Soldiers and Sailors Monument

The Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Boston Common was erected in memory of Massachusetts soldiers and sailors who died in the American Civil War. Designed by Martin Milmore and dedicated on September 17, 1877. Union Generals George B. McClellan and Joseph Hooker were among the estimated 25,000 people attending the dedication on Boston Common. The Monument is located on a rise called Flag Staff Hill and rises to a height of 126 feet on its base. The column is topped by a figure representing the Genius of America. Four statues at the base represent Peace, the Sailor, the Muse of History, and the Soldier. Bas-relief plaques depict the departure and return of the forces, the Navy, and the work of the Boston Sanitary Commission. In one plaque, Longfellow can be seen accompanying the governor. The figures at the base of the column represent the sections of the country: North, South, East, and West. Here is another view of the monument I took seven years ago.

Robert Gould Shaw Memorial

Robert Gould Shaw Monument on the grounds of the Augustus Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site in Cornish, N.H.

This more recent casting of the memorial (1971?) includes some later tinkering by Saint-Gaudens after 1897 and includes the sabre held by Shaw, which is broken off from the memorial on the Common. A famous composition by Charles Ives, "Col. Shaw and his Colored Regiment," the opening movement of Three Places in New England, is based both on this monument and the regiment.


From the National Gallery of Art: "Commissioned in the early 1880s and dedicated as a monument in 1897 on the Boston Common, the Shaw Memorial has been acclaimed as the greatest American sculpture of the nineteenth century. The relief masterfully depicts Colonel Shaw and the first African-American infantry unit from the North to fight for the Union during the Civil War. It commemorates the young Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and the regiment of African-American volunteers who died in great numbers with him in a heroic assault on Fort Wagner, South Carolina, in 1863. Saint-Gaudens' gifts for portraiture, cadenced composition, and reserved expression calling forth projected emotions make this an exceptionally powerful war memorial."

Claremont, N.H.

Civil War statue and Claremont N.H. Town Hall in the background.

Two Lions

Lions guarding interior stairways, Boston Public Library.

The Lion on the right sits atop a granite base inscribed with honors for the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, also known as the Harvard Regiment. The Lion on the left likewise honors the officers and men of the Second Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Both regiments were considered among the best in the Union Army and participated in almost all of the major battles and many of the smaller battles of the Civil War.

Skywatch Friday

This week's Skywatch Friday includes a view of the Soldiers and Sailors Civil War Monument on Boston Common. View other Skywatch Friday photos.

The monument stands 72 feet tall, or 22 meters. The total cost of the monument was $110,000 in 1877 and was funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The column is topped by a figure representing the Genius of America. Four statues at the base represent Peace, the Sailor, the Muse of History, and the Soldier. Bas-relief plaques depict the departure and return of the forces, the Navy, and the work of the Boston Sanitary Commission. In one plaque, Longfellow can be seen accompanying the governor. The figures at the base of the column represent the sections of the country: North, South, East, and West.

Robert Gould Shaw and the Massachusetts Fifty-fourth Regiment

Side view of the Robert Gould Shaw Monument by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. This relief monument built in 1897 in honor of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment is considered by many to be among the best sculptural works of the 19th century.

The 54th was the first all-Black regiment recruited in the North to fight for the Union army during the Civil War. The monument is part of the Boston Black Heritage Trail. A famous composition by Charles Ives, "Col. Shaw and his Colored Regiment," the opening movement of Three Places in New England, is based both on this monument and the regiment.

Below is a picture I took last year:

Veteran's Day

Today is Veteran's Day in the U.S. and I thought I would forgo the usual Wednesday Doorway to show the statue of Colonel Thomas Cass. Thomas Cass (1822-1862) was born in Ireland, but moved to Boston and served as Colonel in the Ninth Massachusetts Infantry U.S. Volunteers, a regiment of Irish volunteers known as the "Fighting Ninth." He was killed at Malvern Hill on July 1, 1862. The sculpture was secured through the efforts of Mayor Joseph Quincy and was funded through the Jonathan Phillips Fund. It replaces an earlier granite memorial to Cass.

The eight foot tall statue depicts Col. Cass with his arms folded across his chest. He is dressed in his Civil War uniform that originally included a sword which is now missing. The sculpture rests on a square base adorned with a bronze wreath and a bronze palm branch on the front upper left corner.

On front of the base there is the legend: Thomas Cass Col Ninth MASS Infantry USV Fell at Malvern Hill Virginia July First 1862.

On rear of the base is the legend: Erected by the City of Boston In Memory of the Officers and Men of the Ninth Reg MASS Volunteers Organized May 3, 1861 Mustered out June 21, 1864.

Below is the grave of Colonel Cass at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge.

Monchrome Monday

Cannons at Antietam, one of the major battles of the American Civil War, 1861-1865. Today is Memorial Day in the U.S. and all veterans who have served in the Armed Forces are honored and remembered.

Visit other monochrome afficianados.

Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Regiment

Across from the State House is the Robert Gould Shaw Monument built in 1897 in honor of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment, the first all-Black regiment recruited in the North to fight for the Union army during the Civil War. The monument by Augustus Saint-Gaudens is part of the Boston Black Heritage Trail. A famous composition by Charles Ives, "Col. Shaw and his Colored Regiment," the opening movement of Three Places in New England, is based both on this monument and the regiment.

Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument

A Civil War Monument in the Boston Common. The monument stands 72 feet tall, or 22 meters. The total cost of the monument was 110,000 in 1877 and was funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The column is topped by a figure representing the Genius of America. Four statues at the base represent Peace, the Sailor, the Muse of History, and the Soldier. Bas-relief plaques depict the departure and return of the forces, the Navy, and the work of the Boston Sanitary Commission. In one plaque, Longfellow can be seen accompanying the governor. The figures at the base of the column represent the sections of the country: North, South, East, and West.

Hooker Statue at Mass. State House

Civil War General Joseph Hooker of Massachusetts on the grounds of the State House facing Beacon Street.

Major General Hooker was the third commander of the Army of the Potomac. The Hadley, Massachusetts native was a West Point graduate, and served with distinction in Mexico (1846-47). He also led troops with distinction at Antietam and Fredericksburg. As commander of the Army he reorganized the army and improved soldiers' conditions. In his first major battle he was out maneuvered even though Union troops were twice as numerous. Lincoln accepted Hooker's resignation after the defeat. Though success had not been his as a commander, he served honorably under Generals Grant and Sherman, and retired as a Major General in 1868.

Here is a picture of General Hooker done by Matthew Brady's studio.

[ click image to enlarge ]