Forlorn Soldier Oral History Interviews
August 22, 2014 • Civil War Monuments at the Capitol, Hide Featured Image

Oral histories make up a substantial portion of our knowledge regarding the Forlorn Soldier. The earliest account of this statue asserted that designers mistakenly created it with the wrong foot forward. Years later, many thought the statue designed from a mirror image. The most recent account of the story promotes the idea of the soldier as “forlorn and forgotten.” Assembled here is a collection of interviews documenting the latest iteration of the soldier’s oral history. Some of the interviews include Peter G. Kelly, whose family members were the stewards of the monument for over a century, Matthew Warshauer, co-chair of the Civil War Commemoration Commission, and Francis Miller, proprietor of ConservArt, the company contracted to preserve and relocate the statue.

Matthew Warshauer Forlorn Soldier Interview Francis Miller Forlorn Soldier Interview
Peter G. Kelly Condensed Interview Terri Wilson Forlorn Soldier Interview
Peter G. Kelly Forlorn Soldier Interview Knitty Gritty Committee Interview

<< Previous – Home – Next >>

Learn More

“The Wadsworth Atheneum.” 2017. https://www.thewadsworth.org/.
“Connecticut State Capitol Tours.” 2017. http://www.cga.ct.gov/capitoltours/ (March 9, 2012).
Ransom, David. 2016. “Connecticut’s Monuments: An Essay Purpose of Monuments.” Connecticut Historical Society. http://www.chs.org/finding_aides/ransom/overview3.htm (October 28, 2013).
“Cedar Hill Cemetery.” 2016. http://www.cedarhillcemetery.org/history.
“Almost Forgotten.” 1986. Hartford Courant.
“Taps for ‘Hayfoot.’” 1936. Hartford Courant: A2.
“The Lighter Side: Old Hayfoot.” 1936. Hartford Courant: 10.
Drury, David. 2013. “Hartford’s ‘Forlorn Soldier’ To Get A Makeover.” Hartford Courant. http://articles.courant.com/2013-07-19/news/hc-forlorn-soldier-0720-20130719_1_travelers-foundation-monument-john-kelly (September 5, 2014).
“Video - Ceremony to Relocate the Statue of the Forlorn Soldier.” 2013. Connecticut Network. http://ct-n.com/ctnplayer.asp?odID=9234 (September 5, 2014).
“Video - State Capitol Dedication Ceremony For The Forlorn Soldier Statue.” 2013. Connecticut Network. http://ct-n.com/ctnplayer.asp?odID=9416 (September 5, 2014).
“Forgotten Sentinel.” 1939. The Travelers Beacon 2(21): 6–7.
Dixon, Ken. 2013. “‘Forlorn Soldier’ Assumes New Post.” Greenwich Time. http://www.greenwichtime.com/local/article/Forlorn-Soldier-assumes-new-post-4822923.php (September 5, 2014).
Roy, Anthony. 2013. Neither Forlorn nor Forgotten: A History of James Batterson’s Old Soldier. Hartford, CT: Connecticut Civil War Commemoration Commission.

Sign Up For Email Updates

Oops! We could not locate your form.