Dublin Core
Title
Seventh Florida Infantry Regiment Monument, Bartow, FL
Subject
Florida, Post-Reconstruction, Infantry Regiment
Description
This monument is a memorial dedicated to the Seventh Florida Infantry Regiment located at Old Polk County Courthouse in Bartow Florida. It is in the shape of a tombstone and the words, "In memory of the 79 militiamen under command of Captain Nathan S. Blount who marched from Gainesville to muster into the CS Army rendering gallant service from April 10, 1862-April 26, 1865." are carved on it. The Seventh Florida Infantry Regiment was raised from men in the vicinity of where the monument was placed. The regiment took part in the Civil War as part of the larger Army of Tennessee. The marker was raised on July 3, 1982, by the General Evander Mclver Law Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans group. As far as Confederate monuments are concerned it is fairly non-controversial, as the marker simply memorializes an infantry regiment rather than lionize a general or praise the Confederacy.
In 2021, the monument was voted by the Bartow Historical Commission to move the monument to the local Oak Hill cemetery which hosts the remains of Confederate Soldiers who were a part of the Seventh Florida Infantry Regiment. This decision was sparked following the wave of protests, and activism surrounding the calls for the removal of Confederate monuments across the United States that started with the Charleston Church shooting in 2015. The vote was made with a 4-1 decision with the primary concerns being the cost of removal and moving fees, with the single no voter protesting the move as they wanted to cover up and or remove the Confederate Flag that was inscribed on the monument.
The decision to relocate rather than outright destroy the Confederate monument is not an uncommon one. It is reflective of one of the more moderate stances taken in regard to the Confederate monument controversy that has been sweeping the United State for the past several years.
In 2021, the monument was voted by the Bartow Historical Commission to move the monument to the local Oak Hill cemetery which hosts the remains of Confederate Soldiers who were a part of the Seventh Florida Infantry Regiment. This decision was sparked following the wave of protests, and activism surrounding the calls for the removal of Confederate monuments across the United States that started with the Charleston Church shooting in 2015. The vote was made with a 4-1 decision with the primary concerns being the cost of removal and moving fees, with the single no voter protesting the move as they wanted to cover up and or remove the Confederate Flag that was inscribed on the monument.
The decision to relocate rather than outright destroy the Confederate monument is not an uncommon one. It is reflective of one of the more moderate stances taken in regard to the Confederate monument controversy that has been sweeping the United State for the past several years.
Creator
General Evander McIver Law Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans
Source
"Bartow". Florida Public Archaeology Network. Archived from the original on August 16, 2017. Accessed Nov 17, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20170816060615/http://fpan.us/civilwar/monuments/bartow
DaSilva, Staci. “Descendant of Confederate soldier advocates for relocation of Bartow monument.” WFLA-TV. Accessed November 28, 2023. https://www.wfla.com/news/polk-county/descendant-of-confederate-soldier-advocates-for-relocation-of-bartow-monument/
Shalin, Dan. “Bartow Historical Commission Votes To Move Civil War Monument.” Patch. Accessed November 28, 2023. https://patch.com/florida/lakeland/bartow-historical-commission-votes-move-civil-war-monument
DaSilva, Staci. “Descendant of Confederate soldier advocates for relocation of Bartow monument.” WFLA-TV. Accessed November 28, 2023. https://www.wfla.com/news/polk-county/descendant-of-confederate-soldier-advocates-for-relocation-of-bartow-monument/
Shalin, Dan. “Bartow Historical Commission Votes To Move Civil War Monument.” Patch. Accessed November 28, 2023. https://patch.com/florida/lakeland/bartow-historical-commission-votes-move-civil-war-monument
Date
Erected: July 3, 1982
Contributor
Michael Westfall
Language
English
Type
Regimental Marker
Identifier
Hist 402A Fall 2023
Coverage
Bartow, FL