Category: Monuments

Union Major General Daniel E. Sickles

Union Major General Daniel E. Sickles Union Major General Daniel E. Sickles is one of the most controversial figures at Gettysburg.

Commander of the Union 3rd Corps during the Gettysburg campaign, General Sickles was also a politician before & after the War Between the States.

On July 2, 1863, General Sickles was not at all happy with the position on the line that he was assigned.  He felt the higher, more elevated ground to his front would be more defensible & offer his artillery a better field of fire. So, without authorization to do it; General Sickles moved his entire corps forward. This act unhinged the Union line & left the, now exposed, 3rd Corps vulnerable to attack from multiple directions & this is exactly what happened.

There are those who consider General Sickles the “Savior of Gettysburg” & there are those who view his acts as treasonous.

General Sickles was mounted, providing encouragement to his men on July 2nd when a 12 pound confederate cannon ball struck him on the right leg. The general’s horse was unhurt but, the injury would result in amputation for Sickles.

The small diamond shaped marker found on the grounds of the Trostle Farm was placed there in 1901 & marks the location of General Sickles’ wounding.

Private Joseph Lindemuth, Company L, 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry

Private Joseph Lindemuth, Company L, 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry

Private Joseph Lindemuth, Company L, 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry – fully equipped & down on one knee served as the model for his units monument at Gettysburg. Located on Hancock Avenue at the Angle during Pickett’s Charge on July 3rd, the memorial to these men was dedicated on September 2, 1890 & cost $1,500.00.

In position behind the crest of Cemetery Ridge, the 1st PA. Cavalry was held in reserve to be on hand to attack any confederate infantry that was able to break through the union front. The Confederate assault faltered at the wall & these troopers were not needed that day. The dedicated, watchful appearance that Private Lindemuth conveys on this memorial represents the anxious wait of his fellow troopers as they witnessed the struggle unfold in front of them.

Virginia Monument

Gettysburg Hotspots

Even as the temperature starts to drop, the famous fields, provocative places, and memorable monuments still remain hotspots for visitors coming to witness historic Gettysburg. We’ve taken the time to put together a list of some of the popular locales that people look for when they visit so that you don’t miss any of these interesting hotspots on your next trip to see us. Have you been able to see them all?

Famous Places

  • Where President Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address – Located just outside the Soldiers’ National Cemetery is a marker that lets you know Lincoln delivered his historic Gettysburg Address nearby. The exact location is disputed, but the National Park Service has a brochure declaring it to be within the private Evergreen Cemetery.Devil's Den
  • Devil’s Den – One of the most significant and haunted battlegrounds on the Gettysburg battlefield, The Devil’s Den is roughly 500 yards west of Little Round Top.  Surrounded by large boulders, a Confederate sharpshooter used this hideout to take out hundreds of Union soldiers before they discovered him.
  • Little Round Top – Roughly two miles south of Gettysburg in Cumberland Township there are two rocky hills, one larger and one smaller. You can probably guess the smaller one is known as “Little Round Top.” While small in size, it still remained one of the most important positions in the Union line, and a key point for the Union’s defense during the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg.
  • Pickett’s Charge – Located on Cemetery Ridge, this famous charge lead by General George Pickett was one of the defining moments of the Battle of Gettysburg. This ill-fated Confederate assault across the ridge would lead to over 6,000 Confederate deaths and would be Lee’s last invasion of the north, and came to signify the end of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Famous Monuments

Virginia Monument

  • Peace Light Memorial –Also referred to as the Eternal Light Peace Memorial, this Gettysburg Battlefield monument was dedicated by President Roosevelt in July 1938. Featuring an eternal flame that is visible from 20 miles away, this granite monument commemorates the 1913 Gettysburg reunion of veterans that celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. It is located on Oak Hill.
  • Virginia MonumentThe first and largest Confederate monument built at Gettysburg, this 14-foot bronze statue of General Robert E. Lee shows him on his horse “Traveller,” above seven Confederate soldiers. The Virginia Monument is located southwest of Gettysburg on West Confederate Avenue.
  • North Carolina Monument – Once again located on West Confederate Avenue, this monument commemorates the 32 Carolina regiments at that Battle of Gettysburg. This collection of troops only trailed Virginia in terms of men it supplied to the battle, but featured the largest number of casualties of all the Confederate states.
  • Irish Brigade – South of Gettysburg on Sickles Avenue, and just inside the Rose Woods stands a bronze Celtic cross that commemorates the predominantly Irish American infantry brigade that served the Union army.

If you haven’t seen these amazing historic Civil War locations and monuments, we encourage you to pay them a visit on your next trip to Gettysburg. Since there’s so much to see and do in Gettysburg, this list should by no means be considered expansive, but it does cover many of our most asked about attractions.

If you’d like to learn more about these or other great spots to visit on your next Gettysburg trip, feel free to comment below or contact us and we’d be happy to help!

11th Mississippi Infantry Memorial

11th Mississippi Infantry Memorial (Bryan Barn) 2

Located on Seminary Ridge across from the North Carolina Memorial a rare Confederate Regimental marker can be found. The 11th Mississippi Infantry memorial is placed near where the regiment formed for battle on the afternoon of July 3, 1863. On the monument is Sergeant William O’Brien of Company C raising the flag & urging his comrades forward. Sergeant O’Brien was the first of 8 color bearers who were either killed or wounded during Pickett’s ill-fated charge. For the true Gettysburg “buff” there is a second marker to this unit located near the stone wall at the Bryan Barn noting the farthest advance of the remnants of this regiment on July 3rd. The 11th Mississippi entered the battle with 592 men – of these, 102 were killed, 168 wounded & 42 listed as missing or captured; a staggering 53%.

11th Mississippi Infantry Memorial (Bryan Barn)

Memorial to 8th Illinois Cavalry

8th Illinois Calvary Front
Located on Reynolds Avenue & dedicated on Sept. 3, 1891 is the memorial to the 8th Illinois Cavalry. This is one of three monuments the State of Illinois erected in 1891. This particular monument has quite a few stories to tell.  It stands, number one, on the site once occupied by the 8th New York Cavalry. The New York marker was moved down the road (southerly) to accommodate the present occupant because Illinois was in this location first. Should you care to look at the flank markers (which have not been changed) you will notice they still reflect the information for the New York troopers. Perhaps the most intriguing part of this monument, however, is the single name found etched on the rear of the marker: David Diffenbaugh.  No explanation will be found on the marker as to why this name is here. Private David Diffenbaugh was the regiments sole fatality at the Battle of Gettysburg & his sacrifice was remembered by his comrades. He is interred in the National Cemetery – Row A, Grave 4 of the Illinois Section.

8th Illinois Calvary Back

 

Cora cannon

CORA

Cora cannon

Throughout recorded military history there have been many instances of soldiers naming their weapons. This happens quite often in the artillery branch of the service & we have such an example here at Gettysburg.

To be found at the farm once owned by the Trostle family is a 12 pounder Napoleon cannon named “CORA” by her crew. The name, painted on the breech, appears to be more a form of endearment than a title designed to strike fear into the hearts of the enemy.

While the gun barrel did not take part in the Battle of Gettysburg, it is Civil War vintage & saw action elsewhere.

Until a letter or a diary surfaces that mentions a gun named “Cora” this is destined to remain a mystery of history.

Battle of Gettysburg FAQ’s

When you are dealing with such rich historical series of events like the Battle of Gettysburg, there may be some questions that pop up as you learn more about this fascinating junction in our nation’s history. Our tour guides go through a rigorous testing process that allows them to answer just about anything you might want to know. In speaking with them and talking with people who are planning on a visit, we’ve put together a list of some of the most common questions we get each day shed some light on this famous battleground.

  • Where is the Gettysburg Battlefield?
    • The Gettysburg Battlefield is located in Adams County, Pennsylvania, and covers areas around and throughout the borough of Gettysburg.
  • How large is the National Park at Gettysburg?
    • The National Park at Gettysburg covers roughly 6000 acres!
  • How many monuments are on the Gettysburg Battlefield?
    • There are a wide range of monuments on the Gettysburg Battlefield and we encourage you to see them all! Offering around 1328 monuments to see, you may need more than a one day trip to see them all.
  • Who put the monuments on the Gettysburg Battlefield?
    • Many of the monuments were placed by the vet1013 erans themselves or the states from which they came. The National Park Service and Gettysburg National Military Park maintains them all.
  • Was there fighting in the town of Gettysburg?
    • There was some fighting in the streets of Gettysburg. Fortunately there was only one civilian casualty during the three days of battle. Unfortunately it was a young girl who was killed when a stray bullet came through two doors and struck her in the back killing her instantly. You can learn more about Jennie Wade and the Jennie Wade house on its history page here.
  • Are there any homes or buildings that were here during the time of the battle?
    • There are numerous homes and buildings that were here during the battle, and some still bear the scars from the fierce fighting that occurred. You can identify these homes or buildings by locating the small plaque between the doors and windows of the building that all say, “Civil War Building 1863.”

We hope this list covers one or more of the questions you may have had about the Battle of Gettysburg, but also understand you may have many more. If you’d like to see them covered in a future blog or want to reach out and find out for yourself, feel free to use our contact page and we’ll be happy to answer them for you!

Union Brig. General Alexander Schimmelfennig

 

History is to be found everywhere in the town of Gettysburg. In addition to the monuments, plaques & cannons, useful tools called “Wayside Markers” are also available for the serious or casual student of the battle. A great deal of valuable insight may be obtained by paying careful attention to these markers as you visit the area.

On such marker can be found at the former home of Henry & Catherine Garlach – the address being 319 Baltimore Street.

This marker relates the story of Union Brig. General Alexander Schimmelfennig who, on July 1, 1863, found himself wounded & riding through the town desperately trying to avoid capture (or worse) by the advancing Confederates.

With his horse shot from underneath him, General Schimmelfennig realized that he would not make it back to the Union lines. He quickly sought shelter under a drainage ditch cover behind the Garlach home.

Under cover of darkness the General moved out from the cover & squeezed himself between a wood pile & a hog swill barrel. Mrs. Garlach discovered him while feeding the hogs & managed to discreetly supply him with food & water during his concealment.

General Schimmelfennig was not able to return to his men until the last of the Confederate sharpshooters left the town on July 4th.

Penelope

Penelope

Penelope

Located on Baltimore Street in front of what was once the office of “The Gettysburg Compiler” the Democratic town newspaper, is a half buried cannon affectionately known as “Penelope”.

A relic from the War of 1812 & prior to 1855 this gun stood upright & ready for action.

Henry Stahle the outspoken publisher of the “Compiler” would have this cannon fired in celebration after every Democratic election victory.

In 1855, however, the gun was overloaded with powder & the barrel exploded upon firing. Rather than toss poor old “Penelope” on the trash pile, Mr. Stahle elected to have her buried in front of his office for all the world to see.

She was there during the Battle of Gettysburg & soldiers on both sides had to run around this strange sight. It makes you wonder what possibly could have gone through their minds as they tried to figure out the story behind this unique piece of town history.

regimental flank markers

Regimental Flank Markers

regimental flank markers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Located throughout the battlefield and often mistaken for graves, these small, rectangular stones are known as regimental flank markers. They are placed on either side of monuments or cannons and note the extreme ends of particular regiments or batteries. Engraved with the regimental/battery name and number and bearing the letter R or L (or sometimes RF or LF), these markers will assist the visitor to visualize the line that was formed by that unit. Fighting, in lines, shoulder to shoulder these stones tell you how far the line stretched and which direction the men were facing. Quite frequently the stones for different units will be found right next to each other on the field. For example, the right flank marker for one unit will stand directly next to the left flank marker of its neighbor in line helping one better grasp the infantry and artillery tactics of the 19th Century.