The architect of the multitiered base for Ward's bronze statue of Civil War General Thomas was John L. Smithmeyer, whose major architectural work was the Library of Congress (see CH12, p. 142) done in partnership with Paul Pelz. While its ovoid form was well adapted to the shape of an equestrian sculptural group, the building up of a series of pedestals from four plain steps to intermediate walls broken by four coffered column bases to an elaborate super-structure buttressed by large carved console brackets was unusual and expensive when executed in granite.