Jefferson in Frederick County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

War Correspondents Memorial Arch

— Walking Tour Stop 7 —

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 2, 2012

1. War Correspondents Memorial Arch Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

This stone Arch, the culmination of Townsend's architectural endeavors, was built in 1896 as a permanent memorial to newspaper correspondents, artists, and photographers of the Civil War. Standing 50 feet tall and 40 feet wide, the Arch's unusual design was inspired by two Hagerstown structures: the former B&O Railroad passenger depot which utilized a horseshoe-shaped arch, and the Antietam Fire Co. Station No. 2 which incorporated a crenellated tower.

Names of 157 men from North and South, who documented the Civil War, are inscribed on tablets embedded in the east facade. Biblical and classical references to the skills of the war correspondent are incorporated into the design. The central sculpture bears symbols of war, speed, and storytelling. The Arch's symbolic decoration reflects Townsend's whimsical taste in art, further illustrated by Townsend's verse:

"The Bookman's art is left behind
and letters only vex.
Write then in stone, ye minds of men!
And live as architects!"

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture

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• Communications • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.

Location. 39° 24.346′ N, 77° 38.365′ W. Marker is in Jefferson, Maryland, in Frederick County. Marker is at the intersection of Arnoldstown Road and Gapland Road on Arnoldstown Road. The marker is in front of the West face of the War Correspondents Memorial Arch in Gathland State Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Jefferson MD 21755, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. George Alfred Townsend (a few steps from this marker); Battle for Crampton’s Gap (a few steps from this marker); First New Jersey Brigade (a few steps from this marker); War Correspondents (a few steps from this marker); 1862 Antietam Campaign (a few steps from this marker); Crampton’s Pass Tablet C.P. 1 (a few steps from this marker); Maj. Gen. Lafayette McLaws' Command (a few steps from this marker); Crampton’s Pass Tablet C.P. 3 (a few steps from this marker).

Regarding War Correspondents Memorial Arch. The Monument was dedicated on Sept. 14. 1896. In 1904 George Townsend's wife Bessie died and he stopped visiting Gapland. In 1906 he deeded the monument to the United States

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 2, 2012

2. War Correspondents Memorial Arch Marker

in front of the arch

Government. After that, the monument was forgotten. When Mary-Carter Roberts enquired about it, it did not appear on the list of National Park areas. With the help of William Bayless of the Maryland Board of Natural Resources, Ms. Roberts got the National Government to admit that it owned the monument as part of the Antietam Battlefield. On Ms. Roberts instigation some "never-to-be-sufficiently-praised gentlemen of Frederick" purchased the monument and turned it over to the State of Maryland on May 13, 1949. Today the property is Gathland State Park.

Construction of the Correspondents' Arch image. Click for full size.

By National Park Service

3. Construction of the Correspondents' Arch

close-up of photo on the nearby "George Alfred Townsend" marker

Electricity<br>(Speed) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 2, 2012

4. Electricity
(Speed)

Sculpture on the Memorial Arch

Poetry<br>(Heed) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 2, 2012

5. Poetry
(Heed)

Sculpture on the Memorial Arch

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 2, 2012

6. Horse

Sculpture on the Memorial Arch

Pheidippides image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 2, 2012

7. Pheidippides

A statue of Pheidippides playing the pan pipes, handling a sword and wearing Mercury's helmet, sits in a niche in the tower portion of the monument. Pheidippides is the hero who brought the news to Athens of the victory at Marathon and died crying "Joy to you, we've won!" with his last breath.

Three Windows image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 2, 2012

8. Three Windows

"Windows stand triple, each of them typal,
Each an evangel's page white;
One is Depiction, one is Description,
One is Photography's light."
-- The War Correspondents Arch, poem by Gath

Army Correspondents and Artists Memorial Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 2, 2012

9. Army Correspondents and Artists Memorial Plaque

To The Army Correspondents and Artists 1861 - 65 whose Toils Cheered the Camps Thrilled the Fireside Educated Provinces of Rustics into a Bright Nation of Readers and Gave Incentive To Narrate Distant Wars And Explore Dark Lands -- Erected by Subscription 1896

O wondrous youth
Through this grand ruth
Runs my boy's life, its thread
The General's fame, the battle's name
The rolls of maimed and dead
I bear with my thrilled soul astir
And lonely thoughts and fears
And am but history's courier
To bind the conquering years
A battle's ray, through ages gray
To light to deeds sublime
And flash the lustre of my day
Down all the aisles of time

War Correspondents' Ballad by Gath, 1865

The Cornerstone image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 2, 2012

10. The Cornerstone

Sept. 14, 1862 -- 96
The Memorial was dedicated September 14, 1896 and commemorates the Battle of Crampton's Gap on September 14, 1864.

Partial list of Contributers names, as mentioned image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, May 2003

11. Partial list of Contributers names, as mentioned

Army Artists J.A. Becker • H. Bensancon • F. Beard • A. Berghaus • C.E. H. Bonuill • A. McCallum • S.S. Davis • W.R. McComas • F. Dielman • E.F. Mullen • G. Ellsbury • Fred Shell • S. Fox • W.L. Sheppard • C.E. Hillen • J.S. Trexler • E.B. Hough • G.F. Williams • J.F. Laycock • W. Waud Southern P.W. Alexander • Geo. Perry • Durant Daponte • Jas. B. Sener • F.g. DeFontaine • W. Shepardson • D.C. Jenkins • Henry Watterson • Geo. W. Olney Artists M.B. Brady • F.H. Mason • W.T. Crane • Larkin G. Mead • F.O.C. Darley • Henry Mosler • Theo. P. Davis • Frank Shell • Ed. Forbes • Dav. H. Strother • J. S. Jewett • Alfred Waud • Henry Lovi • J.E. Taylor
( Not Seen Today )
Arthur Lumley • H. Vizzitelly • Finley Anderson • J.N. Ashley • Adam Badean • T. Barnard • Geo. W. Beman • H. Bentley • W.D. Bickham • A.H. Bodman • Geo. C. Bower • Geo. C. Bower • J.H. Browne • S.T. Buckley • A.H. Byington • S. Cadwallader • S.M. Carpenter • T.M. Cash • F.G. Chapman • E.P. Church • G.W. Clarke • W.C. Church • C.C. Coffin • John A. Cockerill • J. Cook • R.Y. Colburn • E.E. Cuthbert • T.M. Cook • E. Crapsey • N. Davidson • W.E. Davis • E.F. DeNyse • Creighton • D.B. M. Eaton • L.L. Crounse • J.C. Fitzpatrick • J.P. Dunn • T.B. Glover • C.H. Farrell • C.H. Griffen • R.D. Francis • C. Hannem • T.C. Grey • G.H. Hart • Chas. G. Helpine • John Hay • B. Harding • L.A. Hendricks • J. Hasson • F. Henry • S. Hayes • A.S. Hill • A.P. Henry • E.H. House • V. Hickox • A. Hutson • G.W. Gosmer • W.P. Isham • D.R. Kem • W.H. Kent • Thos. W. Knox • R.C. Long • P.T. McAlpin • Richard C. McCormick • Joseph B. McCullagh • W.H. Merriam • J.E. Norcross • C.S. Noyes • G.H. Osbon • B.F. Osborn • C.A. Page • Nat'l Paige • U.H. Painter • Count De Paris • A. Paul • E.A. Paul • E. Peters Henry • J. Raymond • Whitelaw Reid • Albert D. Richardson • W.H. Runkle • O.G. Sawyer • W.F.G. Shanks • R.H. Shelly • George W. • Smalley Henry M. Stanley • Edmund C. • Stedman Jerome B. Stillson • W.H. Stiner • William Swinton • R.H. Sylvester • Ben. F. Taylor • Geo. Alfred Townsend • B.C. Truman • Henry Villard • J.H. Vosburg • E.W. Wallazz • J.S. Ward • Sam Ward • F. Watson • E.D. Westfall • F.B. Wilkie • Sam Wilkeson • F. Wilkison • A.W. Williams • J.C. Wilson • T.C. Wilson • John Russell Young • W. Young •

Welcome to Gathland State Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 2, 2012

12. Welcome to Gathland State Park

Credits. This page was last revised on September 28, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 15, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 949 times since then and 72 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on May 15, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 11. submitted on November 30, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 12. submitted on May 15, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.