File:33. Supt. Davis to Q.M.C., June 29, 1929 Page 1 (1f82259e-b0c5-44e8-9558-17674f1b554a).jpg

White paper with typed black text

June 29, 1929 Subject: North Carolina Monument. To: The Quartermaster General, U. S. A., Washington, D.C. 1. There has been received here and placed on the site selected for the North Carolina Monument a larger granite slab bearing the following inscription: NORTH CAROLINA TO THE ETERNAL GLORY OF NORTH CAROLINA SOLDIERS, WHO ON THIS BATTLEFIELD DISPLAYED HEROISM UNSURPASSED, SACRIFICING ALL IN SUPPORT OF THEIR CAUSE, THEIR VALOROUS DEEDS WILL BE ENSHRINED IN THE HEARTS OF MEN LONG AFTER THESE TRANSIENT MEMORIALS HAVE CRUMBLED INTO DUST. THIRTY TWO NORTH CAROLINA REGIMENTS WERE IN ACTION AT GETTYSBURG JULY 1, 2, 3, 1865. ONE CONFEDERATE SOLDIER IN EVERY FOUR WHO FELL HERE WAS A NORTH CAROLINIAN. 2. This inscription seems to be contrary to the spirit if not the letter of the statute which provides that monuments and markers be inscribed “with suitable tablets, each bearing a brief historical legend, compiled without praise and without censure”, (see paragraphs 43 and 44, Regulations for National Military Parks, 1915). The inscription seems also contrary to the provisions of paragraph 3, Reg. N. M. P. 1915 which provides that inscriptions “must be purely historical, compiled without praise or censure”. 3. On no other monument on the Park does any such eulogistic inscription as this appear. It is believed that the inscription will provoke controversy. When the matter of the Virginia monument was under discussion the inscription first proposed was as follows, viz: VIRGINIA TO HER SOLDIERS AT GETTYSBURG. THEY FOUGHT FOR THE FAITH OF THEIR FATHERS. This was objected to as contrary to the statues establishing the Park and to the War Department rule above cited. After some discussion, the Virginia state authorities yielded the point and the inscription is now

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