Charles Niles Pike was a marble and granite worker and distinguished New England sculptor. It was he who sculpted
the Soldiers' Monument.
Carriage Driver for Commanding Generals
He was in the Civil War assigned a hostler position. He was in the Tenth Regiment Infantry,
Company B. He enlisted June 14, 1861; at Harrison’s Landing, July, 1862, detailed to drive private carriage
for General McClellan and thereafter enjoyed the unique distinction of being driver for Burnside, Hooker, Meade, and Grant,
serving in this capacity till end of enlistment; Mustered Out July 1, 1864; later was in the Christain Commission for a while,
was engineer in train yard at Burkesville, Junction, Virginia, and again had the private carriage of the commanding general
till the end of the war, not reaching home until the fall of 1865. 1
The Sculptor
C. Niles Pike is a native of North Adams and a sculptor of more than local reputation. This is his first
statue and the excellence of the work will bring him into deserved prominence, but he has long been a maker of medalions and
other fine marble pieces, some of which were placed in the Vienna exposition and won most favorable notices. For his
work upon the soldiers' monument he is deserving of the highest praise. He has more than fulfilled his part of the contract
and has been careful to comply with every wish of the members of the soldiers aid society. That he has been insufficiently
paid is evident and there is a growing feeling on the part of the citizens that his faithful services and satisfactory work
are deserving of practical and [pecundary?] recognition. 2
Advertisement from 1885-86 North Adams Directory
Gravesite of Mr. Pike. Eastlawn Cemetary, Williamstown, MA Photo taken by Carl Robare
References:
1-"Tenth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry," by Alfred S. Roe, p. 375
