East Rock
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- This article is about the physical traprock hill formation known as East Rock. See East Rock (neighborhood) for information on the residential neighborhood of New Haven known by the same name.
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East Rock is a traprock hill that rises to the northeast of downtown New Haven, Connecticut, USA. Its approximate elevation is 400 feet, and it consists largely of reddish and blackish basalt, much like its companion West Rock. Adjacent formations associated with East Rock are Whitney Peak, Indian Head, and Snake Rock.
The hill is easily visible from many parts of the city and some parts of surrounding towns, especially the prominent Soldiers and Sailors Monument which rests on its plateau-like top. East Rock has been designated as public parkland by the city of New Haven, and contains many hiking trails, woodlands, and a notable "Great Steps" edifice which has been built to facilitate climbing the hill's steep cliffside.
Monument
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The inscriptions on the Soldiers and Sailors monument are as follows:
Southwest face (Civil War battles)
- Gettysburg
- Port Hudson
- Fort Fisher
- 1861-1865
Southeast face (Revolutionary War battles)
- Bunker Hill
- Bennington
- Saratoga
- 1775-1783
Northeast face (War of 1812 battles)
- Lake Erie
- Lake Champlain
- New Orleans
- 1812-1815
Northwest face (Mexican-American War)
In addition, the northwest face bears a large plaque with the following inscription:
"1861-1865 Soldiers and Sailors of New Haven who died in defense of the Union." This is followed by a three-column casuality list of twelve regiments of infantrymen. The frame of the plaque depicts numbered badges and flags. Some legible names along this border include: Fort Donaldson; Hampton Roads; Newberne, N.E.; Fort Pulaski; James Island; Island No. 10; New Orleans; Fair Oaks; Secessionville; Gettysburg; Dallas; and Bull Run.