File:42. Donald DeLue to Supt. Schober, April 4, 1972 Page 1 (10399072-4eff-4db0-b6c3-061637f9a627).jpg

White paper with typed black text

April 4, 1972 Mr. Jerry L. Schober, Superintendent U.S. Department of the Interior Gettysburg National Military Park Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325 Dear Mr. Schober: I am in receipt of your letter of March 29th and I am sorry not to have seen you during our visit of March 24th. As soon as I receive the plot plan I will have Mr. Murphy draw up an over-all plan giving a general idea of the placement and 40 foot flagstone patio and the 8 foot walkway. Shortly I will have a drawing or photo mock-up of the group and pedestal. Enclosed are two photos of the standing figure in clay in my studio. This figure is finished and approx. 10’6” high. I proceeded with the work after quite a number of conversations with Mr. Emery on the phone who said “by all means proceed with the work as the only thing holding up approval is the questionable wording. I have gone over with Civil War Historians all of the original equipment that has been supplied to me. The Fayetteville rifle to the cherrywood canteen, cartridge box with original brown paper stating that Dr. --- took it away from a Confederate prisoner at Savannah, Georgia along with an English rifle and bayonette [sic]. The percussion cap pouch, the belt and belt buckle are all authentic as well as the saber bayonette [sic] apparently much desired over the official three cornered bayonette [sic] because with the saber they could cut wood with it and use it to cook meat. I have decided on the Bed Roll as I think it makes a much more interesting statue with it than without it and my Committee agrees with me on this. I am sure that you are aware that my primary objective as an artist is to create a fine and interesting Monument and History is the Main Guideline which we follow to the best of our ability, although we are not Historians. There is every reason for using the Bed Roll if the artist so desires as there are any number of occasions when troops could be caught in battle with it. I notice of course the Lee Monument where to infantry men wear it, and the Sculptor was Seivers, from Richmond, who did many Civil War Statues and of course had the advice of Veterans still living. I am enclosing the famous photo of the three Confederate Soldiers captured at Gettysburg standing in front of the Union Breastwork on Cemetary [sic] Hill. I notice that your letter states that the Blanket Roll should have only one strap at the ends. This I could do but it would upset the Composition. If the strap to the right of the percussion pouch were removed the Roll would

• Keywords: Gettysburg; Gettysburg National Military Park; Photography; monuments; memorials; virtual experience; battlefield