Confederate Memorials - Monument Avenue, Richmond

One of the Mecca’s for any Rebel-lover is the Capital of the Confederate States. In Richmond, Virginia, there is a majestic old boulevard that has been a showcase of all the gods of the Lost Cause.

For over a century until very recently, Monument Avenue has displayed grand sculptural representations of the breakaway republic’s president, three of its most revered generals and a naval officer who made his name in science. I guess it was significant that a statue of Richmond-born African-American tennis champion and humanitarian, Arthur Ashe was added in 1996, but the cynic in me thinks it more of a ‘Bygones’ gesture. Monument Avenue will always be an advertisement for the Confederacy.

I had been to Richmond before to visit the three presidents buried in the glorious Hollywood Cemetery but had not seen the avenue before 2019. We drove there for a cultural weekend with Jack and Jo, who were kind enough to indulge this grave-hunter by including a visit to John Marshall for my upcoming ‘Dead Chief Justices’ Series.

Below are some images of the glorious past, valiant sacrifice, gallantry, manhood, honor, blah, blah, blah. As of this writing, most of them have been removed.

Jefferson Davis Memorial [1907] 

Richmond, VA (6 April 2019) 

(Removed 10 June 2020) 

Captured as the Civil War ended in 1865, the only president of the Confederate States of America, Jefferson Davis, was accused of treason but never tried. He was released after two years in prison and died in New Orleans in 1889 at the age of 81. He is buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.

Matthew Fontaine Maury Monument [1929] 

Richmond, Virginia (6 April 2019) 

(Removed 2 July 2020) 

Although Matthew Maury was a career naval officer, his time at sea ended early for medical reasons and he became a noted oceanographer, meteorologist and cartographer. He left the U.S. Navy when Virginia seceded and served the Confederacy in diplomatic and scientific capacities. He died in 1873 at the age of 67 and is buried in Hollywood Cemetery.

J.E.B. Stuart Monument [1907] 

Richmond, Virginia (6 April 2019) 

(Removed 7 July 2020) 

Noted calvary commander and flashy dresser James Ewell Brown Stuart fought Native Americans, participated in the ‘Bleeding Kansas’ mess and the capture of John Brown in Harpers Ferry before resigning his commission to command the calvary of Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. He died in the Battle of Yellow Tavern in 1864 at the age of 31 and is buried in Hollywood Cemetery.

Bright sun high in the sky and dark bronze statues do not make for the best images. The shadows are deep and details are lost. However, it was a good thing I got there before the dramatic changes of late. Like the old ballparks I boast you young collectors can no longer visit, most of the statues are no longer there.

Arthur Ashe Memorial [1996] 

Richmond, Virginia (6 April 2019) 

Richmond native Arthur Ashe was the first African-American tennis player to win the U.S. Open and Wimbledon Singles titles. After his playing career, he was active in many civil rights and humanitarian causes. He died in 1993 of AIDS-related pneumonia (likely caused by a contaminated blood transfusion) at the age of 49.

Stonewall Jackson Monument [1919] 

Richmond, Virginia (6 April 2019) 

(Removed 1 July 2020) 

Second only to Robert E. Lee, Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson was the most renown Confederate general. After many successes on the battlefield, he was mistakenly killed by North Carolina forces after the Battle of Chancellorsville in 1863. He is buried in a cemetery named for him near the Virginia Military Academy. He was 39 years old.

Robert E. Lee Monument [1890] 

Richmond, Virginia (6 April 2019) 

Now spray-painted all over but still standing since 
a judge placed an injunction on its removal 

I guess General Lee became the embodiment of the Lost Cause because he was a brilliant general, surrendered graciously and supported reconciliation with the Union until he died in 1870 at the age of 63. From postage stamps to statues, he probably was represented more often into the 20th century than any other rebel figure.