Major General James B. McPherson, (sculpture).

Major General James B. McPherson, (sculpture).

Rebisso, Louis T., 1837-1899, sculptor.

Babcock, O. E., architect.

Smithmeyer & Pelz, architectural firm.

Robert Wood & Company, founder.

Westham Granite Works, fabricator.

Major General James B. McPherson, (sculpture).

Brigadier General James B. McPherson, (sculpture).

1876. Dedicated Oct. 18, 1876.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze; Base: granite

Sculpture: approx. H. 14 ft. L. 12 ft.; Base: approx. H. 12 ft. D. 6 ft.

(Base, west side:) MAJ. GEN. JAMES B. McPHERSON/ATLANTA/JULY 22, 1864 (Base, east side:) ERECTED BY HIS COMRADES/OF THE SOCIETY OF/THE ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE

Equestrian portrait of McPherson holding the reins in his proper left hand and a pair of field glasses in his proper right hand. He sits in the saddle with his body turned slightly to the proper right as he surveys his battlefield. His horse is caught mid-stride as it walks forward with its proper right front foot raised and its head down. The sculpture rests on a rectangular base adorned around the top with a ring of small wreaths and a ring of stars and around the bottom with a ring of canon balls.

Portrait male -- McPherson, James Birdseye -- Full length

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Dress -- Accessory -- Eye wear

Occupation -- Military -- Major General

Outdoor Sculpture -- District of Columbia -- Washington

Administered by United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Washington, District of Columbia

Located McPherson Square, Between I & K Streets, 15th & 14th Streets, N.W., Washington, District of Columbia

During the Civil War General McPherson was commander of the Army of the Tennessee and took part in General Sherman's march to the sea. He later lost his life during the battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864. Confederate cannons captured at Atlanta were used in the casting of the sculpture. The memorial was installed in Scott Square which was then renamed McPherson Square. Smithmeyer & Pelz designed the base. Westham Granite Works was responsible for the stone work. The sculpture was authorized by Congress on March 3, 1875 and was paid for by the Society of the Army of the Tennessee. The sculpture was cast from a captured cannon. The dedication took place on the 11th annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee. IAS files contain an excerpt from Jannelle Warren-Findley's Aug. 1, 1985 report for the National Park Service entitled, "A Guide to Selected Statues, Monuments and Memorials," National Capital Parks - Central, National Park Service, Washington, D.C. (RFQ 3-4-1919) which includes a brief maintenance history, a list of bibliographic sources, and notes to additional information found in National Park Service files.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, District of Columbia survey, 1993.

Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, pg. 281.

Michael Richman, SAAM curatorial assistant, 1967-1969.

Washington City Paper, July 9, 1993.

Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, H-8.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

Control Number:

Horizon Information Portal 3.25_9382

Powered by SirsiDynix

About | © 2020 Smithsonian | Terms of Use | Privacy | Contact

SIRIS - Smithsonian Institution Research Information System