54th Pennsylvania Regiment Veteran Volunteer Infantry Monument, (sculpture).

54th Pennsylvania Regiment Veteran Volunteer Infantry Monument, (sculpture).

Smith, J. L., contractor.

54th Pennsylvania Regiment Veteran Volunteer Infantry Monument, (sculpture).

54th Pennsylvania Monument at the New Market Battlefield, (sculpture).

Dedicated Oct. 25, 1905.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: Barre granite; Base: Barre granite.

Sculpture: approx. H. 6 ft.; Base: approx. 11 x 7 x 7 ft. (18 tons).

(On front of pedestal:) ERECTED/TO THE MEMORY/OF THE HEROIC DEAD/OF THE 54TH REGT./PA. VET. VOL. INFTY./WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/IN DEFENCE (sic) OF THEIR/COUNTRY (On first step of base:) 1861-1865 (On plaque at bottom step of base:) AT CEREMONIES CONDUCTED 16 SEPTEMBER 1984,/TITLE TO THIS MONUMENT WAS TRANSFERRED FROM/THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA TO THE NEW/MARKET BATTLEFIELD PARK. THE MONUMENT WAS/ORIGINALLY DEDICATED ON 25 OCTOBER 1905 TO THE/MEN OF THE 54th PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY. IT NOW/SERVES AS A MEMORIAL TO ALL WHO FOUGHT AT THE/BATTLE OF NEW MARKET ON 15 MAY 1864. unsigned

Full-length figure of a Union soldier standing at parade rest. He wears a uniform, an overcoat and a cap. The cape of the overcoat is thrown over his proper right shoulder. He holds the barrel of a gun with both hands; the butt of the gun rests on the ground. The granite figure stands atop an elaborate pedestal. On the four sides of the upper step of the pedestal base are bas-relief carvings: a knapsack and crossed guns, crossed cannon and the coat of arms of the state of Pennsylvania. The dark granite pedestal rests on a three-stepped granite base.

History -- United States -- Civil War

History -- United States -- Pennsylvania

Figure male -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Object -- Weapon -- Gun

Object -- Weapon -- Cannon

Outdoor Sculpture -- Virginia -- New Market

Administered by New Market Battlefield Historical Park, Virginia Military Institute, Museum Programs, Lexington, Virginia 24450

Located New Market Battlefield Historical Park, U.S. 11, New Market, Virginia

The monument was erected jointly by the members of the 54th Pennsylvania Regiment and the Pennsylvania legislature. The legislature appropriated $2,000 for the monument which was said to cost between $2,500. In 1984, the title for the monument was transferred from the state of Pennsylvania to the New Market Battlefield Park. IAS files contain copies of related articles from The Shenandoah Valley, Aug. 10 and Oct. 26, 1905 and Rockingham Register, June 27 and Aug. 10, 1905. IAS files contain copy of unpublished manuscript "The Pennsylvania Monument at the New Market Battlefield", New Market Battlefield Historical Park Library.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Virginia survey, 1995.

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, VA5028, 1989.

Monumental News, Dec. 1905, pg. 882.

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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