Civil War Soldier, (sculpture).

Civil War Soldier, (sculpture).

J. W. Fiske Iron Works, founder.

Art Research & Technology, founder.

Civil War Soldier, (sculpture).

Commissioned April 1878. 1878. Dedicated July 17, 1878. Rededicated July 22, 1994.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: cast iron with a bronze coat; Base: cast iron with a bronze coat.

Sculpture: approx. 7 ft. x 30 in. x 24 in.; Base: approx. 1 x 30 x 24 in.

Full-length figure of a uniformed soldier stands at parade rest. The figure wears a long caped coat, cap and moustache. He holds his rifle in front of him with his proper right hand around the barrel and his proper left hand resting on top. The rifle's butt is by his proper right foot. The figure stands at ground level on a flat, square base.

History -- United States -- Civil War

Figure male -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Outdoor Sculpture -- Pennsylvania -- Chambersburg

Administered by Franklin County Heritage, Inc., P. O. Box 78, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania 17201

Located Intersection of Routes 11 & 30, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania

Erected by the Ladies and Soldiers Monument Association in honor of the 5,000 Franklin County residents who fought in the Civil War. The $1,700 cost of the figure also included its companion fountain (see IAS record PA001548). The addition of the soldier was part of a compromise reached by Association members who had different opinions on what form the memorial should take. Both the figure and the fountain were restored by Art Research & Technology of Lancaster, PA in 1994. The soldier figure was reinforced and rewelded. In the process, it was discovered that the coat's buttons were actual brass buttons produced for Federal uniforms rather than sculpted pieces. The orientation of the buttons on the coat is right over the left, the reverse of the actual uniforms. This suggests that the sculptor may have worked from a reverse photo. The soldier and fountain are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. IAS files contain a brochure from the rededication.

Nearby plaque reads: "ERECTED IN MEMORY/OF THE/SOLDIERS OF FRANKLIN COUNTY WHO/FOUGHT FOR THE UNION IN THE/WAR BETWEEN THE STATES 1861-1865/DEDICATED JULY 17TH, 1878." Plaque to the left of the sculpture reads: "APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET SOUTHWEST OF THIS TABLET GENERALS/ROBERT E. LEE AND A.P. HILL MET MOUNTED, AND HELD A BRIEF/CONFERENCE ABOUT 10 O'CLOCK A.M. ON FRIDAY, JUNE 26TH, 1863./THIS WAS THE FIRST MOVE WHICH ULTIMATELY LEAD TO THE/DECISION ON MONDAY, JUNE 29TH TO CONCENTRATE THE ARMY OF/NORTHERN VIRGINIA IN THE DIRECTION OF GETTYSBURG, AND/DECIDED THE LOCATION OF THE BATTLE WITH THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC AT THAT PLACE."

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Pennsylvania survey, 1995.

Companion to: PA001548.

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

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