Most Counties built Confederate Monuments around 1910 -- and sometimes had photos taken of the Veterans invited for the unveiling. Columbus had a much earlier monument. I wondered if anyone has any information about this dedication and if there may have been veterans present? "Erected by the ladies of the Memorial Association, 1879, to honor the Confederate soldiers who died to repel unconstitutional invasion, to protect the right reserved to the people, and to perpetuate forever the sovereignty of the states. In the back it reads: "In Memoriam". Below this is " Gather the sacred dust of warriors tried and true, who bore the flag of our nation's trust and fell in the cause, though lost, still just. And died for me and you". http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/3093/columbus.html Faye L. Dyess has done such a marvelous job with this page.... Virginia Crilley