The William Jasper Monument is a monument honoring William Jasper in Savannah, Georgia, United States. Located in Madison Square, the monument was designed by Alexander Doyle and dedicated in 1888.
 William Jasper Monument (2018) | |
 | |
| 32°04′25″N 81°05′38″W / 32.07355°N 81.09397°W | |
| Location | Madison Square, Savannah, Georgia, United States |
|---|---|
| Designer | Alexander Doyle |
| Material | Bronze Granite (pedestal) |
| Height | 15.5 feet (4.7 m) |
| Dedicated date | February 2, 1888 |
| Dedicated to | William Jasper |
History
editWilliam Jasper was a sergeant in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. During the Battle of Sullivan's Island in 1776, he earned fame by climbing a parapet under enemy fire to reattach his company's flag after the flagpole was destroyed. For his action, he was commended by John Rutledge, the then-President of South Carolina.[1] He was later killed in action during the siege of Savannah on October 9, 1779.[1][2]
On February 2, 1888, a monument honoring Jasper was dedicated in Madison Square in Savannah, Georgia.[3][4] The monument, located near the De Soto Hotel in Savannah, was designed by Alexander Doyle and depicts Jasper during the siege of Savannah.[2] Several prominent Savannah citizens, including Ireland native William Kehoe,[5] had been members of the association responsible for the monument's creation.[2] The mayor and aldermen were present at the monument's dedication, where then-Georgia Governor John Brown Gordon gave a speech.[3][6] Then-President of the United States Grover Cleveland and First Lady of the United States Frances Cleveland were guests of honor,[3] with the President stopping on his way to Jacksonville, Florida and honoring the occasion with a drive through the city.[2]
In 1957, a Georgia historical marker was erected near the monument.[7]
Design
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The bronze statue of Jasper, topping a granite pedestal, shows him in a heroic pose, holding the Moultrie Flag above his head in his left hand and a sword in his right.[2][3] Near his feet is his bullet-ridden hat. Three bas-reliefs on the base of the monument depict scenes from Jasper's life. The height of the monument is 15.5 feet (4.7 m).[7] An inscription on the front base of the monument reads:[2][3]
To the memory of Sergeant William Jasper, who, though mortally wounded, rescued the colors of his regiment, in the assault on the British lines about the city, October 9, 1779. A century has not dimmed the glory of the Irish-American soldier whose last tribute to civil liberty was his life. 1779–1879. Erected by the Jasper Monument Association.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Martin & Harris 2017, p. 81.
- ^ a b c d e f Knight 1917, p. 323.
- ^ a b c d e The American Stone Trade 1916, p. 30.
- ^ Knight 1917, p. 321.
- ^ "Man of Iron: William Kehoe". Freeman's Rag. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
- ^ Carrington 1892, pp. 170–172.
- ^ a b Georgia Historical Society 2014.
Bibliography
edit- Carrington, Henry Beebee (1892). Columbian Selections: American Patriotism. For Home and School. J. B. Lippincott & Co. – via Google Books.
- "Sergeant Jasper". Georgia Historical Society. June 16, 2014. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
- Knight, Lucian Lamar (1917). A Standard History of Georgia and Georgians. Vol. I. Lewis Publishing Company – via Google Books.
- Martin, Scott; Harris, Bernard F. Jr. (2017). Savannah 1779: The British turn south. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-1866-9 – via Google Books.
- "JASPER MEMORIAL WORK OF ALEXANDER DOYLE". The American Stone Trade. XVI (4). November 1, 1916 – via Google Books.
External links
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Media related to William Jasper Monument at Wikimedia Commons- Official website
