The Connecticut 150th Civil War Commemoration

Throughout the 150th anniversary of the Civil War commemoration period, from 2011-2015, Connecticut will be home to a host of living history events, talks, conferences, exhibits and much more.  

Beyond those who served, Connecticut offered its industrial capacity, especially its arms industry, which was instrumental to the North's success. The state was home to such notables as Colt, Sharps, the , as well as Hotchkiss & Sons, which produced artillery and shells, the Hazard Gun Powder Factory, and many more war related industries. State industry also produced a wide variety of non-lethal items, from brass insignia to rubber tents and raincoats, and many textiles. 

Connecticut women made the war possible by acquiring and shipping every kind of item to the front lines, so that the soldiers would not do without. Women met every train that returned home, often loaded with wounded and dead soldiers. 

Yet, there was also considerable opposition within Connecticut to both the war and the Lincoln administration. The state was hardly united in its devotion to the Union, and political battles during the war were fierce and closely contested.   

The issues of slavery and race also besieged Connecticut's people. The famed abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison once referred to the state as the "Georgia of New England" because of its rampant hostility to abolitionists. That is not to say that abolitionism failed to exist. Here, again, Connecticut was divided and the issues that strained the nation also echoed through the streets of towns and cities throughout the state. 

The Purpose of Commemoration

There is both a grand and troubling history in the Civil War, one that requires consideration and reflection. That is what a commemoration is meant to do. It is not a celebration. It is a remembrance. In that sense, we have chosen as our focus a simple yet poignant statement: "That the Generations to Come Might Know Them."

Cheshire's Civil War monument

The Civil War monument in Cheshire is significant historically because it is a tangible symbol of honor and respect offered by the community of Cheshire to those who served in the Civil War. 

The initial dedication at Cheshire was to those who lost their lives in the war. The names of 14 men listed originally were incised in the stone.

Thereafter, strong feeling arose in the town that names of veterans as they died should be added. Finally, in 1916, four bronze plaques listing all who served were affixed to the obelisk. The use of the term Civil War, so surprising when associated with 1866 on first impression, was introduced in 1916, following the 20th-century practice. The plaques now list 126 men.

Chief benefactor of the monument in 1866 was George A. Jarvis of Brooklyn, New York, a native of Cheshire, who gave $1,000 on condition that it be matched by local donations, which rapidly were forthcoming.

The monument is significant artistically because it is a good example of an early (1866) monument that relies on its simplicity and good proportions, rather than on embellishment, to achieve aesthetic excellence. The plinth, dado, and shaft form a dignified and impressive whole, although there is no sculpture. Originally, the monument was surrounded by a wrought-iron fence.

The use of the names “Lincoln” and “Foote” is also unusual. President Abraham Lincoln is seldom mentioned on Civil War monuments. Admiral Andrew Hull Foote (1806-1863), born in New Haven, won recognition in 1849 for suppression of the North African slave trade. His forces captured Fort Henry on the Tennessee River in 1861.

The Civil War monument in Cheshire, occupies a central location on the Cheshire Green in front of the Congregational Church and across the street from the town hall. The church holds title to the parcel of 4.5 acres that includes both the church grounds and the Green, a not unique arrangement, left over from the era of the established church before 1818. The information of the monument was compiled by the Connecticut Historical Society.

Calendar of events:
,  Civil War book club. The first book is The Coming Fury by Bruce Catton. Registration suggested. In honor of the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War, we invite you to relive a part of our history. Little has fascinated our country as much as this war has. Follow the war from tension before the Secession to the bloodiest battle we as Americans have ever seen. Learn not only about the people, places and things involved, but about how it is all still relevant today.

Tuesday, April 12, 8 a.m. – Cannon Firing on the 150th Anniversary of Fort Sumter – State Capitol, presented by the CT Civil War Commemoration Committee, and Commission. www.ccsu.edu/civilwar 

Tuesday, April 12, Noon – Connecticut Commemorates the Civil War – Talk by Dr. Matthew Warshauer at Connecticut’s Old State House http://www.ctosh.org/

Wednesday, April 13, 1 p.m. – “Quilter’s Tribute to the Civil War,” – Manross Memorial Library, 260 Central Street, Forestville, CT. The program will include a guest presentation on the war through a quilter's eyes and the role of women in the war, in period costume, by teacher and quilter Jo Hansling. Samples of Northern, Southern & Underground Railroad pieces will also be on display. Refreshments will be served. No fee for this program but sign-up is requested. For more information, or to sign-up, please visit the library, call 860-584-7790. Patrons may also sign-up on the library Web site: www.bristollib.com. Contact info: 860-584-7790, scottstanton@ci.bristol.ct.us

Thursday, April 14, 7 p.m. In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, author for a book talk and signing of the second volume in the Gettysburg Chronicles. Registration is required.

Saturday and Sunday, April 15-17 – The BIG Commemoration Kick-Off Weekend. Central Connecticut State University and New Britain Stanley Quarter Park, presented by CCSU, the City of New Britain, the Connecticut Civil War Commemoration Committee, and Commission. www.ccsu.edu/civilwar