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Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
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Source:  Alexander County Confederate Dead, Taylorsville. Photo courtesy of Rusty Long

  • Monument Name

    Alexander County Confederate Dead, Taylorsville

  • Type

    War Memorial

  • Subjects

    Civil War, 1861-1865

  • City

    Taylorsville

  • County

    Alexander

  • Description

    The monument was erected in honor of the 321 men from Alexander County who lost their lives in the Civil War. It is a single granite block 7 feet tall, 4 feet wide, and 8 inches thick with two small circles above the front inscription containing pairs of crossed confederate battle flags.

    Images: North side view | North side, bronze plaque | View with the Alexander County Confederate Monument and Civil War cannon

  • Inscription

    South face: REMEMBERING / THE / “ALEXANDER COUNTY BOYS” / 1861-1865 / THESE MEN GAVE THEIR ALL

    East side, vertical inscription: HONOR

    West side, vertical inscription: VALOR

    North face: [List of 321 names]

    North side at base, bronze plaque: IN MEMORY OF / OWEN LITTLE / WWII VET WHO WORKED / TO HONOR CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS / OF / ALEXANDER COUNTY

  • Custodian

    Alexander County

  • Dedication Date

    May 2001

  • Decade

    2000s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    35.922770 , -81.175420 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Supporting Sources

      Butler, Douglas J. North Carolina Civil War Monuments, An Illustrated History, (Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc., 2013) 215

      “Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting, April 3, 2001” Alexander County Government, (accessed August 19, 2015) Link

  • Public Site

    Yes

  • Materials & Techniques

    Granite, bronze

  • Sponsors

    Rex Stevenson – Atwell Wike – Bobby Auton Post 5466 Veterans of Foreign Wars

  • Subject Notes

    Per meeting minutes of the County Commissioners, James Friday commander of VFW Post 5466, stated that he had spoken with Rev. Sterling Howard, NAACP, Magistrate Everette Dula, and Helen Anthony, Human Relations Council, to explain the reasoning behind placing this monument on the courthouse grounds. The post wanted to ensure that no offense would be taken despite there being two small medallions on the monument with confederate battle flags. Commissioner Harbinson commented that this was no racial issue and that this was simply to honor those individuals who gave the ultimate sacrifice. He also pointed out that there were monuments to those who had served in all other American wars and this would complete the list.

  • Location

    The memorial is located on the lawn of the Alexander County Courthouse, 29 W. Main Avenue in Taylorsville, NC. It stands at the intersection of Center Street and W. Main Avenue, to the right when facing the courthouse main entrance. The Alexander County Confederate Monument and Civil War cannon are grouped with the Alexander County Confederate Dead monument. Across the courthouse lawn to the left are the World War I and World War II, Korean and Vietnam Wars markers, and the Veterans Memorial Bell Tower.

  • Landscape

    The memorial stands on the courthouse lawn, under shady mature trees.

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