Thomas Cass statue

Public Art : Thomas Cass statue

Sculptor : © Richard Edwin Brooks (1865-1919)

Description : A bronze statue of Thomas Cass  (1821 – July 12th, 1862), the Colonel of the "Fighting Ninth" ie Ninth Massachusetts Infantry. Arms folded across his chest, Brooks is dressed in his Civil War uniform including long coat, soft hat, gaunlet gloves and knee high boots.

Date Unveiled : The memorial was unveiled in 22nd Septmeber, 1899, in the presence of Colonel Cass's son , Charles, and his daughter Mrs C Squibb who had the honor of unveiling it. Also in attendence were a large number of men who survived the war including officers of the Ninth regiment. Mayor Quincy made a poinant address "represents Colonel Cass as a type of Irish solier in the war of Rebellion; it is also the type of the Northern soldier without distinctions of race." Major D.G.MacNamara went onto say the monument commemorated "the deeds of heroism which his gallant regiment achieved while battling three years on Southern soil for the preservation of the Union of the States." He then ended the ceremony with "Here it stands as an emblematic tribute of respect to the valor and patriotism of the volunteers of Massachusetts to inspire, we trust, the rising generations to defend and preserve the flag of the Republic until the end of time."

Location : The Statue of Colonel Cass can be found in the Public Garden on Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts.

Inscription :

Background : Thomas Cass was an Irish immigrant who founded the "Fighting Ninth" Regiment during the Civil War. The Regiment consisted entirely of volunteers, most of them of Irish decent. Cass died after being hit in the face and mouth during battle at Mavern Hill in Virginia on the 1st of July 1862.

Controversy : Another memorial statue of Colonel Cass once stood on the site but was so badly criticized for its total lack of artist merit that the Society of the Ninth Regiment commissioned Brooks to create a new bronze statue of the Colonel to be erected. Gee, no pressure!

Trivia : Sculptor Richard E Brooks received gold medals for the Thomas Cass statue at two World’s Fairs, the Paris Exposition of 1901 and the Buffalo Exposition of 1902.