Indiana Memorial

Oliver Perry Morton statue in the South Loop.

NPS Photo

The Indiana State Memorial is located on the south loop of Union Avenue at milepost 14.3 of the park tour road.

It features a 12 and 1/2 foot tall full bronze statue of Governor Oliver Perry Morton, who served as the wartime governor of Indiana during the Civil War. The statue commemorates Indiana's contributions to the Vicksburg campaign with 24 infantry regiments, 2 artillery batteries, and 2 companies of cavalry marked by 16 granite markers throughout the siege lines. Today, Indiana is the only state with a prominent memorial of an individual person in Vicksburg National Military Park. However, there are several state regimental markers located throughout the park.

The statue was erected by the State of Indiana in Indiana Circle near the current park visitor center and dedicated June 16, 1926. Acceptance for the Federal government was by Capt. William T. Rigby, resident commissioner of Vicksburg National Military Park. The sculptor was George T. Brewster of Staten Island, New York.

 

Newspapers Articles About the Indiana Monument

Daily Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, Mississippi) - Thursday Morning, June 10, 1926

Dedicate Indiana Memorial To Its War Governor, Morton, At Vicksburg Wednesday Next

VICKSBURG, June 9 - The memorial erected by Indiana to its war governor, Oliver Perry Morton, in the Vicksburg National Military Park, will be dedicated on next Wednesday, June 16, at 5 o'clock in the afternoon.

Coming here to attend the dedication exercises will be a party of about fifteen Indianans headed by Governor Ed Jackson of the state of Indiana. Other members of the party will include Mrs. Jackson, wife of the governor; the Adjutant General of Indiana and wife, Mrs. Hoffmyer; state president W.R.C., Commander Swain. Department of G.A.R., Winfield T. Durbin, president: Oran Perry, secretarym and Francis M. Van Pelt, all three of the board of commission of the Vicksburg state memorial and others.

Governor Henry L. Whitfield of Mississippi will be present at the dedication ceremony and is on the program for an address.

Music for the dedication will be furnished by the Peria Grotto band of this city.

Governor Jackson of Indiana will make the address presenting the statue to the United States and Captain William T. Rigby resident member of the park commission will accept it on behalf of the United States.

The Vicksburg Board of Trade and Chamber of Commerce is cooperating with Captain Rigby in carrying out his plans for the dedication on next Wednesday afternoon. Captain Rigby states he is very appreciative of the help and courtesies which are being extended him in the matter by the organization.

The statue of Oliver Perry Morton was made by George T. Brewster, a sculptor, of Tottenville, Staten Island, New York at a cost of $315,000. It is being put in place today in the National Military park. The statue is being placed at a conspicuous place in Indiana circle, which leaves Baldwyn ferry road a short distance east of the Jewish cemetery. Indiana circle is about in the center of the park. The statue us of bronze with a granite pedestal and stand 12 and one-half feet high.

Captain Rigby states the Indiana statue is the first dedication of a war governor statue in the park. He is continually striving to secure money for other statues of the great war governors. Union and Confederate, and among these are Governors Moore and Allen of Louisiana, Govenors Pettus and Clark of Mississippi and Governor Harris of Tennessee.

The inscription on the Indiana war governor statue reads as follows:

Indiana
Oliver Perry Morton
Governor 1861-1866
Indiana Soldiers
Engaged in the
Vicksburg Operations.

The following program to which the public is cordially invited, has been prepared for the dedication:

Program

Dedication of the statue of Oliver Perry Morton, governor of Indiana 1861-1866, Wednesday June 16, 1126 [sic].

Call to Order - Colonel Winfield T. Durbin, president of commission.

Music. "America." Vicksburg Grotto band.

"One of the Five Decisive Battles of Modern Times." Colonel Oran Perry, secretary of commission.

Unveiling of Statue, Master Winfield T. Durbin, grandson of commissioner.

Music. "Hail to the Chief," Grotto band.

To the Statue of Morton. Original Poem, Captain F. M. Van Pelt, member of the commission.

Presentation to the United States government, Hon. Ed. Jackson, governor of Indiana.

Acceptance for United States government, Captain Willian T. Rigby. resident member of Park commission.

Address, Hon. Henry L. Whitfield, governor of Mississippi.

"Star Spangled Banner," Grotto band.

Daily Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, Mississippi) - Thursday Morning, June 17, 1926 Page 3

UNVEIL STATUE OF WAR GOVERNOR - Indiana Pays Tribute at Vicksburg National Park to War Veteran

VICKSBURG, Miss., June 16 - (AP) - A heroic bronze statue of Oliver Perry Morton, civil war governor of Indiana, was dedicated with impressive ceremonies here this afternoon, and now occupies a prominent place among the state memorials in the Vicksburg Military park.

Governor Ed Jackson of Indiana and a distinguished official party were present at the ceremonies and Governor Jackson presented the memorial to the government, with acceptance by Captain W.T. Rigby, resident park commissioner. Governor Whitfield, of Mississippi, being unable to be present, was represented by Hon. Calvin Wells, of Jackson, who made an address.

Colonel Winfield T. Durbin, president of the Indiana commission, presided; Colonel Oran Perry, secretary of the commission, and veteran of the siege of Vicksburg made an address and the visitors were then taken for a tour of the military park and visits to historic points of interest in and around the city.

The Indiana party will leave for Indianapolis tonight and is composed of the following members:

Governor Ed Jackson and Mrs. Jackson; Adjutant General W.H. Kershner and wife; Winfield T. Durbin, Jr., a grandson who cut the cord. Frank Shellhouse, representing the sons of veterans; Mrs. Grace Hoffmeyer, representing the womans relief corps and son, Keith Hoffmeyer; Mrs. J.J. Browne, representing the daughters of the union, and granddaughter, Mary Elizabeth Pell; A.B. Crampton, formerly commander of the national soldiers home at Marion, Ind.; F.M. Vanpelt, and Oran Perry, commissioners.