Of course the Confederate statues were not erected during the Civil War. The south was much too busy trying to defend their sovereignity and keep their families safe -— had no time to make and erect statues.
The memorials were erected after the Late Unpleasantness had ended to honor those who honored their heritage and fought bravely to protect it, Men such as Gen. Robert E. Lee, CSA President Jefferson Davis, Gen. Stand Watie, Gen. “Stonewell” Jackson, and so many others.
The statues were built for the culture of slavery. Slavery had been place so long it became part of the culture.