Although Queens is considered the borough with the fewest monuments dedicated to the Civil War, this part of New York City still features several key memorials. One of them is the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, which honors the memory of Queens soldiers and sailors who died in the war between the American states. Read on for more details at queensyes.com.
A Symbol of Gratitude to the Fighters
The Soldiers and Sailors Monument symbolizes the nation’s gratitude to those who fought for it during its most difficult time. The bloodiest conflict in U.S. history, the Civil War, lasted from April 1861 to May 1865. It was the logical consequence of the clash between slavery and free labor. The Confederacy (Southern states) rebelled against the Union (Northern states) due to deep economic and political divisions. While the North boasted developed industry and pushed for equal rights for women, and Black and white citizens, the South was predominantly agrarian, relied on slave labor, and was heavily influenced by white landowners. The destruction of slavery was considered the war’s fundamental idea.
The conflict ended with the defeat of the Confederates. Approximately 658,000 people died in combat, and another 420,000 were wounded. An estimated 370,000 soldiers from New York State fought for the Union, meaning one in five men in the state served. New York suffered 534 officer deaths and 12,142 enlisted men killed in action, with another 7,235 dying from wounds and 27,855 from disease. Queens residents, along with other Northerners, bravely defended the ideas of liberation from slave-based economics and overcoming political differences. Their patriotism did not wane during the long and stubborn fight to preserve the Union. The borough’s residents were ready at any moment to join the army and provide all necessary support.
Who Was the Creator?
The monument’s creator was French-born sculptor and art critic Frederick Wellington Ruckstull. He created the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in 1896 from bronze and granite. The bronze figure of an angel holds symbols of victory (a laurel wreath in her left hand) and peace (palm fronds in her right hand), characteristic of military memorials of that era. The years of the Civil War are inscribed on the lower part of the statue. Interestingly, Ruckstull created an almost identical sculpture for the Confederate Women’s Monument in South Carolina.
The surroundings have changed over time, but the statue itself has not. It fosters a sense of community and unity. The monument embodies the bravery of Queens soldiers demonstrated during the great division of the United States. In 1996, it was saved from demolition with the help of the Adopt-A-Monument program, which aims to protect archaeological and cultural sites.
Interestingly, in Charlottesville, Virginia, one group led a protest to stop the removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee—Commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during the Civil War. Another group launched a counter-protest, arguing that Robert E. Lee did not deserve a statue, as most Northern states viewed it as an insult to the memory of Union veterans.
Violence quickly erupted between the two groups, resulting in the death of Heather Heyer and injuries to 19 others. Ultimately, the statue was removed in 2021. This incident forced Americans to reconsider whether a person who actively sought to preserve slavery and mistreated African Americans should be honored. The tragic event demonstrated the immense power of art and its ability to influence people and their beliefs.