AMERICAN CIVIL WAR MEMORIAL CALTON HILL EDINBURGH

ACW Memorial - Calton Hill, Edinburgh The Emancipation Monument on Calton Hill, Edinburgh, commemorates Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) and the Scots buried nearby who had returned home after fighting in the American Civil War (1861-1865). It is thought to be the first monument to an American President in Britain and the only memorial outside the United States to those who fought in the Civil War. This is surprising in view of the large number of English, Scots, Irish and Canadians, apart from other nationalities who took part in the Civil War. And yet the erection of this singular monument was brought about through an informal casual conversation between a pauper's widow and the wife of the American Consul, Wallace Bruce

The monument consists of two statues: on a red granite pedestal, a crouching freed slave extends his arms in gratitude to an imposing Abraham Lincoln holding the Emancipation Proclamation granting liberty to the slaves. The design of the memorial is not unlike Thomas Balls' Freedman Memorial erected in Washington DC in 1876 showing a freed slave at Lincoln's feet. This monument, paid for with contributions from former slave states, had a design chosen by white sponsors and has annoyed African Americans ever since it was erected. In Edinburgh the freed man supports himself on furled flags the symbol of victory. A medallion on the monument displays the flags of Britain and the United States with thistles by the British flag and cotton plants by the American flag. On the East face is written, "To preserve the jewel of liberty in the framework of peace". Abraham Lincoln'. At the foot of the statues are carved on each side the words, 'Suffrage, Union, Education, Emancipation' with below, 'In Memory of the Scottish American soldiers.'

On the North side are listed the names of the soldiers commemorated:

  • Sgt. Major John McEwan, Co.H, 65th Regt. Illinois Vol Infantry
  • William L Duff, Lt Col., 2nd Illinois Reg of Artillery
  • Robert Steedman, Co. E, 5th Regt Maine Infantry Volunteers
  • James Wilkie, Co. C, 1 st Michigan cavalry
  • Robert Ferguson, Co. F, 57th Regt New York Infantry Volunteers

On the West side is the inscription, 'Unveiled 21st August 1893'. The name of Alexander Smith, G Group, 66th Regiment, New York Voluntary Infantry, was added in 1993 on the other side when the monument was rededicated. Dates of birth and death are not given. In fact only two men were buried in the plot itself, with one in an adjacent plot.

The Corporation in its minutes referred to a burial plot and it is not clear that members realised they were also supplying the site for a statue of a controversial foreign leader.

Calton Hill is an important site of commemoration of the war dead. The burial plot for Scots Americans is reputed to be the earliest

Article supplied by Andy Hopwood

Photograph by Lee Kindness http://www.pbase.com/wangi/image/34760187

The above article first appeared in the ACWS Newsletter, Spring 2007