Here’s another story about the history that is Deerfield: We have on the village green by the well one of the first Civil War monuments in the state. The beautifully carved 6’ statue of brown freestone cost the then tremendous sum of $4,000 and was dedicated on September 4th, 1867. The Mass Department of Veterans Services put up half of the cost of the monument’s restoration which will amount to $8,000, plus the donation of in-kind work.
The soldier is up on an 8’ pedestal and has lost his rifle. He stands so thoughtfully with one foot forward, the butt of the rifled musket between his feet, his hands left over right around the missing muzzle, accoutrements and bayonet suspended from his waist belt, and the coat’s hood falling over the shoulders as a cape. The soldier’s sleeves are slightly billowed, he has beard and whiskers, and a uniform hat like a floppy kepi.
I have been told that this infantryman follows the classic Antietam design of that time. Wish I could scramble up there to get a better look!
The front of the monument has the following inscription:
IN GRATEFUL APPRECIATION
OF THE PATRIOTISM AND SELF SACRIFICE
OF HER LAMENTED SONS AND SOLDIERS
WHO FOR THEIR COUNTRY AND FOR FREEDOM
LAID DOWN THEIRS LIVES IN THE WAR
OF THE GREAT REBELLION
DEERFIELD
ERECTS THIS MONUMENT
A. D. 1867
THEIR PRECIOUS DUST IS SCATTERED
ON MANY BATTLEFIELDS, OR WAS HASTILY
BURIED NEAR SOME LOATHSOME PRISON PEN:
BUT THEIR NAMES ARE HERE PERPETUATED.
AND THE MEMORY OF THEIR BRAVE DEEDS
AND WILLING SACRIFICES SHALL BE CHERISHED IN
OUR HEART OF HEARTS SACREDLY AND FOREVER.
The left and right sides of the monument list the names of those who served and died.
The Deerfield, MA history is fascinating, making our Deerfield, Massachusetts bed and breakfast the perfect getaway for for history buffs!