The Victorious Charge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Victorious Charge |
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| Artist | John S. Conway |
| Year | 1898 |
| Type | Bronze sculpture |
| Dimensions | 300 cm × 610 cm (118 in × 240 in) |
| Location | W. Wisconsin Ave. between N. 9th St. and N. 10th St., Milwaukee |
| 43°2′19.568″N 87°55′26.651″W / 43.03876889°N 87.92406972°W | |
| Owner | City of Milwaukee |
The Victorious Charge is a powerful sculpture located in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was created by American artist John S. Conway in 1898. This large bronze artwork shows Civil War soldiers moving forward. It stands on a tall granite base and is an important piece of public art.
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What the Sculpture Shows
Conway's sculpture is a very important Civil War monument in Wisconsin. It shows four Union soldiers made of bronze, right in the middle of a battle. They are moving forward as if charging to victory.
One soldier has fallen to the ground. He supports himself with his left arm. In his right hand, he holds a piece of a flag pole. A young private soldier holds the flag high above his head. He steps over the fallen soldier. An officer is also moving forward. He holds a pistol in one hand and a sword in the other. Another private soldier leans forward, holding a bayonet, which is a knife attached to a rifle.
Messages on the Sculpture
There are several messages carved into the sculpture. On the front of the base, it says: TO. THOSE. WHO. FOUGHT. IN. THE. WAR. FOR. THE. UNION. 1861-1865
ERECTED.1898. This means it honors those who fought in the Civil War. It also shows the year it was built.
On the front lower left side of the sculpture, it says: JOHN S. CONWAY SCULPTOR. This tells us who created the artwork.
On the back lower right side, it says: FOND CRESCENZI ROMA 1898. This shows that the sculpture was made at the Crescenzi Foundry in Rome, Italy.
How the Sculpture Was Made
Before The Victorious Charge, most Civil War monuments showed a perfect-looking soldier. Sometimes they showed an officer on a horse. Conway changed this idea completely. His sculpture shows a realistic group of soldiers in action. It feels full of energy and movement. It truly captures how intense and difficult battles were.
Getting the Project Started
It took 13 years for this monument to be finished. The idea started when Alexander Mitchell agreed to pay for a Civil War monument in Milwaukee. He died in 1887 before choosing a design. His son, John Mitchell, who was a US senator, decided to continue funding the project. He worked with the Soldier's Memorial Committee. They chose a design, but a financial crisis in 1893 stopped the work.
Raising Money for the Monument
Lydia Ely Hewitt, a friend of John S. Conway, stepped in to help. She found ways to raise the $30,000 needed for the monument. She and other women held many events to collect money. Miss Ely even had a famous autograph book.
As a final effort, she collected autographs from famous Americans. These included people in government, science, art, and writing. She put them all into a huge autograph book. It was two feet wide and two feet thick. It had over 2,000 signatures. Conway's drawing of The Victorious Charge was on the first page. When the book was finished, Ely sold it at an auction. Captain Frederick Pabst, a famous brewer in the city, bought it. This helped them raise the last of the money.
With the funds, Conway could finish his sculpture. He had it cast in bronze at the Crescenzi Foundry in Rome. Then, it was shipped across the Atlantic Ocean to Milwaukee.
The Dedication Day
The Victorious Charge was officially dedicated on June 28, 1898. This day was part of a four-day carnival. The carnival celebrated Wisconsin's 50th anniversary of becoming a state. Thousands of people came to Milwaukee for these events. A band played "Marching Through Georgia" as Lydia Ely unveiled the sculpture. Mayor David S. Rose then accepted the monument for the city.
Restoration Efforts
Over time, the sculpture became very rusted. In September 2003, it was fully restored. This made it look new again.
In 2014, the Westown Association started a fundraiser. They wanted to raise $100,000 to restore several statues on the Court of Honor. These included The Victorious Charge, the Washington Monument, and the Spanish–American War Soldier. The restored Washington statue was unveiled in January 2018.
