Colonel William Colvill, (sculpture).

Colonel William Colvill, (sculpture).

Backus, George J., Mrs., sculptor.

Neimeyer, J. C., architect.

Colonel William Colvill, (sculpture).

Dedicated May 29, 1909. Rededicated July 29, 1928. Rededicated July 31, 1994.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze; Base: Bedford stone.

Sculpture: approx. H. 8 ft.; Base: approx. 7 ft. x 79 1/8 in. x 78 7/8 in.

(Plaque on front of base, raised letters:) WILLIAM COLVILL,/COL. 1ST REGT. MINN. VOLS./BORN APRIL 5, 1830,/DIED JUNE 12, 1905. (three additional base plaques describe the life and accomplishments of William Colvill) unsigned

A bearded and moustached Colonel William Colvill stands in Union uniform, holding a sabre in his proper right hand, the tip of which rests on the ground. He rests his proper left hand on the scabbard hanging from his waist. Two large tassels hang over the scabbard. He wears a wide-brimmed hat and a knee-length coat. The sculpture is mounted on a tall square base that is surrounded by a stone walkway. The graves of Colvill and his wife Jane are nearby. The memorial site also includes a curved balustrade with a stairway before it, two stone benches, a flagpole, and a Civil War cannon.

History -- United States -- Civil War

Portrait male -- Colvill, William -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Colonel

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Occupation -- Law -- Lawyer

Occupation -- Political -- Congressman

Occupation -- Writer -- Editor

Occupation -- Writer -- Author

Outdoor Sculpture -- Minnesota -- Cannon Falls

Cannon Falls Cemetery, Minnesota Highway 19, Cannon Falls, Minnesota 55009

Colonel William Colvill (1830-1905) was born in Forestville, New York and emigrated to Red Wing, Minnesota in 1854 where he opened a law office and established the first local newspaper. In the Civil War, Colvill was Captain of the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. Promoted to Colonel, he led the First Regiment Minnesota Volunteers at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863. Colvill was mustered out of service in 1865 with the brevet rank of Brigadier General for gallant and meritorious service. In subsequent years Colonel Colvill was appointed editor of the newspaper the "Republican" and elected State Attorney General. He also served a term in the House of Representatives, was appointed registrar of the Federal Land Office at Duluth and studied astronomy, mineralogy, geology. He also wrote "A History of Glaciers in the Northwest." He was buried in the cemetery because he had relatives living locally at the time of his death.

Reportedly, the monument is the only state monument dedicated to a Civil War veteran, and was erected by the Col. Wm. Colvill Monument Commission. The artist, Mrs. Backus, had previously sketched Colvill in Red Wing, and later made a death mask of his head and face. She modeled the face of the figure to look younger, closer to his appearance during the Civil War. An exact replica of the sculpture is located in the Rotunda of the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota (see IAS record 76000151). A plaque honoring the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry (transcription in IAS files) was later placed in front of the monument and the memorial was rededicated in 1928 during a ceremony in which President Coolidge was present. The memorial's stairway and balustrade were designed by architect J. C. Neimeyer. In 1993, the Colvill Memorial Restoration project raised approximately $15,000 through private and business donations to restore the monument. Plaque on the rear of the base was also added during the restoration and the monument was rededicated July 31, 1994.

Nearby plaque reads: Dedication/to/Colvill/Memorial/Legion Post/142/Cannon Falls/Minn/July 29, 1928. IAS files contain partial transcriptions of texts on plaques on base. IAS files contain a related article from the Beacon (Minnesota), Feb. 21, 1908. IAS files contain nine newspaper articles from unidentified sources discussing fund raising and plans for the monument's restoration and 1994 rededication.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Minnesota survey, 1995.

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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