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Cow Cavalry Memorial Leads Plant City To Rein In Group

Photo by correspondent Cheryl Kuck.

A memorial to the cow cavalry, a Civil War unit that helped supply beef to Confederate soldiers, was dedicated in Plant City. Among those in attendance were. Mike Bethune, left, who was the memorial sculptor and his lifelong friend Cecil Murray, who was the granite monument and brick contractor for the project.

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By RAY REYES | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 12, 2007

PLANT CITY - If the East Hillsborough Historical Society decides to allow a companion piece to the controversial Confederate Cow Cavalry memorial, it must seek city permission.

Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution on Monday that requires the historical society to seek city commission approval before it allows any more permanent monuments on the grounds of the 1914 Plant City High School Community Center.

The historical society takes care of the building at 605 N. Collins St. and has its archives there.

Commissioners have said the historical society should have asked for permission to allow the monument's construction because the city owns the building.

The bronze memorial depicts a rifle-toting man in front of a horse and cattle and was unveiled during the society's Pioneer Heritage Day on Nov. 17. The Cow Cavalry protected cattle from Union soldiers and helped supply beef to Confederate troops.

The memorial was paid for by the Plant City chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

The only black city commissioner, Mary Yvette Thomas Mathis, objected to the memorial and told commissioners during a meeting Nov. 13 that "this is a Confederate solider we're putting on city property."

The new rule doesn't apply to displays inside the building.

Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 865-4433 or rreyes@tampatrib.com.

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