General Charles Devens Statue, Worcester

Standing proudly in front of the historic Worcester County Courthouse, the General Charles Devens Statue is a striking equestrian monument honoring the Union general’s service during the American Civil War and his later role as United States Attorney General. Known formally as the Worcester County Devens Memorial Statue, this bronze figure on a granite pedestal has been a defining feature of Worcester’s Institutional District since its dedication on July 4, 1906.

The statue was designed by Daniel Chester French, one of America's most renowned sculptors (best known for the Lincoln Memorial), in collaboration with Edward Clark Potter, a specialist in equestrian sculpture. Devens is depicted in full military uniform, a heavy coat draped over his shoulders, as he confidently grips the reins of his horse. The entire monument stands at an imposing 25 feet (7.6 meters) tall, with the pedestal alone measuring nearly 16 feet (4.8 meters) high.

Born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, in 1820, Charles Devens was a Harvard-educated lawyer and politician before taking up arms in the Union Army. Wounded in both the Battle of Fair Oaks and the Battle of Chancellorsville, he emerged as a key military figure and later returned to his legal career, eventually serving as an Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and, later, as the U.S. Attorney General under President Rutherford B. Hayes.

Recognized as part of the National Register of Historic Places Institutional District, the statue continues to serve as a lasting tribute to Devens’ contributions to both military and public service, anchoring a significant chapter of American history within Worcester’s civic landscape.