The Civil War memorial in Brimfield, Massachusetts was unveiled on July 4, 1866. This made Brimfield one of the first towns in the state to honor the soldiers who fought in the war. The memorial was built after a campaign led by *Captain Francis D. Lincoln, a local farmer and supporter of education. Lincoln was also a strong believer in the fight against slavery. He led a group of soldiers from Brimfield who joined the 46th Massachusetts Infantry. At the memorial ceremony, Lincoln gave a heartfelt speech about the reasons for the war. Brimfield was one of the first to commemorate the Civil War and honor those native sons who gave their lives in defense of the Union. 

Keep in mind, that in 1864 men between the ages of 18 and 45 totaled one hundred and eighty-four in the town. Of this number one hundred and fourteen served. 

The town of Brimfield voted unanimously at a Town Meeting on March 12, 1866, to erect a monument honoring the soldiers who lost their lives serving their country. A committee of five, consisting of Captain Francis D. Lincoln, Sumner Parker, William H. Wyles, Nathan F. Robinson, and Thomas J. Morgan, was appointed to develop a monument plan, estimate costs, and select a suitable location. At another meeting held on April 2, 1866, the town decided on the design and location. The Hon. William N. Flynt of Monson generously offered to provide bluish granite from his quarry for the monument.

The completed monument is an obelisk standing eighteen feet six inches tall and measuring four feet five inches square at the base. This style was popular during the closing decade of the eighteenth century when Egyptian monuments became a fascination. Many obelisks were transported from Egypt to London and New York City for study and admiration.

The monument was dedicated by the town on the 4th of July 1866. (yes they did move a lot faster than we do today!) 

Dedicatory remarks were delivered by Captain Francis D. Lincoln. The Brimfield Rifle Company, a militia unit founded in 1828, was represented by forty veterans commanded by their first captain, Cyril R. Brown. The Southbridge Cornet Band played music for the crowd. Silas C. Herring, proprietor of the Brimfield Hotel provided the funds for the decorative cast iron fence and gate. The gate which has become an unsolved mystery, was elaborately embellished with patriotic motifs and a trophy or arms. The two styles were capped by American Eagles with spread wings and at the center, superimposed upon a laurel wreath were a cavalry trooper’s broad-brimmed campaign hat, a Springfield musket crossed with a cavalry saber, and a realistically sculpted Colt type pistol. A ribbon is intertwined among the several elements. It’s a gate that is hard to miss if you ever come across it.

On the base’s north side of the granite obelisk is the inscription “Our Country’s Defenders in the War of the Rebellion/Erected by the Town”. The three remaining sides have the names of the eighteen Brimfield soldiers who died for the cause.

On each other side are the names of the men:

G.W. Allen • Wm. Kenney • L.P. Parker • C.E. Alexander • J Cronin • P Barry • H.M. Smith • G.H. Dimick • JA’s. Crosby • A.W. Latham • H.W. Robison • Silas Phelps• H.W. King • G.W. Paige • R.A. Parker • E.E. Parker • E.F. Manning • A.N. Manning

George H. Dimmick was a farmer who enlisted on February 8, 1864 and trained at Camp Reed in Springfield. at the Battle of Drury’s Bluff, Virginia on May 16, 1864, was captured with Forty-six members of Co. I, 27th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry and interned at the infamous prisoner of war camp at Andersonville, Georgia where he died of disease on October 1, 1864. He is buried in a grave marked ten thousand, nine hundred and sixty-four.