1st Minnesota Infantry Monument
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In April 1891 the [[Minnesota Legislature]] appropriated $20,000 to erect two monuments at Gettysburg on behalf of veterans of the 1st Minnesota.{{Cite journal |last=Rice |first=Thomas |date=Spring 2006 |title=Samuel Smith and the First Minnesota Monument at Gettysburg |url=https://storage.googleapis.com/mnhs-org-support/mn_history_articles/60/v60i01p018-025.pdf |journal=Minnesota History |volume=60 |issue=1 |pages=19–24 |via=Minnesota Historical Society}}{{Cite book |last=Moe |first=Richard |title=The Last Full Measure: The Life and Death of the First Minnesota Volunteers |date=2001 |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society Press |location=St. Paul |pages=312 |language=en}} The three commissioners appointed to design and oversee construction of the monuments were [[William Lochren]], [[Christopher B. Heffelfinger]] (the father of [[Pudge Heffelfinger]]), and Matthew Marvin, all of which were veterans of the 1st Minnesota. |
In April 1891 the [[Minnesota Legislature]] appropriated $20,000 to erect two monuments at Gettysburg on behalf of veterans of the 1st Minnesota.{{Cite journal |last=Rice |first=Thomas |date=Spring 2006 |title=Samuel Smith and the First Minnesota Monument at Gettysburg |url=https://storage.googleapis.com/mnhs-org-support/mn_history_articles/60/v60i01p018-025.pdf |journal=Minnesota History |volume=60 |issue=1 |pages=19–24 |via=Minnesota Historical Society}}{{Cite book |last=Moe |first=Richard |title=The Last Full Measure: The Life and Death of the First Minnesota Volunteers |date=2001 |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society Press |location=St. Paul |pages=312 |language=en}} The three commissioners appointed to design and oversee construction of the monuments were [[William Lochren]], [[Christopher B. Heffelfinger]] (the father of [[Pudge Heffelfinger]]), and Matthew Marvin, all of which were veterans of the 1st Minnesota. |
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The 1st Minnesota Infantry Monument was designed by [[Jacob Fjelde]], a [[Norwegian Americans|Norwegian American]] sculptor from [[Minneapolis]] and |
The 1st Minnesota Infantry Monument was designed by [[Jacob Fjelde]], a [[Norwegian Americans|Norwegian American]] sculptor from [[Minneapolis]] and cast by the ''Henry Bonnard Bronze Company'' of New York.{{Cite book |last=Shutter |first=Marion Daniel |url=https://archive.org/details/progressivemenof00shut/page/438/mode/2up |title=Progressive Men of Minnesota |date=1897 |publisher=The Minneapolis Journal |location=Minneapolis |pages=438 |language=en}} The approximately-{{Convert|32|ft|m|abbr=on}} monument depicts a soldier of the 1st Minnesota armed with a musket and bayonet charging toward the Emmitsburg Road against the enemy with his musket raised. The base of the monument is constructed out of [[granite]] from [[Barre (city), Vermont|Barre, Vermont]] and is decorated with several bronze [[relief]] plaques detailing the service of the 1st Minnesota and their charge at Gettysburg.{{cite web |date= |title=1st Minnesota Infantry Monument, (sculpture). |url=https://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?profile=ariall&source=~!siartinventories&view=subscriptionsummary&uri=full=3100001~!11927~!0 |access-date=April 23, 2026 |website=Smithsonian Institution Research Information System |ref={{sfnref|SIRIS|1904}}}} The front of the monument's base is adorned with the 1861–1983 [[Seal of Minnesota]]. The 1st Minnesota monument was erected on July 2, 1893, in time for the 30th anniversary of the battle but was not fully dedicated until July 2, 1897.{{cite web |last=Bruton |first=J. Makali |date=February 2, 2009 |title=First Regiment Minnesota Volunteers Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=155303 |access-date=April 23, 2026 |website=The Historical Marker Database |ref={{sfnref|The Historical Marker Database|2024}}}} |
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The model chosen for the monument was Samuel Smith (born Christian Zimmerman), a [[German Americans|German American]] veteran of the 1st Minnesota.{{cite web |date=July 4, 2009 |title=Gettysburg Artwork Part 4 with Licensed Battlefield Guide Ed Guy |url=https://www.gettysburgdaily.com/gettysburg-artwork-part-4-with-licensed-battlefield-guide-ed-guy/ |access-date=April 23, 2026 |website=Gettysburg Daily |ref={{sfnref|Gettysburg Daily|2009}}}} Zimmerman had served as a substitute under the [[Enrollment Act]] for a man named Samuel Smith of [[Winona, Minnesota]] and had enrolled under Smith's name instead of his own. Smith (Zimmerman) later served in the [[2nd Minnesota Infantry Regiment]] and was mustered out of service in 1865. Smith's personal grave memorial is identical to that of the 1st Minnesota monument with some distinctions. |
The model chosen for the monument was Samuel Smith (born Christian Zimmerman), a [[German Americans|German American]] veteran of the 1st Minnesota.{{cite web |date=July 4, 2009 |title=Gettysburg Artwork Part 4 with Licensed Battlefield Guide Ed Guy |url=https://www.gettysburgdaily.com/gettysburg-artwork-part-4-with-licensed-battlefield-guide-ed-guy/ |access-date=April 23, 2026 |website=Gettysburg Daily |ref={{sfnref|Gettysburg Daily|2009}}}} Zimmerman had served as a substitute under the [[Enrollment Act]] for a man named Samuel Smith of [[Winona, Minnesota]] and had enrolled under Smith's name instead of his own. Smith (Zimmerman) later served in the [[2nd Minnesota Infantry Regiment]] and was mustered out of service in 1865. Smith's personal grave memorial is identical to that of the 1st Minnesota monument with some distinctions. |
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