Through the efforts of Gail Hardee Broderick and

her husband, Pat, funds are being raised to bronze a sculpture of

her great-great-great uncle, General William Joseph Hardee.

Hardee was born in 1815 in Camden County, Ga., at the

family plantation, "Rural Felicity".

He was a 1838 graduate of the United States Military

Academy at West Point, N.Y., served in the Seminole Indian War,

the Mexican-American War, was appointed commandant at

West Point in1856, and wrote the textbook on military

tactics, entitled "Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics" at this time.

He resigned his position at the outset of the War Between

The States and served as brigadier general in Arkansas. In

December, 1864, he effectively evacuated the Confederate forces

from Savannah as Gen. William T. Sherman approached that

city. Much closer to home, service brought him to battles fought

in Kennesaw Mountain, Jonesboro and Lovejoy.

Presently in a wax form, this sculpture was crafted by

Michael Pate of Newnan. After studying the general both as to his

family and his part in the War Between The States, he felt as though

he came to know the man personally.

"It's not just a form without feeling," he said. "I felt he was

a soldier's general and decided that depicting him

personally accompanying a soldier back to the soldier's home was

something the General might have done. And then, of course, there had to be

a horse in the scene, also. When the sculpture was completed, the

only appropriate name for it was 'Going Home Proud'".

The sculpture will be bronzed at a foundry in Union City

and then will be placed in a park area at the head of Gen'l

Hardee Square, located in North Cove in Peachtree City. It will also

have running water that will traverse across the bottom of the piece.

"We invite those interested to help us in our project to raise

the $12,000 needed to bronze this outstanding sculpture," said

Mrs. Broderick. "An account has been set up at NationsBank in the

name "William Hardee Memorial Fund" and we would

appreciate everyone's help. He was, indeed, a soldier's general and we

are pleased to be a part of this effort." She can be reached at

770-487-8107.

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