Confederate monument has long history in Gonzales

Since 1909, a statue honoring Confederate soldiers killed in the Civil War has stood at what is now known as Confederate Square.
For some, the monument is a memorial to those who died, a reminder of heritage, or a piece of history. For others, the monument is a grim reminder of slavery and an effort to defeat the United States.
One thing is for certain: making any changes would be a complex action. Glenda Gordon, chair of the Gonzales County Historical Commission, said any action regarding the monument would require clearing a lot of red tape.
She said the City of Gonzales, as owners, would have to file several state and federal applications in order to move or remove it. She said the monument is listed with the rest of the downtown business district on the Federal Register of Historic Places. It also has State Antiquities Landmark status.
“There are state level and national level approvals that you have to go through to move something labeled as a SAL,” she said.

Monument's history
To understand the roots of the issue one must first know the history of the monument and Confederate Square where it stands.
According to the historical marker on site, the square was “First mapped in 1825 as ‘Market Square,’ but had become ‘Jail Square’ prior to 1836 when Gonzales was burned by order of Gen. Sam Houston to prevent buildings and supplies falling into possession of oncoming enemy, Gen. Santa Anna.”
Gordon said the square has been known as Confederate Square ever since the erection of the monument 111 years ago, but said the name may not have been formally changed on record from Jail Square.
“It’s an AKA (also known as) that began in 1910,” she said.
The monument itself was commissioned by the Gonzales Chapter No. 545 Daughters of the Confederacy. Fundraising began in 1903.
According to a story in the Gonzales Inquirer from July 15, 2009, making the 100th anniversary of the monument, “The organization began a drive to raise funds for a monument to the memory of those brave soldiers from the Gonzales County area who fought, bled and died in defense of the South,” said Carolyn Rihn. “Some $500 was contributed to the fund by the Confederate Veterans’ group: G.W. Littlefield, Hartwell Jones, L.M. Kokernot, Hugh Lewis, B.N. Peck, T.F. Harwood, W.B. Houston, Thomas White and others.”
The fundraising didn’t end there.
“Mrs. B.B. Hoskins Sr. was elected president of the chapter in 1905 and led the continued effort to raise funds,” Inez Lasell was quoted in the article. “Over the next four years, the ladies held monthly teas, calendars, dinners, Saturday markets, an autographed Confederate quilt, a Tag Day held during the County Fair, and sought contributions from patriotic Southerners.”
The group raised $3,700 (more than $100,000 adjusted for inflation in 2020) and contracted Frank Teich of Llano to make the sculpture. The monument is 40 feet tall, including an eight-foot statue made of Carrara marble of a private soldier on picket duty. The base is 12 feet square, centered in a concrete circle 30 feet in diameter.
An engraving on the north side of the base says, “Erected by Gonzales Chapter, No. 545, Daughters of the Confederacy, June 3, 1909.” Above that is an inscription reading: “Our Confederate dead. 1861-1865.” Located on the first section of the pedestal is a laurel wreath, and above that on the next section is a Confederate flag. On the south side of the monument is the inscription “Lest We Forget.”

Big event
According to the 2009 anniversary story, “On Wednesday, July 21, 1909, Gonzales began to fill with people coming to town in buggies, carriages, wagons, on horse-back and even on excursion trains. Eventually, the total was an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 spectators.”
A street parade made its way around the main streets and a barbecue dinner was served by the fire department. J.D. Gates lay the cornerstone, having had the distinction of being the first Confederate soldier in Texas to answer to roll call in 1861, according to Lasell.
Inside the cornerstone is a tin box that contains a copy of a special edition of the Gonzales Inquirer, a copy of the Confederate Veterans’ Association roster, a roster of Confederate soldiers of Gonzales County, a roster of the UDC Gonzales Chapter #545, Confederate bills, coins of 1909, a roster of the Gonzales Fire Department, and a sketch of the monument as it would appear when completed.
The memorial was completed and unveiled with a ceremony on April 10, 1910, organized by the Gonzales Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. An estimated 4,500 people attended the ceremony.
On June 3, 1937, a sundial was placed in front of the monument and dedicated to the Women of the Confederacy by Capt. H.K. Jones, Infantry, Confederate States of America.
In 2017 there were community discussions about the monument. Then, as now, many Confederate statues and monuments are regarded by many as an offensive reminder of slavery.