In my new book, “The Civil War in Statuary Hall,” I discuss the 50 people related to the Civil War who have been honored by having statues of them placed in the U.S. Capitol. However, as we know, since 2003 there have been suggestions/demands for changes, especially regarding the Confederates.
Curiously, the first change, in 2003, was to remove a Union soldier! That was George Washington Glick of Kansas, replaced by President Eisenhower. The second was of Jabez Curry of Alabama, who had a minimal career in the Confederate army, but was a staunch secessionist. His statue was replaced in 2009 by one of Helen Keller.
More Confederates will likely follow the example of Robert E. Lee, whose statue was removed a few weeks ago. Legislatures in several former Confederate states have committed to making changes. At the same time, Union General Phil Kearny of New Jersey too is due to be replaced.
The book is available at: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00HV4SSWK
Here are the “before and after” pictures of the statues of Eisenhower, Glick, Curry, and Keller:
GENE SCHMIEL, CIVIL WAR HISTORIAN, AUTHOR, AND LECTURER 