of these would bless you, friends, , And hope to clasp them in the starry lands, , Where peaceful, joyous union never ends., (Captions) , (Bottom left) Postwar memorialization Courtesy Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area , (Top center) Poet Annie Gilchrist , Courtesy Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area , (Right) “The Unknown Confederate Dead,” by Annie Gilchrist Courtesy Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area