The Civil War www.zincmarkers.com Dedicated to White Bronze monuments. Original photography by Lynn Johansen. Home Page Back to Photo Gallery One of the most popular of the white-bronze statues was referred to in the Monumental Bronze Company's catalog as American Soldier, depicted standing at parade rest but with both hands around the barrel of his rifle. More than 60 Union and 2 Confederate white-bronze copies of the American Soldier were erected between 1877 and 1913. Since white bronze appears bluish gray in color, it could be taken to represent the blue or gray uniform of either side in the conflict. The monument in Mount Hope Cemetery is one of these. The barrel of his rifle is missing, broken off over the past century. THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC Many markers bear the official seal of the Grand Army of the Republic. The GAR was a fraternal organization founded by a Union veteran of the Civil War, Benjamin F. Stephenson, in Decatur, Illinois on April 6, 1866. Membership was limited to honorably discharged veterans of the Union Army, Navy, Marine Corps or the Revenue Cutter Service who had served between April 12, 1861 and April 9, 1865. By 1890 membership numbered 409,489 veterans of the “War of the Rebellion.” After the death of its last member, Albert Woolson in 1956 at the age of 109 years, the GAR was formally dissolved. Its badges, flags, and official seal went to the Smithsonian Institution. Website and content copyright Lynn Johansen 2008 except where otherwise noted. All images featured at this website may not be reproduced without permission of the author/photographer. Website hosting and domain registration powered by DomainNameSanity.com