Pennsylvania Monument - Mechanicsville, VA - Smithsonian Art Inventory Sculptures on Waymarking.com

The Battle of Cold Harbor took place in June 1864 as part of the Overland Campaign. As a result of the heavy Union losses, Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant changed tactics. Instead of directly trying again to attack Richmond directly, which was too well defended, he decided instead to attack Petersburg and cut off the critical supply lines that fed the Confederate Capital. Grant's predecessors probably would have retreated to Washington, but the 10 month siege of Petersburg that followed led to the end of the Civil War.

This statue is located in the southwest corner of Cold Harbor National Cemetery near Mechanicsville. It was erected by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in honor of its citizens who fought at the Battle of Cold Harbor.

The Smithsonian Art Inventory page describes the statue:

A bronze figure of a Civil War soldier stands at parade rest atop a granite shaft adorned with inscription panels on each side, and small cannon balls on each corner of the base. The soldier holds his rifle in front of him with both hands and stands with his left leg forward. He wears a cap and a military uniform with a short jacket.

Inscriptions:

PENNSYLVANIA
ARTILLERY REGIMENTS
1ST LIGHT BATTERIES B AND F
2ND HEAVY
2ND PROVISIONAL HEAVY

~~

PENNSYLVANIA
CAVALRY REGIMENTS
(list of regiments)

~~

PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY REGIMENTS
(list of regiments)

~~

ERECTED BY THE
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
TO ALL
PENNSYLVANIA REGIMENTS
WHICH PARTICIPATED IN THE OPERATIONS
FROM MAY 31 TO JUNE 12, 1864, INCIDENT TO AND DURING THE
BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR VIRGINIA,
JUNE 1-3, 1864

TITLE: Pennsylvania Monument ARTIST(S): J. Henry Brown DATE: Installed March 20, 1909. Dedicated Oct. 29, 1909. MEDIUM: Sculpture: bronze; Base: Richmond granite. CONTROL NUMBER: IAS 68000010 Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link] PHYSICAL LOCATION: Cold Harbor National Cemetery 6038 Cold Harbor Road Mechanicsville, VA 23111 DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH: Found as described.

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