Dublin Core
Title
Florida State Capitol Obelisk
Subject
Florida-Leon County-Old State Capitol-Tallahassee-Obelisk-Confederate Soldiers
Description
On November 6, 1860 Governor Madison Starke Perry appealed for Florida to prepare to secede the United States of America and Join the southern states in creating and organizing a confederacy. On December 22, 1860 a statewide election was held to select delegates for a convention, called the “Convention of the People of Florida,” to make a decision. On January 10, 1861, sixty-nine delegates voted. The Ordinance of Secession was passed with sixty-two voting yes and seven no. Six months later Florida joined the Confederate States of America.
Florida is often forgotten as the third state to secede. The state became integral to the Confederacy as a provider of beef and salt. In 1864 the Confederacy lost control of the Mississippi River and Florida supplied the Confederate Army with cattle.
Floridian troops began to fight in the war in April 1861. In 1864 the war reached Jacksonville docks when Union troops hoped to gain east Florida. Several battles in different parts of Florida ensued. The last battle in the state was in March 1865. Confederate soldiers defeated union troops at the Battle of Natural Bridge. Days before General Robert E. Lee’s surrender, Florida Governor John Milton committed suicide.
Much of the history of the obelisk remains unknown. The obelisk was commissioned by “Women of Leon County” and was dedicated in 1882. One one side of the monument is the dedication inscription which reads “TO RESCUE FROM OBLIVION AND PERPETUATE IN THE MEMORY OF SUCCEEDING GENERATIONS THE HEROIC PATRIOTISM OF THE MEN OF LEON COUNTY WHO PERISHED IN THE CIVIL WAR OF 1861-1885. THIS MONUMENT IS RAISED BY THEIR COUNTRY WOMEN.” The other lists the Civil War battles in which the Confederate Soldiers of Leon County participated. It was originally placed at the west end and later moved to its current location in 1923 by Governor Augustus Hardee and the Florida cabinet.
In 2017 Andrew Gillum, Tallahassee Mayor and Democratic candidate for governor, called for the removal of the monument. Department Management Services of the state reported that the governor has no authority to make such decisions. Since the monument is part of a permanent exhibition at the Florida Historic Capitol Museum only the Florida Legislature has the authority to decide on any actions against the obelisk.
Florida is often forgotten as the third state to secede. The state became integral to the Confederacy as a provider of beef and salt. In 1864 the Confederacy lost control of the Mississippi River and Florida supplied the Confederate Army with cattle.
Floridian troops began to fight in the war in April 1861. In 1864 the war reached Jacksonville docks when Union troops hoped to gain east Florida. Several battles in different parts of Florida ensued. The last battle in the state was in March 1865. Confederate soldiers defeated union troops at the Battle of Natural Bridge. Days before General Robert E. Lee’s surrender, Florida Governor John Milton committed suicide.
Much of the history of the obelisk remains unknown. The obelisk was commissioned by “Women of Leon County” and was dedicated in 1882. One one side of the monument is the dedication inscription which reads “TO RESCUE FROM OBLIVION AND PERPETUATE IN THE MEMORY OF SUCCEEDING GENERATIONS THE HEROIC PATRIOTISM OF THE MEN OF LEON COUNTY WHO PERISHED IN THE CIVIL WAR OF 1861-1885. THIS MONUMENT IS RAISED BY THEIR COUNTRY WOMEN.” The other lists the Civil War battles in which the Confederate Soldiers of Leon County participated. It was originally placed at the west end and later moved to its current location in 1923 by Governor Augustus Hardee and the Florida cabinet.
In 2017 Andrew Gillum, Tallahassee Mayor and Democratic candidate for governor, called for the removal of the monument. Department Management Services of the state reported that the governor has no authority to make such decisions. Since the monument is part of a permanent exhibition at the Florida Historic Capitol Museum only the Florida Legislature has the authority to decide on any actions against the obelisk.
Creator
Unknown
Source
Exterior and Grounds. Florida Historic Capitol Museum. https://www.flhistoriccapitol.gov/Pages/ExhibitsAndCollections/ExteriorGrounds.aspx#:~:text=Exterior%204%20Confederate%20Monument,its%20present%20location%20in%201923.
“Timeline.” Florida in the Civil War Documents. Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. https://www.floridamemory.com/learn/classroom/learning-units/civil-war/timeline/
“Ordinance of Secession, 1861.” Florida in the Civil War Documents. Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. https://www.floridamemory.com/learn/classroom/learning-units/civil-war/documents/secession/#:~:text=We%2C%20the%20people%20of%20the,States%3A%20and%20that%20all%20political
Rosica, Jim. “Andrew Gillum: Get rid of Capitol’s Confederate memorial.” Florida Politics. August 17, 2017. https://floridapolitics.com/archives/243148-andrew-gillum-confederate-memorial/
“Timeline.” Florida in the Civil War Documents. Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. https://www.floridamemory.com/learn/classroom/learning-units/civil-war/timeline/
“Ordinance of Secession, 1861.” Florida in the Civil War Documents. Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. https://www.floridamemory.com/learn/classroom/learning-units/civil-war/documents/secession/#:~:text=We%2C%20the%20people%20of%20the,States%3A%20and%20that%20all%20political
Rosica, Jim. “Andrew Gillum: Get rid of Capitol’s Confederate memorial.” Florida Politics. August 17, 2017. https://floridapolitics.com/archives/243148-andrew-gillum-confederate-memorial/
Publisher
See publisher information for each item.
Date
1882
Contributor
Marbella Valeriano Garcia
Rights
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Relation
Confederate Memory in the Sunshine State
Format
See format information for each item.
Language
English
Type
Obelisk
Identifier
HIST 401A Fall 2023
Coverage
State Capitol, Tallahassee, Florida