870 



VIRGINIA. 



to be raised at national expense, is expected 

 to cost about $200,000. From the architect- 

 ural point of view it is composed of three prin- 

 cipal parts: first, a base, which, with its stylo- 

 bate and its pediments, is 37 feet high, and 

 occupies an area 38 feet square upon the 

 ground; second, a highly sculptured podium 

 25 feet high and 13 feet in diameter, in the 

 form of a drum, supporting then a column 60 

 feet high and at the base 7 feet in diameter. 



This shaft is composed of a succession of drums 

 or courses of masonry, the joints being masked 

 by four bands decorated with laurel-leaves, and 

 justified by a decoration of stars symmetrically 

 disposed upon them and breaking the outline 

 of the column. The flutings of the shaft ap- 

 pear in the lowest and highest sections only. 

 From the point of view of sentiment the monu- 

 ment is intended to convey in architectural 

 language the idea set forth in the dedicatory 

 inscription, that by the victory at Yorktown 

 the independence of the United States of Amer- 

 ica was achieved or brought to final accom- 

 plishment. The four sides of the base contain 

 first, an inscription dedicating the monu- 

 ment as a memorial of the victory ; second, an 

 inscription presenting a succinct narrative of 

 the siege, prepared in accordance with the 

 original archives in the Department of State ; 

 third, the treaty of alliance with the Kin<r of 

 France ; and, fourth, the treaty of peace with 

 the King of England. In the pediments over 

 these four sides respectively are presented, 

 carved in relief first, emblems of nationality ; 

 second, emblems of war; third, emblems of 

 the alliance; and, fourth, emblems of peace. 

 The base is thus devoted to the historical in- 

 cidents of the monumental composition, which 

 are intended solely to appeal to the imagina- 

 tion. The immediate result of the historical 

 events written upon the base was the happy 

 establishment of a national union of thirteen 

 youthful, free, and independent States. To 

 celebrate the joyful union, the sculptor has 

 represented upon the circular podium which 

 arises from the base a solemn dance of thirteen 

 typical female figures, hand in hand, encircling 

 the drum, which bears upon a belt beneath 

 their feet the words, " One Country, One Con- 

 stitution, One Destiny." The column which 

 springs from this podium may be accepted as 

 the symbol of the greatness and prosperity of 

 the nation after a century of various experi- 

 ence an expression of the strength and beau- 

 ty of the Union. As the existence of the na- 

 tion is a proof of the possibility of a govern- 

 ment of the people, by the people, for the peo- 

 ple, the column, thus adorned, culminates with 

 Liberty herself, star-crowned, and welcoming 

 the people of all nations to share equally with 

 us the fruits of our peace and prosperity. 

 The following is the text of the inscriptions : 



North Side. " Erected in pursuance of a res- 

 olution of Congress adopted October 29, 1781, 

 and an act of Congress approved June 7, 1880, 

 to commemorate the victory by which the In- 

 dependence of the United States of America 

 was achieved. 1 ' 



South Side. "Near this place, October 19, 

 1781, after a siege of nineteen days by 5,500 

 American and 7,000 French troops of the line, 

 3,500 American militia, and 36 French ships 

 of war, Earl Cornwallis, commander of the 

 British forces at Yorktown and Gloucester, 

 surrendered with his army 7,251 officers and 

 men, 840 seamen, 244 cannon, and 24 stand- 



