 The statue in 2020 | |
| Location | Massachusetts State House,Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
|---|---|
| Designer | Daniel Chester French (sculptor) Henry Bacon (architect) |
| Fabricator | Bonney-Bonnard Company |
| Type | Statue |
| Material | Bronze Marble (pedestal) |
| Dedicated date | May 27, 1904 |
| Dedicated to | William Francis Bartlett |
Astatue ofWilliam Francis Bartlett stands inside theMassachusetts State House inBoston, Massachusetts, United States. The bronze statue was designed by sculptorDaniel Chester French and honors Bartlett, who had served as a general in theUnion Army during theAmerican Civil War. The statue was dedicated in 1904.
William Francis Bartlett was born inHaverhill, Massachusetts in 1840. At the outbreak of theAmerican Civil War in 1861, while attendingHarvard College, he enlisted in theMassachusetts Volunteer Militia and rose through the ranks in theUnion Army, holding various ranks asmilitary officers. He was recognized for his actions during thesiege of Port Hudson and at the end of the war was awarded the honorary rank ofmajor general. Following the war, he returned to Massachusetts and served for a brief time on the staff of theGovernor of Massachusetts. He also gave several speeches during this time in favor of reconciliation and national unity, including at the dedication ofHarvard University'sMemorial Hall. He died in 1876 inPittsfield, Massachusetts.[1]
In 1901, Massachusetts GovernorWinthrop M. Crane signed into effect a resolution calling for the creation and dedication of a statue in Bartlett's honor on the grounds of theMassachusetts State House. The statue would be paid for by thegovernment of Massachusetts at a price not to exceed $20,000.[2] The following year, theMassachusetts Governor's Council passed an ordinance requesting sculptorDaniel Chester French to submit a proposal for the statue, with a contract between French and the government dated January 29 of that year.[3] ArchitectHenry Bacon would craft thepedestal for the statue.[4] In 1903, theMassachusetts General Court amended their previous resolution by allowing the Governor and his council to place the statue within the state house,[5] and that same year, they decided that the statue would be located in the memorial hall of the capitol.[6] Thecasting for the statue was done by the Bonney-Bonnard Company of New York City.[7]
The statue was unveiled in the state house on May 27, 1904, the 41st anniversary of the siege of Port Hudson.[8] The crowd that had gathered in the memorial hall included members of Bartlett's family, former members of regiments he had been a part of, and numerous other political and military officials.[9]Colonel Charles Shaler had been selected by theU.S. Secretary of War as theUnited States Army's representative to the ceremony.[8] Thededication began at 2:30 p.m. withbuglers playing "To the Colors".[4] Following this,Massachusetts Lieutenant GovernorCurtis Guild Jr. gave a brief address and presented the statue, with the statue unveiled at the end of his speech.[10] The statue had previously been covered byAmerican flags.[11] At the moment of its unveiling, the band from theFirst Corps of Cadets played "The Star-Spangled Banner". Concluding the performance, GovernorJohn L. Bates gave an address wherein he accepted the statue on behalf of the state of Massachusetts.[11]
At the end of the governor's speech, the ceremony moved from the memorial hall to the chambers of theMassachusetts House of Representatives.The Right ReverendWilliam Lawrence (bishop of theEpiscopal Diocese of Massachusetts) opened this part of the ceremony with a prayer. Afterwards, the band played "Pilgrim Chorus from Tannhäuser" andMorris Schaff gave anoration.[11] The band then played a selection called "Songs of the Civil War" and Executive Secretary Edward F. Hamlin read aloud several tributes of Bartlett written by officers from theConfederate States Army before the band played "America". The ceremony concluded with abenediction given by Bishop Lawrence.[12]
In 1921, the statue was relocated from Memorial Hall to north of Doric Hall.[13]
The statue stands 7.3 feet (2.2 m) tall and depicts Bartlett dressed in the uniform of a major general. He is wearing a capedovercoat and holds a hat in his right hand, with his left hand resting on the hilt of hissword. The statue is made ofbronze and bears a light greenpatina.[7] On theplinth behind the statue are depictions of alaurel branch andolive branch representing, respectively, Fame and Peace.[14] The statue stands atop apedestal made of Cippolinomarble which has a green color. Laurel made of silver is set into the stone on the sides of the pedestal, and on the front these laurel leaves meet at a silver plaque which bears the inscription:[4]
WILLIAM FRANCIS BARTLETT / A VOLUNTEER IN THE CIVIL WAR / A MAJOR GENERAL AT THE AGE OF TWENTY-FOUR / FOREMOST TO PLEAD FOR RECONCILIATION BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH / BORN 1840 … DIED 1876
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Media related toWilliam Francis Bartlett by Daniel Chester French at Wikimedia Commons