In the corner of Burnside Park, near Dorrance and Exchange Streets, stands a lone statue of a Civil War scout.



This is Major Henry Harrison Young, a notorious Union spy.

photo: Wikipedia

Young and his team spent the entire Civil War retrieving intelligence, and when possible, Confederate generals. He served in the 2nd Rhode Island volunteers - the same command as Elisha Hunt Rhodes, if you're a fan of Ken Burns' The Civil War.

There's a very informative article on Harrison at Quahog.org, if you're so inclined.

Rhode Island's Tribute to
Major Henry Harrison Young
for Valor during the Civil War
1861-1865
Major, 2nd RI Volunteers Inf.
Brevet Lieut. Col. U.S. Vols.
Chief of Scouts to Gen. Sheridan
"to Major H. H. Young, of my staff, Chief of Scouts
and Thirty or Forty Men of his Command, who
Took their Lives in their Hands, Cheerfully Going
Wherever Ordered, to Obtain that Greatest Essential
of Success, Information, I Tender my Gratitude. Ten
of these Men were Lost."
P.H. Sheridan
Major General Commanding.

And

Erected by the State of Rhode Island
As an Incentive to Patriotism
July, 1911
Joseph P. Manton
William A. Spicer
Stephen H. Brown
Charles H. Williams
Warren Ralph
Ezra Dixon
Frank H. Hammill, Commissioner
Henri Schonhardt, Sculptor

Harrison was just 25 when he enlisted in 1861 and died mysteriously and tragically in 1866 during the Mexican War. But his deeds for the Union won the respect not only of his fellow Rhode Islanders, but the Union Command as well.