In January, 2024, I went to Jersey City to take photos of the “Mystic Lincoln” statue in Lincoln Park. Not far away from Lincoln, I found the Jersey City Civil War Monument. This monument is in the western portion of the park on Lincoln Street.
I left one cold January Saturday, while the weather forecasters were predicting an abysmal snow storm, to visit Jersey City. I got there just after six in the morning, forgetting that sunrise was not for more than an hour. As the sun came up on the freezing cold cloudy morning I took some pictures with the dawning twilight of both the Lincoln statue and the Civil War Memorial.
The statue was dedicated on May 28, 1926, Memorial Day. The same day, Newark, nearby, was dedicated a grand statue depicting American soldiers from the Colonial Era up to World War I, so I would imagine the Newark monument got more publicity. White the Jersey City statue is not large and it is on a small pedestal, the body of the soldier is rendered in a very realistic stance. This is a war-weary private volunteer moving forward to whatever fate has in store for him.
The front of the statue contains this inscription:
In memory of the Soldiers of Jersey City who fought in the War of the Rebellion.
A close-up of the dedication.
The soldier here is not about to go off to war. He is a veteran. Many monuments have similar statues to other Civil War statues, but I have never seen one like this one. The face of the soldiers is of a man facing death, the body and the uniform show a lot of wear and tear from constant campaigning.
The monument looks fairly small when driving by on Lincoln Street, but get out of the car and stand in front and you see a war-weary veteran advancing on you.
In 1860, Jersey City had nearly 30,000 people, the 28th largest city in the United States. By the time the statue was dedicated, Jersey City had grown to roughly 300,000 people. If Jersey City was located in any other part of the United States, it would be considered a major city, but being just a couple of miles from Manhattan it is often seen as a suburb! Just as it was in 1860, this city has a major immigrant population. 160 years ago it was the Irish, today it is immigrants from Asia and Latin America, giving the city a great restaurant scene.
This area of Lincoln Park sees a lot of foot traffic, including joggers alone and in groups, baseball players, and those out to see the many monuments in the park.
I like the way the soldier’s jacket open up in front in response to his legs advancing.
Edward J. Donnelly, a sergeant in the 5th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, funded the memorial with his estate. The inscription on the back says; “This monument is erected by the executor of the estate of the late Edward J. Donnelly, Sergt. Co. C, 5th N.J. Volunteers and a committee appointed by the city commissioners.” Donnelly stipulated that $25,000 from his estate would go to pay for the monument. That would be about $450,000 in today’s money.
Donnelly died in 1922 at 81 years of age and is buried in St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery. Jersey City saw a big increase in Irish immigrants during the mid-19th Century.
The 5th New Jersey was mustered into service in August of 1861, soon after the Battle of First Bull Run. It was assigned to the Army of the Potomac and served in both the III and II Corps. The unit fought during the Peninsula Campaign, the Antietam Campaign, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Overland Campaign and Petersburg. 223 men from this regiment died from battle or disease during the Civil War.
Lincoln Park was built beginning in 1905. It is the largest urban park in Hudson County. The Parks Commission turned Glendale Woods and a nearby swamp into the 208 acre park.
All color photos were taken by Pat Young unless otherwise noted. To see more sites Pat visited CLICK HERE for Google Earth view.
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The Wars of America was done by the great Gutzon Borglum. Who made this one?
Awesome statue, great post – thanks!!