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Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
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  • Monument Name

    James Stuart Monument, Guilford Courthouse

  • Type

    Marker

  • Subjects

    Revolutionary War, 1775-1783

  • City

    Greensboro

  • County

    Guilford

  • Description

    This is the only monument at Guilford Battlefield that honors a British soldier. It honors James Stuart (or Stewart), who died here along the third line. It is a three-section marble shaft placed on a granite base and stands nearly six feet tall. It is dated 1895 but may not have been placed until 1896. The first news report found was an announcement for the 1896 battleground celebration. The article simply stated that a marble tombstone was in place for the “generous but misguided foe.”

  • Inscription

    East face: OF THE SECOND BAT- / ALION OF THE QUEENS / GUARDS, WAS KILLED / AT THIS SPOT BY / CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH / OF THE FIRST MARY- / LAND REGIMENT.

    South face: COL. STUART'S SWORD / WAS UNBURIED HERE / IN 1866.

    North face: ERECTED BY THE / G.B.G CO. IN HONOR / OF A BRAVE FOE. / 1895

  • Custodian

    Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

  • Dedication Date

    1895

  • Decade

    1890s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    36.134300 , -79.841070 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Series

    Guilford Courthouse Battleground

  • Supporting Sources

      "Death of Stewart Guilford Courthouse National Military Park," The Historical Marker Database, HMdb.org, (accessed May 11, 2018) Link

      Baker, Thomas E. and Michael H. White. The Monuments at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, North Carolina, (Greensboro, NC: Guilford Courthouse NMP, 1991)

      Grimes, J. Bryan. "Why North Carolina Should Erect and Preserve Memorials and Mark Historic Places: Address Before the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association, Raleigh, N.C., November 4, 1909," ([Raleigh, NC: The News and Observer, 1909]), (accessed May 18, 2012) Link

      National Park Service. U.S. Department of the Interior. North Carolina National Register of Historic Places. "Inventory Form - Guilford Courthouse National Military Park," (accessed November 6, 2019) Link

      “Battle Ground Celebration,” The Greensboro Patriot (Greensboro, NC), June 17, 1896

      “Hon. Lieut. Colonel Stuart,” The Historical Marker Database, HMdb.org, (accessed April 9, 2018) Link

  • Public Site

    Yes

  • Materials & Techniques

    White marble shaft with granite base.

  • Sponsors

    Guilford Battleground Company

  • Subject Notes

    James Stuart was a colonel and commander of the Second Guards Battalion during the battle. He was engaged in a duel by Captain John Smith of the First Maryland but was supposedly killed by a bullet shot from a musket in the First Maryland. In 1866 a sword belonging to James Stuart was plowed up in the battlefield at the spot where this monument was erected. However, the location of the sword is unknown today.

  • Controversies

    There is variation in the spelling of his last name and has been printed as both Stewart and Stuart.

  • Location

    The memorial is located within Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, not far from the Maryland monument and American Third Line (Regulars) Monument .

  • Landscape

    The monument stands on the grass off of Historic New Garden Road.

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