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About the Lincoln-Vicksburg Monument

The Lincoln-Vicksburg Monument was unveiled in 1871 by Thomas Dow Jones. A clay bust of Lincoln was originally created in 1861, when Lincoln would pose for Jones one hour a day. After Lincoln's assassination, Jones was commissioned to sculpt a marble memorial honoring Civil War soldiers and America's 16th president. Using the clay bust as a reference, Jones spent six years working on the Lincoln-Vicksburg Monument. The bust was carved by Jones on the ground floor of the Ohio Statehouse. Jones stayed in the Relic Room on the third floor of the Statehouse while working on this piece. The monument was originally installed in the Statehouse Rotunda in January 1871.

The end result was a large sculpture estimated to weigh 9,900 pounds. Lincoln's bust rests at the top, while an interpretation of Confederate officers surrendering to Union soldiers at Vicksburg, MS is in the middle. Beneath the soldiers lies a quote from Lincoln's second inaugural address which says, "Care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphans."

The relief of the surrender at Vicksburg was included as part of this memorial because of the significance of that battle in the Union's Civil War effort. Through the surrender of the Confederates at Vicksburg, the Union gained control of the Mississippi River. This not only allowed the Union to move its goods to international markets, but also divided the confederacy in half. The three Union officers; Grant, McPherson and Sherman; were born in Ohio.

Near the turn of the last century, the monument was removed from the Rotunda and disassembled. Many stone pieces were lost. The historic elements have now undergone extensive conservation, and the missing stone pieces have been reproduced. On Lincoln's birthday in 1998, this monument was unveiled and re-dedicated as you see it today.

HOW THE MONUMENT CAME TO BE
Sculptor Thomas D. Jones arrived in Springfield, Illinois from Cincinnati on Christmas Day in 1860. Jones, having already executed busts of Henry Clay, General Zachary Taylor and General Winfield Scott, came with letters of commendation from two of his most recent subjects, Salmon P. Chase and Thomas Ewing (General Sherman's father-in-law). On December 26, 1860 Lincoln met Jones at 9 a.m. and agreed to pose for the bust.

Within a couple of days, Jones set up his modeling stand and clay in a temporary studio on the top floor of the St. Nicholas Hotel. Jones was seeking a place with the best light and as far removed as possible from the increasing noise of the comings and goings of pre-inaugural Springfield. Lincoln agreed to come each morning for a series of one hour sittings. Lincoln used this time to read his growing daily mail and to write the speeches for his journey to Washington. Jones described Lincoln as writing while sitting with his legs crossed, "using one knee as a writing table."

Lincoln wrote with a small portfolio and ample amounts of writing paper. Jones delighted in sharpening Lincoln's Fabers, an excellent brand of pencil Lincoln used for his writing and rewriting. Jones observed that Lincoln always had copies of his own published speeches next to him for ready reference. From time to time Lincoln would ask the sculptor if he could read the latest version to him. Lincoln said he believed he could edit best by both hearing and reading a speech. He was intensely interested in the sound of the words.

Jones, who would remain in Springfield until the summer to complete his work, thought the emerging bust a great achievement. Lincoln joked that Jones was producing his "mud head." Jones believed that photographs of Lincoln always failed to portray "the ideas of the man."

As the day for Lincoln's departure approached, Jones asked his subject for "the kindness to tell what you think of the results thus far." Lincoln laid down his writing materials, examined the bust for a considerable time, and finally replied, "I think it looks very much like the critter."

AUDIO CELL PHONE TOUR
Hear an audio recording from the governor by clicking on the button below.