(Sculpture of Civil War Soldier at Rest), (sculpture).

(Sculpture of Civil War Soldier at Rest), (sculpture).

Unknown (Vermont), fabricator.

(Sculpture of Civil War Soldier at Rest), (sculpture).

Soldiers Monument, (sculpture).

1911. Installed Aug. 1911. Dedicated Oct. 6, 1911. Rededicated 1929.

Sculpture: White Bethel granite; Base: Vermont granite.

Sculpture: approx. 7 ft. x 23 in. x 19 in.; Base: approx. 7 ft. 6 in. x 5 ft. x 5 ft.

(On plaque, left side of base:) 1861 in Memoriam 1865/(Names follow in three columns) (On plaque, right side of base:) 1861 in Memoriam 1865/(Names follow in two columns) (On plaque, rear of base:) "Dedicated to the men of Charlestown, New Hampshire who served their country in the World War."/(Names follow in two columns) unsigned

A Civil War soldier stands at parade rest wearing a cap, coat and cape. He holds a rifle in front of him with both hands around the top of the barrel. The rifle butt rests in front of his proper right foot. He wears a bayonet and sheath and a small round pouch on the proper left side of his belt. Another square pouch is on the rear of his belt. The white granite sculpture is mounted upon a base composed of a rectangular block with a wide base. The base is made of darker granite with rough-cut sides. On the front of the base is a G.A.R. emblem containing an eagle, crossed cannons and a medal of honor.

History -- United States -- Civil War

History -- United States -- World War I

Figure male -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Outdoor Sculpture -- New Hampshire -- Charlestown

Town of Charlestown, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Main Street, Charlestown, New Hampshire 03603

The sculpture cost approximately $1,500 and was installed in honor of Charlestown men who served in the Civil War. Efforts to erect the sculpture began in 1894 when the Young Men's Debating Club sponsored several fundraising events. In 1897, the Soldiers Monument Association was formed to raise money through public subscription. In 1911, the monument was ordered from a Vermont firm and reportedly a relative of a Charlestown resident may have been the model for the Civil War soldier.

The bronze plaque bearing the names of Charlestown men who served in World War I was a later addition and was dedicated during Memorial Day exercises in 1929. The sculpture was cleaned in 1992. IAS files contain transcript of names on base plaque and excerpts from Martha Frizzell's "Second History of Charlestown, New Hampshire," Littleton, N.H.: 1955; and David Ruell's "The Public Sculpture of New Hampshire," Concord, N.H.: New Hampshire Historical Society, 1980, pg. 81-83. IAS files also contain articles from the Claremont Advocate, Feb. 17, 1911, April 28, 1911, and Oct. 13, 1911. For further information, see also Charlestown Annual Reports from 1909, 1910, 1911 and 1912.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, New Hampshire survey, 1993.

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