Charlotte Court House in Charlotte County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Confederate Monument Interpretation

Photographed by Mark Parker, December 12, 2024

1. Confederate Monument Interpretation Marker

Inscription.

Confederate Monument Interpretation. . , (Preface) From 1861 To 1865, Our country was torn apart by a Civil War that pitted North against South, brother against brother, father against son, neighbor against neighbor. The impact of the war and its aftermath are still felt today as Americans continue to grapple with physical reminders of a key historical time. For some, they represent pride in their heritage. To others, a continued reminder of a dark time in our history. Here, we explore both views, take time to develop a deeper understanding of historical events that have taken place, shaped our country, and continue to impact the community we live in., A Memorial to Confederate Veterans and Dead. , The Casualties of War , In the decades leading up to 1860, regional disputes over individual state's rights, interpretation of key parts of the Constitution, and slavery would drive a wedge between Northern and Southern sections of the country. It came to a head in 1860 when Abraham Lincoln was elected president., Convinced that Lincoln and the Republican Party threatened the very existence of the Southern states, on December 20, 1860, South Carolina formally seceded from the Union, followed quickly by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. For Virginia, the "mother state", the decision to secede did not come so easily., After months of debate, the Virginia Secession Convention was held in April 1861, in Richmond, with 152 delegates representing each of the counties in attendance. On April 4, an Ordinance of Secession was put to a vote and soundly rejected with hopes that compromises could be reached to diffuse the situation., That would change with the attack on Fort Sumter on April 12-13 and President Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteer troops to squash the rebellion in the Southern states. With this call to take up arms against "our brothers in the South" opinions shifted., On April 17, 1861, the Virginia Secession Convention voted 88-55 to leave the Union. Virginians expressed their agreement with secession at the polls on May 23, 1861. Within weeks Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee followed suit, and the Confederate States of America was born., The ensuing Civil War forced this young nation to confront death and destruction in a way that had not been equaled before or since. Soldiers going to war, sometimes fighting on opposite sides from neighbors and kin, wreaked havoc on homes and communities., As the men went off to war, women were left to care for the home, children, and crops. Families of Confederate soldiers were faced with threats of starvation, poverty, disease, and lack of defense. Southern women were increasingly confronted with accumulating debt, foreclosure on their properties, and the possibility of other assets such as already scarce food or livestock being taken by occupying Union soldiers and even Confederate forces., No one had expected the scale and duration of the war, Both the North and the South were unprepared for the size of the battles and the great number of casualties. It is estimated one in three Southern households lost at least one family member, a rate three times that of their Northern counterparts. Two out of three soldiers died from disease rather than battle., From 1861-1865, there were more battles fought in the state of Virginia than any other state, among them the Battle of Staunton River Bridge in Charlotte County. Virginia alone lost over 30,000 men., Most soldiers who died on battlefields, in field hospitals, or prison camps were buried where they fell. At the end of the war, search and recovery teams visited many of the places where soldiers may have been hastily buried and removed their remains to bring them home. Unfortunately, there were many who would never be found., In the fall of 1865, the federal government began an inventory of Union graves scattered across the South. Since this undertaking included only Union soldiers, Southerners (mostly women) mobilized to accomplish the same for their dead., The Ladles Memorial Associations were local groups formed to track down the remains of more than 260,000 Confederate soldiers. They would reinter them in Confederate cemeteries, which would eventually be the resting place for approximately 80 percent of those found. The Associations then established an annual tradition of placing flowers and evergreens on the graves., Despite these efforts, at least half the Civil War dead were never identified, and tens of thousands of families were left without the knowledge of their loved ones fates, circumstances of death, or place of burial., A Monument to Valor , In the latter part of the 19th century, the Ladles' Memorial Associations, in conjunction with male veterans groups, began raising monies to erect monuments to Confederate soldiers across the South., H.A. Carrington Camp, No. 34 Confederate Veterans was organized in Charlotte County in June 1894. On September 22, 1894, a committee was appointed to hold a series of lectures, concerts, etc. for the purpose of soliciting donations for a monument to be erected in Smithville (Charlotte Court House) to honor the Confederate dead and veterans., On October 16, 1900, the Charlotte County Board of Supervisors, chaired by former Confederate Captain John R. Bailey, authorized the erection of "a monument to the Confederates of the County in the Court House Square...", The cornerstone of the Confederate monument was laid in front of the courthouse on November 22, 1900. It was a huge day-long event that included speeches, a parade, a tournament, and a ball. Railroads offered special round-trip fares to the event., On February 8, 1901, the General Assembly passed an act authorizing the Board of Supervisors of Charlotte County to enter into a contract with H. A. Carrington Camp-No. 34 Confederate Veterans to erect and maintain the monument on the courthouse square., The unveiling of the newly erected statue was held on August 27, 1901, with the public invited., The monument was dedicated with Masonic honors and great fanfare including a parade with floats, a band, civic groups, and veterans in uniform. There was a 21-gun salute by a 3-inch howitzer and many speeches. Lunch was served, and in the afternoon, there was a jousting tournament and young ladies gave a Calisthenic Drill. The day ended with a Coronation Ball where Miss Julia Morton was crowned Queen., The Times of Richmond called the crowd "one of the largest that ever assembled in Charlotte County." The Richmond Dispatch said there were "thousands" present. Delegates from the Constitutional Convention being held in Richmond took time off to attend the event., Major J. B. McPhail of Randolph was too ill to attend, but sent a letter which was read to the crowd and printed in The Charlotte Gazette.

"…It is not, indeed, a monument to victory but to all that was possible to the valor of the brave. It is the grateful offering of a conquered people to the memory of defeated soldiers…it happily comes in time to be accepted by living veterans for their dead comrades, many of whom sleep on distant battle fields, in graves unmarked by stone nor flower: save those kind Nature scatters…"

The statue of Italian marble and shaft of Virginia granite was made by C.M. Walsh of the Cockade Marble Works, Petersburg, Virginia. According to The Charlotte Gazette, the total cost was approximately $1300., On April 17, 1902, the Board of Supervisors signed a contract to assume ownership of the monument.

"…that the said H.A. Carrington Camp No. 34 Confederate Veterans in consideration of the Board of Supervisors paying off the said sum of $340.00 due on the said Monument...hereby make and transfer unto the said County of Charlotte all right and title to the said Confederate Monument and…that said County of Charlotte shall undertake to preserve and keep in repair said Monument."

In December 1916, the memorial was moved to the intersection of Route 40 and LeGrande Avenue at a cost of $2122. In September 1954, it was returned to the courthouse green at the expense of the State Highway Commission., The Monument and the Constitutional Convention of 1901-1902. , A Symbol of Power and Oppression , While supporters of "The Lost Cause" viewed this monument as a memorial to their lost sons, husbands, and brothers, others saw it as a symbol of power and continued oppression by unreconstructed Southerners who wanted to deprive Black citizens of their hard-won rights., With the Emancipation of enslaved people following the defeat of the Confederacy, Virginia and the rest of the South saw an increase in lynching and other acts of terror perpetrated against Black citizens Between 1886 and 1890, three Black men were lynched in Charlotte County - Richard Walker, William Blankenship, and Thaddeus Fowlkes., In 1867-1868, Virginia held a Constitutional Convention as a requirement for its re-admittance to the Union. Twenty-four delegates were Black, including Joseph R. Holmes of Charlotte County. Holmes was later murdered here at the courthouse for his stand on civil rights., The new Virginia constitution, adopted on April 17, 1868 and ratified on July 6, 1869, granted the vote or "franchise" to all male citizens of Virginia 21+ years old. It also established public schools for all., On July 9, 1868, the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified granting citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and guaranteeing protection under the law., On February 3, 1870, the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified guaranteeing Black men the right to vote., Many White Southerners refused to accept the new laws, continuing to espouse the view that Blacks were inherently inferior. Local and state legislatures passed "Black codes" and later, "Jim Crow" laws aimed at controlling and subjugating Black citizens and ensuring a separation of Blacks and Whites. While on the surface these laws appeared to establish "separate but equal" treatment for all. In practice they condemned Black citizens to Inferior treatment and services., Many of those who participated in the dedication of this monument were actively working to deprive Black citizens of their rights under the U.S. Constitution., Despite this opposition, from 1867 until the 1890s, many Blacks served in federal, state, and county government jobs. During the same period, about 100 Black men served in the Virginia General Assembly, at least six of them elected to represent Charlotte County. From 1890 to 1968, no Blacks were elected to the General Assembly., In response to the push to pay Virginia's growing debt in its entirety at the expense of public schools and other state programs, in 1879, many Black men joined Republicans and some White Democrats, farmers and workers to form the Readjuster Party under the leadership of William Mahone, a railroad executive and former Confederate General., By 1882, the bi-racial party controlled both houses of the General Assembly and all state-wide offices. They successfully reduced the principal and interest due on the debt, while passing other important reforms including the elimination of the poll tax and the expansion of public schools. Their success was short-lived., Playing on White fears, in the election of 1885, the Democratic Party once again won control of the state government and began actively advocating for constitutional reform. Calling for a new Virginia constitutional convention, depriving Black men of the right to vote was one of their principal objectives, with many people stating that intent publicly and in print:

"The majority of the good citizens here [Charlotte County]…want the ignorant, malicious and irresponsible negro disenfranchised…" (T.A. Proctor, Jr, Drakes Branch, The (Richmond) Times, August 28, 1901).

On May 24, 1900, voters approved a state referendum to hold a constitutional convention. To garner the Republican vote, Democratic Party leaders publicly promised that a new constitution would be put to a statewide referendum for approval. That promise would prove to be a sham., The Constitutional Convention , The convention convened in Richmond on June 12, 1901. There were 100 delegates but only 11 Republicans; the rest were Democrats. There were no Black delegates. The Democrat who represented Charlotte County was David Quin Eggleston, a 44-year-old lawyer from Smithville (Charlotte Court House) who strongly opposed Black suffrage (the right to vote) and Black education., On July 9, a delegation of prominent Black citizens met with members of the convention to plead for their continued rights. Mr. William P, Morton of Charlotte County addressed Mr. Eggleston directly.

"That we pray and entreat the Hon. D.Q. Eggleston…to put forth his best efforts to thwart any measure that will tend to strip us of our manhood or close the door of knowledge on us." (Richmond Planet, July 13, 1901)

On August 27, 1901, while the convention was going on in Richmond this monument was dedicated amid great pomp and pageantry. David Quin Eggleston and others took time from their duties as delegates to participate in the unveiling., On August 28, the front page of The Richmond Dispatch carried side by side articles about the dedication and the Suffrage Committee's preparing to present its report to the convention. The Committee's proposed voting clause would effectively disenfranchise Black voters., The constitutional convention ended on June 26, 1902, after the members, including Mr. Eggleston, voted overwhelmingly to renege on their promise to present the new constitution to voters for approval. On July 10, 1902, they simply proclaimed it the new law.

"Our people do not think it the part of wisdom to submit the Constitution to the people. Too many men of too man minds" (Dr. Floyd J. Gregory, Keysville, The (Richmond) Times, August 28, 1901).

(Preface) From 1861 To 1865, Our country was torn apart by a Civil War that pitted North against South, brother against brother, father against son, neighbor against neighbor. The impact of the war and its aftermath are still felt today as Americans continue to grapple with physical reminders of a key historical time. For some, they represent pride in their heritage. To others, a continued reminder of a dark time in our history. Here, we explore both views, take time to develop a deeper understanding of historical events that have taken place, shaped our country, and continue to impact the community we live in.

A Memorial to Confederate Veterans and Dead
The Casualties of War
In the decades leading up to 1860, regional disputes over individual state's rights, interpretation of key parts of the Constitution, and slavery would drive a wedge between Northern and Southern sections of the country. It came to a head in 1860 when Abraham Lincoln was elected president.

Convinced that Lincoln and the Republican Party threatened the very existence of the Southern states, on December 20, 1860, South Carolina formally

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seceded from the Union, followed quickly by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. For Virginia, the "mother state", the decision to secede did not come so easily.

After months of debate, the Virginia Secession Convention was held in April 1861, in Richmond, with 152 delegates representing each of the counties in attendance. On April 4, an Ordinance of Secession was put to a vote and soundly rejected with hopes that compromises could be reached to diffuse the situation.

That would change with the attack on Fort Sumter on April 12-13 and President Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteer troops to squash the rebellion in the Southern states. With this call to take up arms against "our brothers in the South" opinions shifted.

On April 17, 1861, the Virginia Secession Convention voted 88-55 to leave the Union. Virginians expressed their agreement with secession at the polls on May 23, 1861. Within weeks Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee followed suit, and the Confederate States of America was born.

The ensuing Civil War forced this young nation to confront death and destruction in a way that had not

Confederate Monument Interpretation Marker, next to the Confederate Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, December 12, 2024

2. Confederate Monument Interpretation Marker, next to the Confederate Monument

Charlotte District Court House is in the background.

been equaled before or since. Soldiers going to war, sometimes fighting on opposite sides from neighbors and kin, wreaked havoc on homes and communities.

As the men went off to war, women were left to care for the home, children, and crops. Families of Confederate soldiers were faced with threats of starvation, poverty, disease, and lack of defense. Southern women were increasingly confronted with accumulating debt, foreclosure on their properties, and the possibility of other assets such as already scarce food or livestock being taken by occupying Union soldiers and even Confederate forces.

No one had expected the scale and duration of the war, Both the North and the South were unprepared for the size of the battles and the great number of casualties. It is estimated one in three Southern households lost at least one family member, a rate three times that of their Northern counterparts. Two out of three soldiers died from disease rather than battle.

From 1861-1865, there were more battles fought in the state of Virginia than any other state, among them the Battle of Staunton River Bridge in Charlotte County. Virginia alone

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lost over 30,000 men.

Most soldiers who died on battlefields, in field hospitals, or prison camps were buried where they fell. At the end of the war, search and recovery teams visited many of the places where soldiers may have been hastily buried and removed their remains to bring them home. Unfortunately, there were many who would never be found.

In the fall of 1865, the federal government began an inventory of Union graves scattered across the South. Since this undertaking included only Union soldiers, Southerners (mostly women) mobilized to accomplish the same for their dead.

The Ladles Memorial Associations were local groups formed to track down the remains of more than 260,000 Confederate soldiers. They would reinter them in Confederate cemeteries, which would eventually be the resting place for approximately 80 percent of those found. The Associations then established an annual tradition of placing flowers and evergreens on the graves.

Despite these efforts, at least half the Civil War dead were never identified, and tens of thousands of families were left without the knowledge of their loved ones fates, circumstances of death, or place of burial.

A Monument to Valor
In the latter part of the 19th century, the Ladles' Memorial Associations, in conjunction with male veterans groups, began raising monies to erect monuments to Confederate soldiers across the South.

H.A. Carrington Camp, No. 34 Confederate Veterans was organized in Charlotte County in June 1894. On September 22, 1894, a committee was appointed to hold a series of lectures, concerts, etc. for the purpose of soliciting donations for a monument to be erected in Smithville (Charlotte Court House) to honor the Confederate dead and veterans.

On October 16, 1900, the Charlotte County Board of Supervisors, chaired by former Confederate Captain John R. Bailey, authorized the erection of "a monument to the Confederates of the County in the Court House Square..."

The cornerstone of the Confederate monument was laid in front of the courthouse on November 22, 1900. It was a huge day-long event that included speeches, a parade, a tournament, and a ball. Railroads offered special round-trip fares to the event.

On February 8, 1901, the General Assembly passed an act authorizing the Board of Supervisors of Charlotte County to enter into a contract with H. A. Carrington Camp-No. 34 Confederate Veterans to erect and maintain the monument on the courthouse square.

The unveiling of the newly erected statue was held on August 27, 1901, with the public invited.

The monument was dedicated with Masonic honors and great fanfare including a parade with floats, a band, civic groups, and veterans in uniform. There was a 21-gun salute by a 3-inch howitzer and many speeches. Lunch was served, and in the afternoon, there was a jousting tournament and young ladies gave a Calisthenic Drill. The day ended with a Coronation Ball where Miss Julia Morton was crowned Queen.

The Times of Richmond called the crowd "one of the largest that ever assembled in Charlotte County." The Richmond Dispatch said there were "thousands" present. Delegates from the Constitutional Convention being held in Richmond took time off to attend the event.

Major J. B. McPhail of Randolph was too ill to attend, but sent a letter which was read to the crowd and printed in The Charlotte Gazette.

"…It is not, indeed, a monument to victory but to all that was possible to the valor of the brave. It is the grateful offering of a conquered people to the memory of defeated soldiers…it happily comes in time to be accepted by living veterans for their dead comrades, many of whom sleep on distant battle fields, in graves unmarked by stone nor flower: save those kind Nature scatters…"

The statue of Italian marble and shaft of Virginia granite was made by C.M. Walsh of the Cockade Marble Works, Petersburg, Virginia. According to The Charlotte Gazette, the total cost was approximately $1300.

On April 17, 1902, the Board of Supervisors signed a contract to assume ownership of the monument.

"…that the said H.A. Carrington Camp No. 34 Confederate Veterans in consideration of the Board of Supervisors paying off the said sum of $340.00 due on the said Monument...hereby make and transfer unto the said County of Charlotte all right and title to the said Confederate Monument and…that said County of Charlotte shall undertake to preserve and keep in repair said Monument."

In December 1916, the memorial was moved to the intersection of Route 40 and LeGrande Avenue at a cost of $2122. In September 1954, it was returned to the courthouse green at the expense of the State Highway Commission.

The Monument and the Constitutional Convention of 1901-1902
A Symbol of Power and Oppression
While supporters of "The Lost Cause" viewed this monument as a memorial to their lost sons, husbands, and brothers, others saw it as a symbol of power and continued oppression by unreconstructed Southerners who wanted to deprive Black citizens of their hard-won rights.

With the Emancipation of enslaved people following the defeat of the Confederacy, Virginia and the rest of the South saw an increase in lynching and other acts of terror perpetrated against Black citizens Between 1886 and 1890, three Black men were lynched in Charlotte County - Richard Walker, William Blankenship, and Thaddeus Fowlkes.

In 1867-1868, Virginia held a Constitutional Convention as a requirement for its re-admittance to the Union. Twenty-four delegates were Black, including Joseph R. Holmes of Charlotte County. Holmes was later murdered here at the courthouse for his stand on civil rights.

The new Virginia constitution, adopted on April 17, 1868 and ratified on July 6, 1869, granted the vote or "franchise" to all male citizens of Virginia 21+ years old. It also established public schools for all.

On July 9, 1868, the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified granting citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and guaranteeing protection under the law.

On February 3, 1870, the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified guaranteeing Black men the right to vote.

Many White Southerners refused to accept the new laws, continuing to espouse the view that Blacks were inherently inferior. Local and state legislatures passed "Black codes" and later, "Jim Crow" laws aimed at controlling and subjugating Black citizens and ensuring a separation of Blacks and Whites. While on the surface these laws appeared to establish "separate but equal" treatment for all. In practice they condemned Black citizens to Inferior treatment and services.

Many of those who participated in the dedication of this monument were actively working to deprive Black citizens of their rights under the U.S. Constitution.

Despite this opposition, from 1867 until the 1890s, many Blacks served in federal, state, and county government jobs. During the same period, about 100 Black men served in the Virginia General Assembly, at least six of them elected to represent Charlotte County. From 1890 to 1968, no Blacks were elected to the General Assembly.

In response to the push to pay Virginia's growing debt in its entirety at the expense of public schools and other state programs, in 1879, many Black men joined Republicans and some White Democrats, farmers and workers to form the Readjuster Party under the leadership of William Mahone, a railroad executive and former Confederate General.

By 1882, the bi-racial party controlled both houses of the General Assembly and all state-wide offices. They successfully reduced the principal and interest due on the debt, while passing other important reforms including the elimination of the poll tax and the expansion of public schools. Their success was short-lived.

Playing on White fears, in the election of 1885, the Democratic Party once again won control of the state government and began actively advocating for constitutional reform. Calling for a new Virginia constitutional convention, depriving Black men of the right to vote was one of their principal objectives, with many people stating that intent publicly and in print:

"The majority of the good citizens here [Charlotte County]…want the ignorant, malicious and irresponsible negro disenfranchised…" (T.A. Proctor, Jr, Drakes Branch, The (Richmond) Times, August 28, 1901).

On May 24, 1900, voters approved a state referendum to hold a constitutional convention. To garner the Republican vote, Democratic Party leaders publicly promised that a new constitution would be put to a statewide referendum for approval. That promise would prove to be a sham.

The Constitutional Convention
The convention convened in Richmond on June 12, 1901. There were 100 delegates but only 11 Republicans; the rest were Democrats. There were no Black delegates. The Democrat who represented Charlotte County was David Quin Eggleston, a 44-year-old lawyer from Smithville (Charlotte Court House) who strongly opposed Black suffrage (the right to vote) and Black education.

On July 9, a delegation of prominent Black citizens met with members of the convention to plead for their continued rights. Mr. William P, Morton of Charlotte County addressed Mr. Eggleston directly.

"That we pray and entreat the Hon. D.Q. Eggleston…to put forth his best efforts to thwart any measure that will tend to strip us of our manhood or close the door of knowledge on us." (Richmond Planet, July 13, 1901)

On August 27, 1901, while the convention was going on in Richmond this monument was dedicated amid great pomp and pageantry. David Quin Eggleston and others took time from their duties as delegates to participate in the unveiling.

On August 28, the front page of The Richmond Dispatch carried side by side articles about the dedication and the Suffrage Committee's preparing to present its report to the convention. The Committee's proposed voting clause would effectively disenfranchise Black voters.

The constitutional convention ended on June 26, 1902, after the members, including Mr. Eggleston, voted overwhelmingly to renege on their promise to present the new constitution to voters for approval. On July 10, 1902, they simply proclaimed it the new law.

"Our people do not think it the part of wisdom to submit the Constitution to the people. Too many men of too man minds" (Dr. Floyd J. Gregory, Keysville, The (Richmond) Times, August 28, 1901).

One of the main goals of the convention was to disenfranchise Black voters while promising that no White man would be deprived of his right to vote. Despite impassioned pleas from Black leaders and White Republicans, the Democrats accomplished the former while also disenfranchising many of the state's poor White voters.

The new state constitution granted the right to vote to all male citizens 21+ years of age who had registered and paid the $1.50 poll tax.

However, to qualify to register to vote a man had to be a veteran or a son of a veteran, a landowner who had paid at least $1.00 in real estate taxes, or be able to read any part of the new constitution that was requested by the Registrar. If the man couldn't read, a section would be read to him and he had to explain his understanding of the section. Veterans and sons of veterans were exempt from the poll tax.

Few Black or poor White men qualified or could pay the poll tax, so they could not vote.

Throughout the ensuing decades and into the 1960s, Virginia defied the U.S. Supreme Court and federal law prohibiting poll taxes tied to voting. In 1966, the U.S, Supreme Court ruled federal and state poll taxes unconstitutional. The Virginia Constitution of 1971 finally ended its imposition in the Commonwealth.

In 1902, each member of the convention was given a memorial oak sapling. Mr. Eggleston's "Constitution Oak" was planted near the courthouse. In 1993, the tree died and was replaced and rededicated with a second commemorative plaque added.

Erected 2023 by County of Charlotte, Virginia.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is August 27, 1901.

Location. 37° 3.381′ N, 78° 38.245′ W. Marker is in Charlotte Court House, Virginia, in Charlotte County. It is on David Bruce Avenue (Virginia Route 40) east of Legrande Avenue ( Route 47), on the right when traveling east. The marker is located on the east side of the Confederate Monument. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 145 David Bruce Ave, Charlotte Court House VA 23923, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Southside Virginia,

and specifically in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

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: Charlotte County Confederate Monument (here, next to this marker); Joseph R. Holmes (a few steps from this marker); Veterans Memorial (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Charlotte Court House (a few steps from this marker); Henry and Randolph (within shouting distance of this marker); Constitutional Oak (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Charlotte County Library (within shouting distance of this marker); Charlotte Court House Historic District (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charlotte Court House.

Other markers no longer nearby. Charlotte Court House (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Henry and Randolph's Debate (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Charlotte County Library (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

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

Also see . . . Charlotte County adds sign interpreting Confederate monument and the historical context of its const.

Since 1901, a silent stone sentinel has overseen Charlotte Courthouse’s green. Depending on who you talk to, the statue, erected by the United Confederate Veterans, is a symbol of oppression or one of remembrance. It’s one of many in the commonwealth that were erected on public lands in the early 1900s by pro-Confederacy groups. And as such, it’s been the subject of local debate for the last few years...

Monique Williams, a teacher and activist for social justice, and Kathy Liston, an archaeologist and historian, were appointed by the county’s board of supervisors to explore a way to contextualize the monument last year. They were joined by Cora St. John, president of the Charlotte County Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. The three spent a year researching, writing and designing the text and images used on the sign...

The novel approach was entirely crafted by the committee of three, and Liston hopes that other localities can learn from their process if they, too, want to contextualize their monuments. Liston explained: “We worked hard to be fair. And we worked well together. There was an atmosphere of genuine respect...”

“The sign is not telling you how to feel. It asks you to read, then make up your own mind,” she said.

(Submitted on December 14, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)

Additional keywords. Voting Rights

Credits. This page was last revised on December 16, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 13, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 608 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 13, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. 2. submitted on December 14, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Daytime photos. • Can you help?