Soldiers and Sailors Civil War Monument

Soldiers and Sailors Monument

Vandalism apparent in missing cannon balls

Photo 05, July 2012

Soldiers and Sailors Monument

Vandalism apparent in broken off pick-axe held by sailor

Photo 06, July 2012

Soldiers and Sailors Monument

Photo 07, July 2012

Soldiers and Sailors Monument

Photo 08, July 2012

Soldiers and Sailors Monument

Vandalism apparent in missing cannon balls

Photo 05, July 2012

Soldiers and Sailors Civil War Monument

Recently vandalized, pile of cannon balls on right is missing.

After the bloody Civil War, memorials to the dead and wounded appeared by the hundreds across the nation. To capitalize on this trend, the Monumental Bronze Company and others worked to streamline their sales with new affordable products. Using a cheaper zinc alloy, promoted as "white bronze", they could offer prefabricated statues and monuments. The largest white bronze monument in New Hampshire, Portsmouth's Sailors and Soldiers Monument is right from the company catalog.

The monument includes: life-sized statues of a sailor, a soldier at parade rest, Lady Liberty, canon balls, a parrot gun, crossed swords, the GAR badge, a list of all major Civil War battle, the city seal, the NH state badge, the US coat of arms, a relief bust of Lincoln and one of Governor Goodwin, a picture of the USS Kearsage (a Portsmouth built war ship) and confederate cruiser Alabama, many title plaques, and raised titles on four sides in tribute to the Kearsage, plus battles at Gettysburg, Antietam and Fredericksburg.

Photo 213, 2012

Soldiers and Sailors Civil War Monument

Recently vandalized, pile of cannon balls on left is missing.

Dedication of the Sailors and Soldiers Monument on July 4 1888 was marked by pomp, parades and oration at the new Goodwin Park area. The new park was named for Ichabod Goodwin of Portsmouth, New Hampshire governor during the Civil War. The final cost in 1888 was over $5,000. All funds were supplied by the mayor personally or raised by public conscription. The City paid nothing for the monument or the park land. Recently, the park has been refurbished with a $250,000 HUD grant and the deteriorating statue is due for up to $125,000 in repairs. The miraculous white bronze, promoted as highly durable in outdoor weather, turned out to be a poor material for monuments. The zinc skin cracked, split, bowed and could not support weight of the large central column which was removed in 1955 to the monument's current shortened stature.

Photo 214, 2012