The Victorious Charge, Bronze war memorial in downtown Milwaukee, United States
The Victorious Charge is a bronze sculpture in downtown Milwaukee depicting four Union soldiers in combat. One soldier lies fallen, another carries the flag, an officer holds weapons, and a fourth charges forward.
John S. Conway created this memorial in 1898 to honor the approximately 91,000 Wisconsin soldiers who served in the Civil War. The work emerged at a time when such dynamic battle scenes were uncommon in monument design.
The sculpture depicts four soldiers in different roles during an attack, representing a shift away from quiet monument traditions. Visitors see real battle action shown here, not just ceremonial poses.
The memorial is located on Wisconsin Avenue near the Central Library and is easy to reach on foot. After major restoration in 2003 and additional preservation work in 2014, it is in excellent condition to view.
This memorial was among the first to show actual combat action instead of presenting quiet soldier figures. This choice to capture movement and tension marked a turning point in how wars are remembered in monuments.
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