Soldiers And Sailors Monument "Defence Of The Flag"

This monument is dedicated to the Union soldiers and sailors.

On October 6, 1899, the beautiful and impressive Civil War memorial, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, was dedicated in front of a crowd of 70,000 that included President William McKinley.

The monument was sculpted by Peoria native Fritz Triebel.
Standing 68 feet tall, it features a granite base and shaft with bronze figures and a scroll surrounding it. Triebel titled the monument "Defense of the Flag."
Of the figures, Triebel wrote:
"Defense of the flag has six figures with the central figure been the captain cheering his companions and holding high the union colors after a successful battle. The cruel ball wounds the lieutenant who falls on the arm of his Captain. The drummer boy gently protects with one hand his wounded officer while the other has drawn his pistol ready to fire on the fleeing enemy. Back of the drummer Boy is an infantry-man ready to shoot while the trumpeter gives the signal to repose arms as the battle is won. The other figure is the wounded artilleryman."
Not mentioned is the bronze statue of a woman writing "We write on page of granite what they wrought on field of battle" which is entitled "History Writing the Scroll of Fame." A bald eagle sits atop the monument, with an impressive 11-foot wingspan.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Martin Damen