- Unknown Confederate Soldier Monument in Horse Cave
Infobox_nrhp | name =Unknown Confederate Soldier Monument in Horse Cave
nrhp_type =
caption = Street view of the monument
nearest_city=Horse Cave, Kentucky
lat_degrees = 37
lat_minutes = 11
lat_seconds = 37.45
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 85
long_minutes = 55
long_seconds = 36.89
long_direction = W
locmapin = Kentucky
area =
built =1934
architect= Sam Lively
architecture= No Style Listed
added =July 17 1997
governing_body = Private
mpsub=Civil War Monuments of Kentucky MPS
refnum=97000694cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service] The Unknown Confederate Soldier Monument in Horse Cave is a monument betweenHorse Cave, Kentucky andKentucky Down Under , off the main road between Horse Cave and I-65 on the Old Dixie Highway, inHart County, Kentucky . Among the various monuments of the Civil War Monuments of Kentucky Multiple Property Submission, all of which became part of theNational Register of Historic Places onJuly 17 1997 , it is an oddity for several reasons. First, although meant to imply anobelisk , a common shape for monuments, it is constructed of local materials by a single individual. Not only that, but it was done during theGreat Depression in the year1934 , many years after most monuments relating to theAmerican Civil War were constructed. Also, instead of the typicallimestone andmarble from which most monuments were made, this monument usesgeode s fromTennessee , a sedimentary/volcanic rocks in which several crystals are inside a largely hollow interior. In total, the monument is 12 feet high, with a base of five feet square.http://www.scrtc.com/~ftcraig/unknown.htm] [ [http://www.trailsrus.com/monuments/reg3/horse_cave.html Civil War in Kentucky ] ]Also, instead of honoring a Confederate soldier from
Kentucky , the unknown foot soldier honored was from the11th Louisiana Infantry , who died days prior to the nearbyBattle of Munfordville . He did not die in battle, but instead by accident. He was part of a tree-cutting detail when he was ordered to rest. As he laid down beside a tree, his rifle discharged by striking a branch attached on the tree, causing the bullet to enter his head below his chin, presumably killing him instantly. The unlucky soldier was buried, with rocks placed by his head and feet. Years later, a wire fence was placed around the perimeter of the grave.Local legend says that Sam Lively built the monument, as he feared the grave would become lost, due to being marked by nothing except rocks. [ [http://history-sites.com/mb/cw/kycwmb/index.cgi?noframes;read=594 Re: Munfordville KY Civil War sites ] ]
The monument is technically on private property, but a path was made through several evergreen trees to allow the occasional visitor to visit the monument. A
Confederate Naval Jack flies beside the monument.The Inscription says:
"Unknown Soldier C. S. A. was a member of Gen. Clay Anderson division 11th Louisiana Killed Sept. 9, 1862. Erected 1934 by Sam Lively."
Gallery
References
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