9. James A. Garfield Memorial
Commissioned by the Society of the Army of the Cumberland.
"The Society and Ward, the sculptor, had worked together before in the 1870s on the handsome equestrian statue of General George
H. Thomas in Thomas Circle, which the Society had also commissioned." The designer of the base was Richard Morris Hunt, Ward's friend
and frequent partner.
"Garfield stands 9 feet tall on top of Hunt's marble pedestal, as if pausing in the middle of an address. While the statue of Garfield
is considered one of Ward's best, the three larger-than-life bronze figures seated around the memorial's base are equally interesting.
Ward conceived of these three figures as representing the three phases of Garfield's life. First is the scholar, representing Garfield's
career as a student, professor and school principal before the war. The second figure represents Garfield the soldier. This powerful,
bearded warrior, with a furry wolfskin draped over his head and shoulders, warily looks over his shoulder and clutches the hilt of
his sword. Finally, there is the statesman, representing Garfield the congressman and President of the United States."
Among the guests at the dedication on May 12, 1887, was Philip Sheridan, president of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland, who
gave the main address.