Confederate Memorial at Ellicott City Circuit Courthouse (1948-2017)
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Dedicated on September 23, 1948, this Confederate monument stood for several decades on the grounds of the Howard County Circuit Court building. The monument listed the names of 92 Confederate soldiers from Howard County, including men of the Howard County Dragoons, a unit that initially supported the Union before switching sides to the Confederacy. The monument was removed on the evening of August 21, 2017, as part of an agreement with the Howard County Historical Society Museum. Owing to the complicated nature of the monument and its history, the museum staff will incorporate the monument into their upcoming "Fractured County" exhibit that offers more context about the history of the Civil War in this region. The decision to remove the monument was a reaction to rallies held by white supremacists in support of Confederate Monuments and supporters of the effort hope that placing the monument in a museum will better allow the public to understand the history of the Civil War and the monument itself.
Images
The monument honors 92 of the men who fought on behalf of the Confederacy. The monument was created in 1948.
Steel engraving created c. 1862: "Attack on the Massachusetts 6th at Baltimore, April 19, 1861." The Howard County Dragoons, some of whom are remembered on the Ellicott City monument, fought to restore order during this riot.
Frederick News Post, September 28, 1948
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
George Riggs Gaither and the Howard Dragoons
During the Baltimore riot of April 19, 1861, a group of secessionists launched attacks on both soldiers and civilians. In an attempt to restore peace, George Riggs Gaither rounded up the Howard Dragoons, the local militia he led consisting of landowners who were more accustomed to participating in drills and parades than fighting in actual conflicts. Following the riot, however, Gaither and most Dragoons ultimately refused to swear allegiance to the United States and instead traveled south to fight for the Confederate Army. Gaither joined the 1st Virginia Cavalry. He was promoted to captain and then taken prisoner at the 2nd Battle of Manassas. Soon afterward, he was exchanged and returned to the battlefield. After the Civil War, Gaither became a cotton trader, though he also remained active in Maryland's militia until his death in 1899.
Dedication of the Monument
As historians have demonstrated, many Confederate monuments were created by whites during the early 1900s and the modern civil rights movement- two periods when African Americans were challenging their status as second citizens. This monument demonstrates a connection between these two periods, as white residents began the effort to create the monument in 1900. After more than four decades of dormancy, the effort to raise funds for a Confederate monument was restarted in 1947- the same year that African Americans in Maryland challenged racial segregation in colleges and other establishments.
Removal of the Monument
This monument was one of many to be taken down following the white supremacist rallies in Charlottesville, Virginia in August 2017. Just prior to its removal, people gathered to protest its continued presence. At this gathering, African American Community Roundtable President Larry Walker said that "It's time for love to conquer hate. This monument is a symbol of the hate of the past, and we as a community have moved far beyond these symbols of hatred." Upon its removal, County Executive Allan Kittleman explained, "It has become increasingly clear in recent weeks that memorials such as this are hurtful to many residents in our community and elsewhere. Given these feelings and the tragedy in Charlottesville, I felt compelled to remove this memorial from public property" (quoted in Magill, "Confederate Monument").
During the Baltimore riot of April 19, 1861, a group of secessionists launched attacks on both soldiers and civilians. In an attempt to restore peace, George Riggs Gaither rounded up the Howard Dragoons, the local militia he led consisting of landowners who were more accustomed to participating in drills and parades than fighting in actual conflicts. Following the riot, however, Gaither and most Dragoons ultimately refused to swear allegiance to the United States and instead traveled south to fight for the Confederate Army. Gaither joined the 1st Virginia Cavalry. He was promoted to captain and then taken prisoner at the 2nd Battle of Manassas. Soon afterward, he was exchanged and returned to the battlefield. After the Civil War, Gaither became a cotton trader, though he also remained active in Maryland's militia until his death in 1899.
Dedication of the Monument
As historians have demonstrated, many Confederate monuments were created by whites during the early 1900s and the modern civil rights movement- two periods when African Americans were challenging their status as second citizens. This monument demonstrates a connection between these two periods, as white residents began the effort to create the monument in 1900. After more than four decades of dormancy, the effort to raise funds for a Confederate monument was restarted in 1947- the same year that African Americans in Maryland challenged racial segregation in colleges and other establishments.
Removal of the Monument
This monument was one of many to be taken down following the white supremacist rallies in Charlottesville, Virginia in August 2017. Just prior to its removal, people gathered to protest its continued presence. At this gathering, African American Community Roundtable President Larry Walker said that "It's time for love to conquer hate. This monument is a symbol of the hate of the past, and we as a community have moved far beyond these symbols of hatred." Upon its removal, County Executive Allan Kittleman explained, "It has become increasingly clear in recent weeks that memorials such as this are hurtful to many residents in our community and elsewhere. Given these feelings and the tragedy in Charlottesville, I felt compelled to remove this memorial from public property" (quoted in Magill, "Confederate Monument").
Sources
Brannan, Taylor. "Confederate monument removed in Ellicott City." DCW News, August 22, 2017. http://dcw50.com/2017/08/22/Confederate-monument-removed-in-ellicott-city/.
Magill, Kate. "Confederate monument removed from Circuit Court building." Baltimore Sun, August 22, 2017. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/howard/ph-ho-cf-monument-down-0824-20170822-story.html.
Moses, Ann Tyler. "Glimpses of Soldiers' Lives: Captain George Riggs Gaither." Library of Congress. 2012. Accessed August 24, 2017. https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/coll/SoldierbiosGaither.html.
Image credit 1: Howard County Executive Allan H. Kittleman Facebook page
Image credit 2: Library of Congress, http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2004680236/
Magill, Kate. "Confederate monument removed from Circuit Court building." Baltimore Sun, August 22, 2017. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/howard/ph-ho-cf-monument-down-0824-20170822-story.html.
Moses, Ann Tyler. "Glimpses of Soldiers' Lives: Captain George Riggs Gaither." Library of Congress. 2012. Accessed August 24, 2017. https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/coll/SoldierbiosGaither.html.
Image credit 1: Howard County Executive Allan H. Kittleman Facebook page
Image credit 2: Library of Congress, http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2004680236/