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 Title:
Confederate Mound
Artist:
John C. Underwood
Commissioned
by: Daughters of the Southern Confederacy and the Confederate
Veterans' Association
Location:
Oak Woods Cemetery 1035 E. 67th Street
Medium:
Bronze
Commentary:
This is a memorial to Confederate soldiers who died while they
were prisoners of war in Camp Douglas on Chicago's south side.
It shows on the top a disarmed Confederate soldier, head bowed
in mourning for the thousands whose names are listed along the
bottom.
Around the commorative colum, six thousand soldiers are buried,
all of whom died of diesease, cold and ill treatment in the POW
camp. It is a striking testimony of the terrible conditions endured
by prisoners at that time.
Although Illinois was a Union state, the death of the soldiers
seems to have made a deep impression.
100,000 people attended the dedication including President Cleveland
and his Cabinet. This was at a time when Chicago's population
was less than 500,000.
The Oak Woods Cemetery is a wonderful place to study Chicago's
history--a good locale for a walk or a field trip.
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