Connecticut's Civil War Monuments
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| New Haven | KNIGHT HOSPITAL MONUMENT Evergreen Cemetery Dedicated: 1870 Historical Significance KNIGHT HOSPITAL MONUMENT, Evergreen Cemetery, New Haven, is significant historically because it highlights an effort to supply medical care for wounded soldiers who apparently were invalided to New Haven's Knight Hospital after being wounded in battle during the Civil War. The staggering statistics on men who died in prison camps or from non-battle-related illnesses are far better known than the program followed at Knight Hospital of transferring wounded men from battlefield to hospital care on the home front. The Knight Hospital program is eloquently summarized in the lettering incised in the stone, as recorded below. Artistic Significance KNIGHT HOSPITAL MONUMENT, Evergreen Cemetery, New Haven, is significant artistically because it is an example, on a large scale, of a standard Civil War monument as produced by James G. Batterson of Hartford. The monument's base, dado with inscription, obelisk with trophy and battle names, and crowning granite figure of a soldier at parade rest were features often used by Batterson, as well as others. The vertical thrust of the tall shaft is balanced by the strong horizontals of the steps in the base, the cornices of the dado and shaft, and the horizontal moldings framing the battle names. The figure also was standard, with occasional variation in stance, position of the musket, and uniform. James G. Batterson was a cemetery monument dealer who saw in the demand generated by the Civil War the opportunity to expand his business many times over. He employed an architect and sculptor and owned stone quarries in a vertically integrated organization that was highly successful in the Civil War monument business. Presumably, Conrads and Keller were responsible for the design of KNIGHT HOSPITAL MONUMENT. Description KNIGHT HOSPITAL MONUMENT, Evergreen Cemetery, New Haven, is a conventional Civil War monument of large size, but the group it memorializes is atypical--the men who died at one hospital. The monument is located in Evergreen Cemetery, surrounded by the graves of many of the men it honors. The monument's base of three risers supports a dado that is embellished with an egg-and-dart molding under its cornice. Above that cornice, at the foot of the obelisk shaft, a trophy adorns the front (east) face. The trophy consists of flags, cannon, spears, and the Seals of Connecticut and the United States. The battle names on the obelisk shaft are between rounded moldings. At the cornice of the obelisk, below the figure, the egg-and-dart molding is repeated. The crowning stone figure of a soldier stands with his right leg slightly bent at the knee and right foot forward. His musket is to his left, grasped at the barrel with the left hand on top. Butt of the musket is at 90 degrees to the direction of the feet. The soldier is dressed in trousers and jacket. An overcoat with cape is draped over his shoulders, falling to knee length (see also SOLDIER'S MONUMENT, Granby). He wears a moustache and full beard. The soft visored cap is flat on top. No metal is used on the monument. KNIGHT HOSPITAL MONUMENT is in splendid condition, showing virtually no signs of wear and tear after a century and a quarter. There is no graffiti. Approximately 120 headstones set in straight rows are near the monument. Each headstone is marked "Civil War" on the top line, with lower lines giving name, unit, and date of death of the soldier. Lettering Front of base, first riser, north end, incised u.c. and l.c.: East (front) face of dado, incised caps: BY THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT, TO COMMEMORATE THE SERVICES AND PERPETUATE THE MEMORY OF THE TWO HUNDRED AND FOUR UNION SOLDIERS WHO DIED IN KNIGHT HOSPITAL, IN NEW HAVEN, IN THE YEARS 1862, 3, 4, & 5 AND WERE BURIED IN THESE GROUNDS East (front) face of the shaft of the obelisk, raised caps: North face: West face: South face: |
