Brigadier General Edward Fowler led the Fort Greene-based 14th Regiment of the New York State National Guard, the Red-Legged Devils, in 22 battles during the Civil War. At the Second Battle of Bull Run his regiment lost 860 of its 960 members.
The statue of Fowler was erected in Fort Greene Park in 1902. The mid-20th century was not kind to the statue and after vandals unsuccessfully tried to tow it away in the 1960s it was put into storage. In 1976 Lafayette Square, at the intersection of Lafayette St., Fulton St. and South Elliott Place, was refurbished and renamed Fowler Gore and the statue was reinstalled.
On Sunday the general was valiantly trying to maintain his dignity, despite his holiday headgear. He reminds me of another military man, Major Horace Applegate as played by Charles Ruggles in "Bringing Up Baby". Unfortunately, I did not get to hear his leopard call.
That's a pretty sweet wreath hat though. I'd wear it. With the bulbs lit.
Posted by: Dane | 13 January 2010 at 08:56 PM