Gettysburg Sculptures

In 1968 the Mississippi legislature passed a bill authorizing funds to erect a monument to Mississippi soldiers that fought at Gettysburg. Then Governor John  Williams appointed a commision to proceed with this project.

 Because of his previous works of Southern origin, De Lue would present his idea of the monument to the commission in April 1970. Only thirty six inches in height the commission approved this initial design. With approval of the commission, De Lue would then make a more detailed model approximately five and one-half feet in height.  With final approval, De Lue would create in clay the final monument we see today.

De Lue with the final clay sculpture in May 1972

 After being cast in plaster in June 1972 the sections were sent to Fonderia V. Lera, Italy. In Italy the final castings were made and the monument was assembled, chased and patinated. Shipped to Gettysburg, the monument was mounted in the summer of 1973 awaiting the October dedication.

While in transit to the Gettysburg Battlefield, the truck carring the finished bronze memorial would have mechanical problems. The memorial would be placed on its granite base just hours before the formal dedication events were to begin.

 The incised Foundry mark.

 Above is the 36" tall clay model used by DeLue for the proposal of the Mississippi State Memorial. Notice the supports for the models armature.

Although De Lue is noted for his own style he was also a well know sculptor with more natural depictions. Above,  De Lue would sculpt the bust of newly elected President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933.

 Above is the incised autograph of Donald De Lue on the base of the Mississippi Memorial.

On the back of a black and white photo of the full size clay model of the figure with the swinging rifle, DeLue had written:

"Mississippi at Gettysburg clay model 11ft figure. Late on the afternoon of July 3rd 1863 all is gone no water, no bullets, nothing but the swinging rifle"

Note in the photo below the cork of the canteen is removed as there is no water and the cartridge box underneath the canteen is flat as there are no bullets (cartridges). 

The original design was to represent members of Barksdale's Mississippi Brigade that formed at the location of the Mississippi Memorial for their attack on July 2nd, 1863.

The view above is what the Mississippi infantrymen (Mississippi Memorial is in right side of photo) of Brig. General William Barksdale's Brigade would see as they formed in line of battle to the east of Pitzer's Woods. Barksdale's Brigade would attack the now famous Peach Orchard then owned by Joseph Sherfy (seen in picture above). Defended by northern troops of Sickle's Third Corps the men of Barksdale's Brigade would soon rout their opponents. Barksdale's Brigade was composed of four Mississippi Infantry Regiments. These four regiments would lose on the afternoon of Thursday, July 2, 1863 nearly 49.7% in killed, wounded and captured of the 1619 men that would start their walk across this field.