Soldiers' Monument, (sculpture).

Soldiers' Monument, (sculpture).

James G. Batterson (Firm), fabricator.

Soldiers' Monument, (sculpture).

Dedicated May 30, 1872. Cannon added Aug. 4, 1897.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: brownstone.

Sculpture: approx. 7 x 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 ft.; Shaft: approx. 26 x 7 x 7 ft.

(Front face of base, third riser, incised letters:) ERECTED/MAY 30, 1872,/BY THE TOWN OF PORTLAND;/TO THE MEMORY OF HER BRAVE SONS/WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN DEFENSE OF THE UNION,/DURING THE WAR OF THE REBELLION/1861 - 5 (On front of base:) ATLANTA/GETTYSBURG/DIED (followed by 7 names, unit, date and place of death) (Southwest side:) SILVER RUN/BENTONVILLE (eight names) (Southeast side:) RESACA/PEACHTREE CREEK (eight names) (Northeast side:) CASSVILLE/CHANCELLORSVILLE (seven names)

A Union soldier stands on the top of a rectangular shaft that is mounted on a tiered base. The soldier holds the barrel of his rifle in both hands, with the butt on the ground, next to his extended proper right foot. He has a moustache, and wears a visored cap, a knee-length coat and a waist-length cape flung back over his proper left shoulder. A bayonet hangs from his proper left side. Where the shaft meets the base is the relief of an eagle with spread wings, standing over two shields. Two cannons are placed on either side of the monument. The monument is surrounded by a decorated, low retaining wall.

History -- United States -- Civil War

Figure male -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Outdoor Sculpture -- Connecticut -- Portland

Administered by Town of Portland, 265 Main Street, Portland, Connecticut 06480

Located Opposite 548 Main Street, corner of Bartlett Street, Portland, Connecticut

The memorial is dedicated to the Union soldiers who died in the Civil War. A town meeting held Sept. 8, 1871 approved $4,000 for the erection of a monument. Total cost was $4,500. The retaining wall was believed to have been added at the turn of the century. The two cannons, received from the New York Arsenal on Governor's Island, were added Aug. 4, 1897. In 1966, the cannons were removed (one loaned to South Windsor, the other put in storage). The cannons were reinstalled in 1976.

For related information see the Press (Middletown, CT), Nov. 12, 1976; and the minutes of the Portland Town Meeting, Sept. 9, 1871.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Connecticut survey, 1994.

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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