A surprise inside Hazen's Monument on The Murfreesboro Post

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A surprise inside Hazen's Monument

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A surprise inside Hazen's Monument | Stones River, Hazen's Monument, oldest civil war monument

NPS

In addition to serving as a memorial, Hazen's Monument at Stones River Battlefield contained a surprise for a restoration team.

In 1985, nine artifacts were discovered preserved inside the monument like a time capsule.
The items included: two 12-pound and one 6-pound cannon balls, three rifle artillery shells (Archer, Read and Burton), two rifle musket barrels (Springfield and Austrian) and a cedar staff.

Their placement, all on one level, does not appear to be accidental. There were three groups of three objects (three cannon balls, three rifle artillery shells, three long objects). The artillery ammunition and musket barrels were most likely Confederate equipment.

The National Park Service says no one agrees on the significance of the items, but theories do abound.

Symbols of Battle?
The objects may have been chosen as symbols of the "tools of death" that the Hazen's men faced duringthe battle. Perhaps this was a boastful display of weapons used by a defeated enemy? Either of these ideas seems to reflect the inscriptions on the monument.

Religious Symbolism?
The general religious orientation of the mid-19th century might lead to the interpretation of the items as Christian symbols. One such possibility would be that the number of objects (nine) was symbolic of angels as the dispensers of the fate of nations and warriors of heaven.
Another possibility is that each of the three groups of three similar items were meant to imply the Trinity. Even more intriguing is that the objects are laid out to form Masonic symbols.

Symbols of Hazen's Brigade?
Perhaps the nine objects symbolized the 9th Indiana Infantry, or the "IL," suggested by the placement of the muskets and cedar rod to represent the 110th Illinois. Lt. Edward Crebbin, Co. F, 9th Indiana Volunteer Infantry led the detachment charged with constructing the monument and presumably placed the nine items inside.

Tagged under oldest civil war monument, Stones River

Member Opinions:

By: mdmcknight41 on 4/24/07
I would be interested in learning where these items are today?

By: mikewest on 4/24/07
In the battlefield's visitor center's museum, there is a complete display.