The Sullivan County Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial in Monticello, New York was erected in 1885.
Men from Sullivan County joined a number of regiments from the Catskills and Hudson Valley like the 124th New York Regiment. The 143rd New York was known as the Sullivan County Regiment. The regiment was mustered into service in October of 1862. The regiment spent its first six months after leaving New York in guarding Washington, D.C. While it did not arrive in Gettysburg in time for the battle, the regiment participated in the pursuit of Robert E. Lee’s army after the battle.
After it’s chase of Lee, the regiment was assigned to the XI Corps and sent to Chattanooga in Tennessee. It participated in the Battle of Missionary Ridge and fought in the Atlanta Campaign and then the March to the Sea. In the final six months of the war, the 143rd chased Joe Johnston through the Carolinas to Bennett Place.
The statue atop the monument shows a private at parade rest.
According to New York in the War of the Rebellion [3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912] the 143rd regiment was recruited by villages. “The companies were recruited principally: A at Monticello, Fremont, Bethel, Rock-land, Forestburg, Liberty and Beaver Kill; B at Bethel, Thompson, Fallsburg, Forest-burg and Stormsville; C at Fallsburg, Rockland, Grahamville and Neversink; D at Ithaca and Lansing; E at Wurtsborough, Bridgeville, Monticello and Phillipsport; F at Fremont, Callicoon, Jeffersonville, Rockland and Monticello; G at Fremont, Blooming-burg, Neversink, Monticello, Thompson, Cochecton and Tusten; H at Liberty, Monticello and Rockland; I at Dryden and Cochecton; K at Cochecton, Monticello, Tusten, Callicoon, Highland and Thompson.” According to the New York State Military Museum, “The loss of the regiment during service was 5 officers and 38 men killed and mortally wounded; I officer and 177 men died of disease and other causes; 9 men were killed in a railroad accident March 20, 1863 total deaths, 221.”
The plaque dedicates the monument “TO THE MEN OF SULLIVAN COUNTY WHO ON LAND AND SEA GAVE THEMSELVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY 1861 1865.” Beneath the plaque is a bald eagle with a heraldic shield with two artillery pieces on it. The eagle grasps laurel leaves for Victory and palm leaves for Peace.
Sullivan County is in the southern Catskill Mountains. It was used for farming and grazing in the 1700s. During the years before the Civil War the formerly isolated communities in the mountains were connected by turnpikes that linked them to the Delaware River. Small water-powered industries started to develop. Sullivan County’s population of only 6.000 during the War of 1812 had grown by 500% to 32,000 by 1860.
While few Sullivan County men served in the Navy, there is a heraldic shield with an anchor symbolizing the Navy.
On the rear of the monument is an attribution of the monument to the Board of Supervisors of Sullivan County supported by donations “OF LOYAL CITIZENS.” It says the monument was erected in 1885. Beneath it is a shield representing the Infantry.
The final side shows a shield representing the Cavalry symbolized by two Sabers.
The monument is located in front of the Court House at 414 Broadway, Monticello, NY.
