Major General John A. Logan
Encyclopedia
Major General John A. Logan is a public artwork by American
artist Franklin Simmons
, located at Logan Circle in Washington, D.C.
, United States
. Major General John A. Logan was originally surveyed as part of the Smithsonian's
Save Outdoor Sculpture!
survey in 1993. The monument is an equestrian statue dedicated to American soldier and political leader John A. Logan
.
The statue is a contributing monument to the Civil War Monuments in Washington, DC
, of the National Register of Historic Places
.
The sculpture sits upon a bronze base, which itself rests upon a low stone base. Each corner of the bronze base features an American Eagle as a symbol of patriotism
. The front lower portion is adorned with palm leaves
, which symbolize victory
, and surround the inscribed word LOGAN (which appears on both east and west sides of the base).
The bronze base features reliefs depicting historical moments in Logan's life. The west side of the bronze features Logan, dressed in a military uniform, standing with fellow officers who are meeting to discuss the Civil War. To Logan's proper right is a table with a open map on it with three officers looking at it, with one pointing to the map. Logan stands with his proper left hand on the map, looking away, while the other officers look toward him. The east side of the bronze depicts Logan standing with Vice President Chester A. Arthur
. The scene shows Arthur swearing in Logan as a senator in front of a group of other senators. Logan is shown raising his proper right arm while Arthur raises his left and holds a book. The other two sides of the bronze base feature two allegorical female figures. One represents Peace
and holds a laurel wreath
in her proper right hand and a fasces
in her proper left. Peace wears long robes and a laurel wreath on her head. The other short side shows a female representing War
, holding a shield in front of her, wearing a crown-shaped helmet and a dress with armor details. In her proper right hand she holds a sword.
The statue is signed:
Franklin Simmons
FOND. NELLI ROMA 1897
The bronze base, which features a depiction of Vice President Chester A. Arthur, is historically inaccurate. When Logan was senator, Arthur was not Vice President, however, Mrs. Logan wished to have contemporary famous men shown in the panels during Logan's death, hence the appearance of Arthur.
Cranford Paving Company provided the foundation construction and placed the granite for the base. Simmons was unhappy with the first base and requested a new base be replaced in September 1897.
The sculpture arrived from Rome in December 1901 and was stored at the Brooklyn
pier for a month. The bronze was too large to be transported by train to Washington. Eventually the piece was placed onto a two-masted schooner
and arrived in Washington on January 16, 1901.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
artist Franklin Simmons
Franklin Simmons
Franklin Bachelder Simmons was a prominent American sculptor of the nineteenth century....
, located at Logan Circle in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Major General John A. Logan was originally surveyed as part of the Smithsonian's
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
Save Outdoor Sculpture!
Save Outdoor Sculpture!
Save Outdoor Sculpture! is a community-based effort to identify, document, and conserve outdoor sculpture in the United States. By fostering awareness and appreciation, SOS! aims to advocate proper care of a nationwide public resource....
survey in 1993. The monument is an equestrian statue dedicated to American soldier and political leader John A. Logan
John A. Logan
John Alexander Logan was an American soldier and political leader. He served in the Mexican-American War and was a general in the Union Army in the American Civil War. He served the state of Illinois as a state senator, congressman and senator and was an unsuccessful candidate for Vice President...
.
The statue is a contributing monument to the Civil War Monuments in Washington, DC
Civil War Monuments in Washington, DC
Civil War Monuments in Washington, D.C. is a group of 18 statues, that are spread out through much of central and northwest Washington, D.C. The statues depict 11 Union generals, and only one Confederate general, Albert Pike, who is depicted as a Mason rather than a military man. Two Union...
, of the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Description
This statue shows Logan upon his horse. In his proper left hand he holds the reins and in his proper right hand he holds a sword which is pointed downwards. Logan, wearing a long belted frock coat, boots, gloves and a hat, is shown with long hair and a long mustache. The horse strides forward with its proper right front foot raised.The sculpture sits upon a bronze base, which itself rests upon a low stone base. Each corner of the bronze base features an American Eagle as a symbol of patriotism
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
. The front lower portion is adorned with palm leaves
Arecaceae
Arecaceae or Palmae , are a family of flowering plants, the only family in the monocot order Arecales. There are roughly 202 currently known genera with around 2600 species, most of which are restricted to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates...
, which symbolize victory
Victory
Victory is successful conclusion of a fight or competition..Victory may refer to:**strategic victory**tactical victory** Pyrrhic victory, a victory at heavy cost to the victorious party**Victory columns**Victory Monuments**Victory personified...
, and surround the inscribed word LOGAN (which appears on both east and west sides of the base).
The bronze base features reliefs depicting historical moments in Logan's life. The west side of the bronze features Logan, dressed in a military uniform, standing with fellow officers who are meeting to discuss the Civil War. To Logan's proper right is a table with a open map on it with three officers looking at it, with one pointing to the map. Logan stands with his proper left hand on the map, looking away, while the other officers look toward him. The east side of the bronze depicts Logan standing with Vice President Chester A. Arthur
Chester A. Arthur
Chester Alan Arthur was the 21st President of the United States . Becoming President after the assassination of President James A. Garfield, Arthur struggled to overcome suspicions of his beginnings as a politician from the New York City Republican machine, succeeding at that task by embracing...
. The scene shows Arthur swearing in Logan as a senator in front of a group of other senators. Logan is shown raising his proper right arm while Arthur raises his left and holds a book. The other two sides of the bronze base feature two allegorical female figures. One represents Peace
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
and holds a laurel wreath
Laurel wreath
A laurel wreath is a circular wreath made of interlocking branches and leaves of the bay laurel , an aromatic broadleaf evergreen. In Greek mythology, Apollo is represented wearing a laurel wreath on his head...
in her proper right hand and a fasces
Fasces
Fasces are a bundle of wooden sticks with an axe blade emerging from the center, which is an image that traditionally symbolizes summary power and jurisdiction, and/or "strength through unity"...
in her proper left. Peace wears long robes and a laurel wreath on her head. The other short side shows a female representing War
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
, holding a shield in front of her, wearing a crown-shaped helmet and a dress with armor details. In her proper right hand she holds a sword.
The statue is signed:
Franklin Simmons
FOND. NELLI ROMA 1897
Information
The bronze base was installed on April 18 1898, the sculpture was installed on Jan 23, 1901 and dedicated on April 9, 1901. It was paid for by the government and Society for the Army of the Tennessee and cost $65,000. It was estimated that the bronze base would take one year to cast, but sculptor Franklin Simmons paid extra to have the foundry work around the clock to have it made, which took only 3 1/2 months.The bronze base, which features a depiction of Vice President Chester A. Arthur, is historically inaccurate. When Logan was senator, Arthur was not Vice President, however, Mrs. Logan wished to have contemporary famous men shown in the panels during Logan's death, hence the appearance of Arthur.
Cranford Paving Company provided the foundation construction and placed the granite for the base. Simmons was unhappy with the first base and requested a new base be replaced in September 1897.
The sculpture arrived from Rome in December 1901 and was stored at the Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
pier for a month. The bronze was too large to be transported by train to Washington. Eventually the piece was placed onto a two-masted schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
and arrived in Washington on January 16, 1901.