12th N.H. Volunteers Regiment Monument, (sculpture).

12th N.H. Volunteers Regiment Monument, (sculpture).

Murray, Henry, sculptor.

12th N.H. Volunteers Regiment Monument, (sculpture).

Twelfth New Hampshire Volunteers Regiment Monument, (sculpture).

Civil War Soldier, (sculpture).

1902. Dedicated Sept. 26, 1902.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: Westerly white granite; Base: New Hampshire native granite.

Sculpture: approx. H. 77 in.; Base: approx. 95 x 128 x 128 in.

(Near rear of side of second tier of base:) HENRY MURRAY/BOSTON (On front of base, incised letters:) IN HONOR OF/THE 12TH REGT. N.H. VOLS./WHO FOUGHT IN THE WAR OF/1861-1865/FOR THE PRESERVATION OF/THE UNION (On lower front of base, incised letters:) ERECTED BY MAJOR E.E. BEDEE signed

A figure of a mustached Civil War soldier, reportedly with the features of Major Edwin E. Bedee, formally attired in a full uniform that includes a short cape, a knee-length coat, trousers, and cap. He stands at parade rest holding the barrel of a rifle with both hands. The butt of the rifle rests between the figure's legs. The sculpture is placed atop an inscribed tapered base with a rough-faced bottom tier.

History -- United States -- Civil War

Figure male -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Outdoor Sculpture -- New Hampshire -- Meredith

Administered by Town of Meredith, Benjamin Smith Memorial Library, 41 Main Street, Meredith, New Hampshire 03253

Located Benjamin Smith Memorial Library, 91 Main Street, Meredith, New Hampshire

The monument was a gift of Major Edwin E. Bedee. Bedee was born in Sandwich, New Hampshire in 1837 and spent his childhood in Meredith. He served in the Civil War as part of the 12th Regiment of the New Hampshire Volunteers and was eventually appointed to the rank of Major. After the war, he went to South Africa and made a fortune in diamonds. He later returned to Meredith, where he maintained a summer home. The sculpture was a gift to the city from Bedee and was installed outside the new public library. The monument was presented at the Twelfth Regimental reunion on Sept. 26, 1902. The monument cost either $3,000 or $5,000.

IAS files contain related articles from the Laconia Democrat, Sept. 12, 1902; and Sept. 26, 1902. IAS files contain articles from The Union, Sept. 27, 1902; and The Weirs Times (Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire), Nov. 11, 1993, pg. 1. IAS files contain an article from the Old Farmer's Almanac (1972): pg. 122-123. IAS files also contain excerpts from Rudy Van Leghten's "Filling the Void: History of the Meredith Public Library," The Meredith News, 1989, pg. 58-63; and David Ruell's typescript "The Public Sculpture of New Hampshire," Concord, New Hampshire: New Hampshire Historical Society, 1980, pg. 52-54.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, New Hampshire survey, 1994.

Van Leghten, Rudy, "Filling the Void: History of the Meredith Public Library," Meredith, NH: The Meredith News, 1989, pg. 61.

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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