Massachusetts Memorial

A single veteran soldier commemorates Massachusetts participation in the Vicksburg campaign.

NPS

To your left stands the park’s first state monument, the Massachusetts Memorial. Dedicated on November 14, 1903, in front of a crowd filled with former Union and Confederate soldiers, city and park officials, civilians, and children, the monument honors the 29^th, 35^th, and 36^th Massachusetts Infantry Regiments. Standing atop the 15-ton granite boulder from Massachusetts, is “The Volunteer.” This volunteer is identified as a Massachusetts soldier only by the Massachusetts Coat of Arms present upon the boulder. If such notation were to be taken away, it would be impossible to know if the soldier was Union or Confederate. Such was the artist’s intent – ambiguity in the identity of the soldier so that all soldiers viewing the artwork could see themselves within.

The volunteer’s expression is frank, open, and fearless as he seemingly marches along carrying all the accoutrements of a typical Civil War soldier. But it is not just the items he carries or the clothing he wears that help us know more about this volunteer, but the manner in which he carries such items and the way he wears his uniform that distinguish him as an experienced soldier. For instance, his haversack is positioned behind his left hip so as to counterbalance the weight of the rifle over his right shoulder and his pant legs are tucked into his socks to ward off pesky ticks and redbugs. Through such symbolism, this sculpture captures the spirit of the American Volunteer – an ordinary man one day, an experienced hero the next. What other uniform items and accoutrements can you identify?

The memorial was sculpted by famed female artist Theo Alice Ruggles Kitson – the most represented artist in our park -- and is a copy of her 1902 work, “Volunteer” which can be seen in Newburyport, Massachusetts. The reception of the sculpture was so successful that several other copies were requested and stand throughout the Northeastern United States.

• Massachusetts Memorial

  
  

  A 2 minute and 16-second audio track describing the Massachusetts Memorial in Vicksburg National Military Park.

  Date created:

  12/20/2022

  Audio Transcript

  To your left stands the park’s first state monument, the Massachusetts Memorial. Dedicated on November 14, 1903, in front of a crowd filled with former Union and Confederate soldiers, city and park officials, civilians, and children, the monument honors the 29th, 35th, and 36th Massachusetts Infantry Regiments. Standing atop the 15-ton granite boulder from Massachusetts, is “The Volunteer.” This volunteer is identified as a Massachusetts soldier only by the Massachusetts Coat of Arms present upon the boulder. If such notation were to be taken away, it would be impossible to know if the soldier was Union or Confederate. Such was the artist’s intent – ambiguity in the identity of the soldier so that all soldiers viewing the artwork could see themselves within.

  The volunteer’s expression is frank, open, and fearless as he seemingly marches along carrying all the accoutrements of a typical Civil War soldier. But it is not just the items he carries or the clothing he wears that help us know more about this volunteer, but the manner in which he carries such items and the way he wears his uniform that distinguish him as an experienced soldier. For instance, his haversack is positioned behind his left hip so as to counterbalance the weight of the rifle over his right shoulder and his pant legs are tucked into his socks to ward off pesky ticks and redbugs. Through such symbolism, this sculpture captures the spirit of the American Volunteer – an ordinary man one day, an experienced hero the next. What other uniform items and accoutrements can you identify?

  The memorial was sculpted by famed female artist Theo Alice Ruggles Kitson – the most represented artist in our park -- and is a copy of her 1902 work, “Volunteer” which can be seen in Newburyport, Massachusetts. The reception of the sculpture was so successful that several other copies were requested and stand throughout the Northeastern United States.