Confederate Monument of Bardstown

The Confederate Monument of Bardstown is a Civil War memorial located in St. Joseph's Cemetery, featuring a zinc soldier statue mounted on a limestone base. The statue displays a portrait of General Robert E. Lee and stands among grave markers identifying Confederate soldiers buried at the site.

The monument was erected in 1903 to commemorate 67 Confederate soldiers who died in battles around Bardstown in 1862 under General Braxton Bragg's command. The dedication occurred decades after the conflict had ended, reflecting the region's approach to honoring its war dead.

The monument was dedicated by the J. Crepps Wickliffe Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, with an inscription and prayer inscribed on its base. Visitors can observe how this site reflects local practices of remembering those who died in conflict.

The cemetery provides a quiet setting for exploring and reflecting on local history. Visitors can locate individual graves of identified Confederate soldiers and learn about their personal stories through the grave markers.

Of the 67 soldiers commemorated on the monument, 17 have never been identified and remain unknown by name. Their unmarked graves stand as a reminder of how warfare can erase individual identities.

Location: Kentucky

Inception: 1903

GPS coordinates: 37.82369,-85.46157

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:03