Athens in Limestone County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Limestone County Confederate Memorial

Limestone County Confederate Monument image. Click for full size.

circa 2020

1. Limestone County Confederate Monument

Inscription. [Front]
Confederate
soldiers
of
Limestone County

[Side]
In memory of
Limestone's sons
This monument is erected
by their survivors
and
Joseph E. Johnston
Chapter U.D.C.
1909

[Side]
Ennobled by triumph
exalted by defeat.

[Rear]
The knightliest of the knightly race
who, since the days of old
have kept the lamps of chivalry
alight in hearts of gold."

Erected 1909 by Joseph E. Johnston Chapter, U.D.C.

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. 34° 48.189′ N, 86° 58.275′ W. Memorial is in Athens, Alabama, in Limestone County. It is at the intersection of Market Street West and South Marion Street, on the right when traveling east on Market Street West. Marker is located on Limestone County Courthouse grounds. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 200 W Washington St, Athens AL 35611, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in North Alabama

and in the Huntsville Metropolitan

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Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: North Side of Square (within shouting distance of this marker); Limestone County Vietnam War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); East Side of Square (within shouting distance of this marker); Battle of Sulphur Creek Trestle Surrender Site (within shouting distance of this marker); Limestone County Courthouse Bell (within shouting distance of this marker); Judge David Lee Rosenau, Jr. (within shouting distance of this marker); Limestone County Beirut Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Limestone County Iraq — Afghanistan Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker).

circa 2020

2. Limestone County Confederate Monument

Touch for a list and map of all markers in Athens.

Additional commentary.
1.
Description of sculpture:
Full-length figure of a soldier standing on a tall base. Figure wears a hat; a bedroll draped across proper left shoulder to proper right hip; long pants tucked into laced up boots; scabbard and knapsack on proper left hip. Figure stares straight ahead with both hands clasping rifle barrel with gun stock on the ground. Figure stands with weight on proper right leg; proper left leg slightly bent at the knee. Front of base has relief of flag draped around pole.

History of replaced sculpture (dedicated in 1917):
Base originally held another Confederate monument, which was relocated to Athens City Cemetery when a new courthouse was built and controversy arose over the bowed head of the soldier. Original sculpture and base funded by the United Daughters of the Confederacy and dedicated in 1909. Jerry Ragsdale designed and erected the base. T. Maclin Hobbs provided funds for the new sculpture and had an inscription by the poet Henry Timrod (The Knightliest of the Knightly Race Who, Since the Days of Old Have Kept the Lamps of Chivalry
circa 2020

3. Limestone County Confederate Monument
Alight in the Hearts Of Gold) added to the base in 1917. Source: Smithsonian AmericanArt Museum, Inventory of American Sculpture

— Submitted August 3, 2020.

Limestone County Confederate Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tracy Marsteller, September 27, 2020

4. Limestone County Confederate Memorial

Credits. This page was last revised on September 28, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 3, 2020. This page has been viewed 1,426 times since then and 56 times this year. Last updated on September 28, 2020. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 3, 2020. 4. submitted on September 28, 2020. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.