George Davis Monument

George Davis Monument and statue.

The George Davis Monument in Wilmington, North Carolina is a monument to George Davis in Wilmington, North Carolina erected by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. It was sculpted by Francis Herman Packer a native from Munich, Germany who worked out of New York. Funding for Mr. Packer’s travel to and from Wilmington was provided directly from James Sprunt.^[1] The casting of the monument was done by the Gorham Manufacturing Company in 1910 in Rhode Island. The casting was 8 feet tall bound bronze weighing in at 1,700 pounds.^[2]

The cornerstone of the monument was laid on October 14, 1909 during a ceremony of the Masonic. Within the cornerstone are some of the following items: A copy of the first number Carolina Churchman, dated October, 1909, copy of commission of George Davis as Attorney General of the Confederate states, dated January 4, 1864, and many other items of historical interest.^[3] The base weighed in at five and a half tons and included gilded seals of both North Carolina and the Confederate states. Long encomiums were also utilized within the base to celebrate Davis’s virtues.^[4]The statue itself was unveiled on April 20, 1911 to the chimes of the Delgado Band hired for the occasion for $25.^[5]

History of the George Davis monument

Inception

Inscription on monument.

The idea for the monument was originally developed by the Cape Fear Chapter 3 of the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1901. This occurred during a time when there was a general incentive to celebrate the history of the South by commemoration through the psychology of monuments. These monuments were heralded as part of the civic improvements for the city of Wilmington, North Carolina as well as monuments located throughout the South. Created well after the Civil War these monuments were a reflection from the construction of cultural memory.^[6]

Funding

Front inscription and artwork.

The Cape Fear Chapter 3 of the United Daughters of the Confederacy began raising money for the George Davis monument in 1904. The funding was very slow to arrive despite the urgency the UDC gave to the community. The minute book of UDC Cape Fear Chapter shows that funds were complete in April 1909 with the Chapter raising almost $900 and the rest being raised by cotton magnate James Sprunt. Sprunt stepped in and provided additional funding he had amassed through friends and colleagues which brought the total budget to $5,010.34.^[7]

Timeline of the Monument

1993—Sons of Confederate Veterans Celebrate George Davis’ Birthday^[8] 1995—Descendants Honor George Davis at Monument Ceremony^[9] 2000—Traffic Damage to the George Davis Monument^[10] 2000—Repair and Reinstallation of the Monument^[11]

George Davis

The following is a timeline of George Davis.^[12]

• 1820, March 1: Born in Porter’s Neck in New Hanover County (now Pender County)
• 1834: Entered UNC Chapel Hill at the age of 14
• 1838: Graduated from UNC Chapel Hill, was valedictorian of his class
• 1841: Graduated from law school and licensed to practice
• 1847-1855: Served as a Wilmington Town Commissioner along with 33 other commissioners
• 1861 Mr. Davis attended the Peace Congress at Little Washington, NC February 4, 1861. March 2d at Wilmington, NC he was solicited to deliver an address upon the situation. Mr. Davis said he had gone to the Peace Conference to exhaust every means to obtain a fair and honourable settlement of differences. As a result of his address the whole of Cape Fear became united that there was no hope of securing the rights of North Carolina by adhering to the Union.
• 1863, December 31: Confederate President appointed him Attorney General
• 1866, January 2: Paroled by President Johnson as part of the General Amnesty
• 1870, April 28: General Robert E. Lee entertained in Honorable G. Davis home on Second Street in Wilmington, North Carolina
• 1896, February: Died. Buried in Oakdale Cemetery in Wilmington, North Carolina

Gallery

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  Right side of the George Davis Monument in Wilmington, North Carolina

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  The monument and its base from the right corner

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  Inscription on the right side of the monument.

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  Inscription on the left side of the monument.

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  View of the George Davis Monument sculpture from the back

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  Frontal view of the monument on Market Street

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  The monument and its base from the left corner

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  The George Davis Monument on the corner of Market and Third Streets in Wilmington, NC

References

1. Seaper, Janet K., Breiner, Allison, photographs. “George Davis Statue” Beach Magazine (February 2005) 54-59.
2. Seaper, Janet K., Breiner, Allison, photographs. “George Davis Statue” Beach Magazine (February 2005) 54-59.
3. Dickson, A. L. “Historic Articles Preserved: Cornerstone of Davis Monument Contains papers, Letters and Coins.” (April 17, 1966)
4. Volkstorf, Todd. “Refurbished Davis statue again stands downtown.” Wilmington Star News (February 17, 2002)
5. Reaves, Bill. “Inside Old Wilmington.” The Wilmington Star News (February 1966.)
6. Lawrence, R. C. “Attorney for the South.” The State VI:35 (January 28, 1939): 9+18.
7. Steelman, Ben. “Statues: George Davis.” Sunday Star News (January 20, 2002) 11D.
8. Rose, Tracy. “George Davis: Faithful remember Confederate leader.” Wilmington Star News (March 2, 1993) 1B-2B.
9. Hervey, Philip. “Descendents honor son of the South.” Wilmington Star News (June 8, 1995)
10. Volkstorf, Todd. “Refurbished Davis statue again stands downtown.” Wilmington Star News (February 17, 2002)
11. Volkstorf, Todd. “Refurbished Davis statue again stands downtown.” Wilmington Star News (February 17, 2002)
12. Yearns, Buck. “George Davis.” Dictionary of NC Biography 32-33.

Coordinates: 34°14′08″N 77°56′45″W / 34.23556°N 77.94577°W