Union Soldier Monument, (sculpture).

Union Soldier Monument, (sculpture).

Monumental Bronze Company, founder.

Union Soldier Monument, (sculpture).

Dedicated May 30, 1886.

Digital Reference:

Figure and base: bronze with gray coating; Foundation: granite.

Figure: approx. 6 ft. x 24 in. x 24 in.; Base: approx. 12 x 5 x 5 ft.; Foundation: approx. 8 x 68 x 68 in.

MONUMENTAL BRONZE CO. BRIDGEPORT, CT. (On base, top section, west front:) W.A. ATKINSON/POST NO. 18, DEPT W.VA./APPOMATOX (On base, middle section, west front:) YET LOVED ONES/HAVE FALLEN/AND STILL WHERE/THEY SLEEP/A SORROWING NATION SHALL/SILENTLY WEEP./AND SPRING'S BRIGHTEST/FLOWERS WITH GRATITUDE/STREW/O'ER THOSE WHO ONCE/CHERISHED/THE RED, WHITE, AND BLUE. (On base, lower section, west front:) TO THE PERPETUAL MEMORY OF THE/DEFENDERS/OF THE UNION, 1861-1865./ERECTED BY THE/CITIZENS OF HANCOCK CO., MAY 30TH, 1886 (Base, south side: two plaques listing war dead) CEDAR CREEK (Base, east side: two plaques listing war dead) PIEDMONT (Base, north side: two plaques listing residents of Hancock County who fought in the war) WINCHESTER Founder's mark appears.

A Union Civil War soldier standing at parade rest. He holds the barrel of a rifle with both hands. The butt of the rifle has broken off and is missing. His proper left foot is slightly forward and slightly turned out. He wears a uniform consisting of a short billed cap, a long moustache, a high collared shirt fastened tightly at the neck, a knee-length coat with an attached waist-length cape, and loose fitting pants. He also wears a wide belt and buckle with the letters "US" on it, and an attached bayonet and square pouch. The sculpture and base are made of bronze, finished in a gray color resembling stone, and joined in sections.

The elaborate base consists of three tiers on a granite foundation. In relief, on all four sides of the upper tier, are symbols of the branches of the military.

History -- United States -- Civil War

Figure male -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Object -- Weapon -- Gun

Outdoor Sculpture -- West Virginia -- New Cumberland

Administered by Hancock County, Hancock County Commission, 102 North Court Street, P. O. Box 485, New Cumberland, West Virginia 26047

Located Hancock County Courthouse, Court Street, Front Lawn, New Cumberland, West Virginia 26047

IAS files contain a related article from the Hancock Courier (New Cumberland, WV), Aug. 30, 1990 and a photograph of the sculpture taken in 1947, which shows the original rifle, now missing from the soldier's hands.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, West Virginia survey, 1992.

Hancock Courier (New Cumberland, WV), Aug. 30, 1990.

Hancock Courier (New Cumberland, WV), Aug. 30, 1990.

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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