Lincoln Memorial - Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Posted by: tmob
N 55° 57.211 W 003° 11.166
30U E 488379 N 6200921
This memorial depicts a standing figure of Abraham Lincoln, and is the only monument to the American Civil War outwith the USA. It's located in the Old Calton Cemetery, in Edinburgh.
Waymark Code: WMF5Q0
Location: Southern Scotland, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 08/27/2012
Views: 23
«This piece of statuary was erected in 1893. It depicts a standing figure of Abraham Lincoln, with a freed slave giving thanks at his feet. A bronze shield bears the old US flag, and is wreathed in thistles to the left, and cotton to the right. Two regimental flags lay furled, the battle being over. The black man holds a book, indicating that he is not only free, he is also now educated. This was the first statue to an American President in any country outwith the USA. It is the only statue of Lincoln in Scotland, and the only monument to the American Civil War outwith the USA. The monument was erected at American expense to a small group of Scots (only one of whom, William Duff, is buried under the monument, the rest being nearby) to whom it felt indebted, and wished their graves to be marked, despite their later poverty. They had all fought for the Union (the North) in the American Civil War. The inscription, "To preserve the jewel of liberty in the framework of Freedom" is a quotation from the writings of Abraham Lincoln.
Those interred and commemorated are:
Sergeant Major John McEwan, Company H, 65th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry
Lt. Col. William L. Duff, 2nd Regiment Illinois Volunteer Light Artillery (died of wounds on return to Edinburgh)
Robert Steedman, Company E, 5th Regiment Maine Volunteer Infantry
James Wilkie, Company C, 1st Regiment Michigan Volunteer Cavalry
Robert Ferguson, Company F, 57th Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry
Alexander Smith, Company G, 66th Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry (This name was added in 1993 following research)
The following appears in the Town Council records
Act of Council 32, Edinburgh 1st Sept 1892 The Magistrates and Council having on a letter from the United States Consul (Mr Wallace Bruce) of 25 July 1892. Signified their approval of a proposal made by him that a burying place should be provided for certain old pensioned American soldiers in the Old Calton burying ground, the Plans and Works Committee acting under remit with powers, beg to report that they have fixed, as a site, a piece of ground 14 feet by 14 feet or thereby, in the Old Calton Burial Ground about 16 feet or thereby north of David Hume’s monument.»
-- Source
The following can be read on the back of the monument:
This plot of ground given by the Lord Provost and Town Council of Edinburgh to Wallace Bruce U.S. Counsul as a burial place for scottish soldiers of the American Civil War 1861-5