Union Soldiers and Sailors Memorial, (sculpture).

Union Soldiers and Sailors Memorial, (sculpture).

Unknown, sculptor.

Union Soldiers and Sailors Memorial, (sculpture).

Soldiers' Monument, (sculpture).

Installed 1894. Dedicated May 30, 1894. Rededicated 1966.

Sculpture: bronze; Base: Warrensburg sandstone, limestone, marble, and red beech granite (?).

Sculpture: approx. 6 x 2 x 2 ft.; Base: approx. 12 ft. x 6 ft. 4 in. x 6 ft. 4 in.

(Front of base, on marble insert:) IN MEMORY OF/UNION SOLDIERS AND SAILORS/(Below marble insert:) ERECTED BY/COL. GROVER POST/G. A. R. 1894 (West side of base, in relief:) "FILIIVETERANDISOM"/"MDCCCLXXXI" (Rear of base, in relief:) ERECTED/1894 (East side of base, in relief:) "1883"/"#78 GRAND ARMY REPUBLIC"/"COL. GROVER POST #78"

A uniformed Union Civil War infantry soldier stands at parade rest, holding a rifle in both hands in front of his body. He is mustached and wears a small, billed cap, and a caped coat. His proper left leg is forward and bent at the knee. His proper left hand is above his proper right hand on the rifle stock, his musket pointed skyward and the stock resting on the ground. He wears a tool on his proper left hip, and a pouch inscribed "U.S.A." on back just above his buttocks. The soldier rests on a tapered, multitiered sandstone base with an upper platform with curved edges, possibly made of red beech granite. The limestone middle section of the base contains inscriptions and relief carvings, with sandstone columns at each corner, resting on a multilevel lower section with an inscribed marble inset on the front. On the front of the base, or north side, in limestone, is a medallion with eagle, crossed cannons, and a five point star. On the back, or south side, is an inscription. On the west side is an inscription with an eagle and army medallion with ribbon, and on the east side, an inscription and navy cross. Matching stone urns engraved "W.R.C." flank the memorial, and a fence of ten posts, concrete cast to resemble cannons and connected by heavy chain, surround it.

History -- United States -- Civil War

Figure male -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Outdoor Sculpture -- Missouri -- Warrensburg

Sunset Hill Cemetery, 107 Meadow Lane, Colburn Street entrance, southeast corner, Warrensburg, Missouri 64093

The memorial honors all Union soldiers and sailors of the Civil War. It was erected, and a cemetery lot purchased, by the Colonel Grover Post No. 78 of the G.A.R, through public subscription. It was dedicated on Decoration Day (Memorial Day), May 30, 1894. The lot was intended to be a burying place for indigent Union veterans. The sculpture was modelled from life. The figure has been damaged. Its' nose was shot. In 1965, the sculpture was repaired by Rawleigh Gaines (Pleasant Hill, Missouri). A new rifle was cast, concrete was placed inside the legs of the soldier, with a copper spray applied. A rededication ceremony was held in 1966 by the Warrensburg Rotary Club. At one time, the base was surrounded on each side by a leaning cannon made of stone and painted black. IAS files contain a photocopy of a May 25, 1894 photograph of the monument. IAS also contain the following related articles from the Warrensburg Standard-Herald: Dec. 5, 1893; Jan. 5, 1894; March 13, 1894; May 18, 1894; June 1, 1894; and June 5, 1894.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Missouri survey, 1995.

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, MO5053, 1989.

Monumental News, July 1894, pg. 340.

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

Control Number:

Horizon Information Portal 3.25_9382

Powered by SirsiDynix

About | © 2020 Smithsonian | Terms of Use | Privacy | Contact

SIRIS - Smithsonian Institution Research Information System