Soldiers & Sailors Monument, (sculpture).

Soldiers & Sailors Monument, (sculpture).

Dinsmoor, C. H., designer.

Frederick & Field, fabricator.

Soldiers & Sailors Monument, (sculpture).

Dedicated Oct. 1, 1889.

Sculpture: bronze with patina; Base: Quincy blue granite.

Sculpture: approx. H. 5 ft.; Base: approx. 20 ft. x 6 ft. 8 in. x 7 ft. 6 in.

(On upper front of base, raised letters:) IN HONOR/OF THE MEN OF/DERRY, N.H./WHO FOUGHT FOR THE/UNION/1861-1865 (On bronze plaque on front midsection of base, raised letters:) KILLED IN ACTION/(Four names in two columns)/DIED IN SERVICE/(Twenty names in three columns) (On lower front of base, raised:) 1889 (On bronze plaques on back and sides of base:) HONORABLY DISCHARGED/(Columns of names) unsigned

A figure of a mustached Civil War figure atop a tall granite shaft. The soldier is dressed in a military uniform that consists of a thigh-length coat and a cap with a chin strap. He stands at parade rest holding the barrel of a rifle with both hands. The butt of the rifle rests by his proper right foot. He wears a belt with a bayonet-type sword at his proper left side, a canteen near the back of his proper left hip, and a small satchel with the letters "U.S." on it attached at his back proper right hip. The granite shaft is decorated on the front midsection with a bronze eagle atop a shield, cannons, and foliage. The back midsection of the base is decorated with a pair of crossed cannons, and the sides with crossed swords and anchor and rope. The upper section of the base is crenelated with a band of stars above it.

History -- United States -- Civil War

Figure male -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Outdoor Sculpture -- New Hampshire -- East Derry

Administered by Town of Derry, Parks & Recreation Department, 31 East Broadway, Derry, New Hampshire 03038

Located Town Common, East Derry Road, in front of First Parish Church, East Derry, New Hampshire

Upon her death in Dec. 3, 1886, Miss Emma L. Taylor, a local educator, bequeathed $1,000 to be used for the erection of a monument honoring the town's war heroes. In March 1888, the townspeople voted to appropriate additional funding for the memorial and in March 1889, $2,000 was allocated to complete the monument. The total cost of the monument was $3,149.70. C. H. Dinsmoor was commissioned to design the monument and Frederick and Fields fabricated it. The monument has been the victim of vandalism at Halloween when pranksters have placed a carved pumpkin over the head of the soldier. IAS files contain transcription of names on plaques on base.

IAS files contain articles from the Derry News, Oct. 26, 1990; Nov. 2, 1990; Nov. 30, 1990; and March 24, 1995, pg. 1, 3. IAS files contain articles from The Manchester Union, Oct. 2, 1889, pg. 1; the Manchester Union Leader, July 21, 1995, pg. A1, A14; July 22, 1995; the Lawrence Eagle Tribune; and the Sunday Monitor (Concord, New Hampshire), July 23, 1995, pg. B6. IAS files contain excerpts from "From Turnpike to Interstate, 1827 1977: The 150 Years of Derry, New Hampshire," Canaan, New Hampshire: Phoenix Publishing, 1977, pg. 21, 22, 119; Daniel Hall's "Address at the Dedication of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument at Derry, N.H., Oct. 1, 1889," Concord, New Hampshire: The Republican Press Association, 1889, pg. 4-6. IAS files also contain an excerpt from David Ruell's typescript "The Public Sculpture of New Hampshire," Concord, New Hampshire: New Hampshire Historical Society, pg. 19, 20.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, New Hampshire survey, 1993.

Manchester Union Leader (Manchester, NH), July 22, 1995.

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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