High Water Mark of the Rebellion Monument (Gettysburg)

High Water Mark of the Rebellion Monument

:us34stars: :CSA1stNat: The High Water Mark is a small grove located on the northern portion of Cemetery Ridge. On July 3, 1863 it was the site of vicious hand-to-hand combat during the bloody climax of Pickett's Charge.

Colonel John Bachelder, the first government historian of the Gettysburg battlefield, deemed this area "High Water Mark of the Rebellion" and helped place the High Water Mark of the Rebellion Monument here in 1892. The monument lists the commands of both armies that participated in Pickett's Charge. This grouping of trees marked a Confederate crest of the battle and the war. After Gettysburg, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia would never reach such a high point again.

MONUMENT PROFILE
  • Battlefield: Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania
  • Location: West Side of Hancock Avenue at the Copse of Trees
  • Map Coordinates: +39° 48' 45.00", -77° 14' 8.52"

MONUMENT DETAILS
  • Origin: At an 1887 Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association meeting, Bachelder was asked to “prepare an appropriate and suitable tablet descriptive of the engagement and the commands engaged at the copse of trees where Pickett’s Division assaulted the Union line, said tablet to be placed upon a metallic post thereat.” On September 25, 1888, Bachelder offered a resolution for a bronze tablet “setting forth the movements of the troops at the copse of trees” be erected, which was approved. More than twenty different designs prepared and discarded before one was approved.
  • Artists:
    • Designer: John B. Bachelder
    • Foundry Work: Henry-Bonnard Bronze Company
  • Erected: April 27, 1892
  • Dedicated: June 2, 1892
  • Dimensions:
    • Sculpture: H. 4 ft. x W. 4 ft. 6 in.
    • Base: 9 ft. x 11 ft. 4 in. x 11 ft.
    • Weight: 1,272 lbs.
  • Cost: $6,500 (June 1892)
  • Description: An oversized open book is propped up on a pyramid of cannon balls. The work stands on a tapered square base, a tiered square base and a small, low-stepped plaza and is flanked by a cannons and small pyramidal stacks of cannon balls. The inscription on the pages of the open book lists the divisions and brigades from both the Union and Confederate armies who participated in Longstreet's assault. The bronze book needed to be recast a 2nd time in 1892 when two unit's names were omitted from the monument.
About the Monument, After It's Dedication Ceremony, June 2, 1892
from the Gettysburg Compiler, June 7, 1862

In collecting the data, immediately after this battle, which has preserved to history one of the world's greatest contests, Col. J. B. Bachelder was impressed with the idea that the terrific fighting at what is now known as the Copse of Trees, would mark the turning point of the war. This was intensified by subsequent events, and, at the close of the war, by Col. Harrison, Gen. Pickett's Adjutant General, who came here and spent several days giving the historian all the details of that now famous movement against this point. Soon after the battle the owner of the ground commenced to cut away the trees, but was induced by Col. Bachelder to desist, being convinced of its importance in preserving the landmarks.​
In time the trees and underbrush grew to such an extent as to destroy the original picture, and under the supervision of the late Sergt. W. D. Holtzworth the trees were trimmed and brush cleared away. When monuments began to be erected and general interest centered here, Col. Bachelder offered a resolution before the Battlefield Memorial Association Board of Directors to have it enclosed in an iron fence, as a protection from relic hunters. This was subsequently done under direction of Supt. N. G. Wilson.​
At the next meeting of the Board he offered a resolution that a tablet be erected to mark the spot and give the history of the movement. This met with unanimous approval and the Colonel was appointed a committee of one to carry out the resolution.​
The Legislatures of the fifteen Northern States, whose troops met and repulsed the charge, were appealed to for funds, and all responded, between $6,000 and $7,000 being contributed for that purpose.​
An open bronze book surmounts the monument, which stands on the east side of the Copse of Trees. This weighs 1,272 pounds and is supported by a pyramid of cannon balls. The left page bears a legend describing the assault and who participated, while the right tells of the troops who met and repulsed it. The whole rests on a plinth of Maine and Massachusetts granite, with a broad and massive water table of Gettysburg granite. A walk of granilithic cement enclosed with dressed granite curbing surrounds the whole, and it is approached by hammered granite steps. In the center of each space at the sides stands a mounted 12-pound Napoleon gun with pyramids of cannon balls. Three bronze plates set in the finely cut granite tell the story.​
The best materials and workmanship were employed, stability and permanence characterizing every part.​

MONUMENT TEXT
Front of Monument
COMMANDS HONORED.
IN RECOGNITION OF THE PATRIOTISM AND GALLANTRY DISPLAYED
BY THEIR RESPECTIVE TROOPS WHO MET OR ASSISTED TO REPULSE

LONGSTREET’S ASSAULT
THE FOLLOWING STATES HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO ERECT THIS TABLET:
MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, CONNECTICUT, NEW YORK,
NEW JERSEY, DELAWARE, PENNSYLVANIA, WEST VIRGINIA, OHIO, MICHIGAN AND MINNESOTA.

From the Left side of the Book
HIGH WATER MARK
OF THE REBELLION.

THIS COPSE OF TREES WAS THE LANDMARK
TOWARD WHICH LONGSTREET’S ASSAULT WAS DIRECTED
JULY 3, 1863.
THE ASSAULTING COLUMN
WAS COMPOSED OF
KEMPER’S, GARNETT’S AND ARMISTEAD’S BRIGADES OF
PICKETT’S DIVISION,
ARCHER’S DAVIS’, PETTIGREW’S & BROCKENBROUGH’S BRIGADES OF HETH’S DIVISION
AND SCALES’ AND LANE’S BRIGADES OF
PENDER’S DIVISION,
SUPPORTED ON THE RIGHT BY
WILCOX’ AND PERRY’S BRIGADES OF
ANDERSON’S DIVISION;
ON THE LEFT BY THOMAS’ AND MCGOWAN’S BRIGADES OF
PENDER’S DIVISION,
AND ASSISTED BY THE FOLLOWING ARTILLERY:
CABELL’S BATTALION
CONSISTING OF
MANLY’S FRASER’S, MCCARTHY’S & CARLTON’S BATTERIES.
ALEXANDER’S BATTALION,
WOOLFOLK’S, JORDAN’S, GILBERT’S, MOODY’S, PARKER’S & TAYLOR’S BATTERIES,
ESCHELMAN’S BATTALION,
SQUIRES, RICHARDSON’S, MILLER’S & NORCOM’S BATTERIES,
DEARING’S BATTALION,
STRIBLING’S, CASKIE’S, MACON’S & BLOUNT’S BATTERIES,
CUTT’S BATTALION,
ROSS’S PATTERSON’S & WINGFIELD’S BATTERIES,
POAGUE’S BATTALION,
WYATT’S, GRAHAM’S, WARD’S & BROOKE’S BATTERIES,
PEGRAM’S BATTALION,
MC CRAW’S, ZIMMERMAN’S BRADER’S, MARYE’S & CRENSHAW BATTERY.
MC INTOSH’S BATTALION,
RICE’S HURT’S WALLACE’S & JOHNSON’S BATTERIES,
CARTER’S BATTALION,
REESE’S, CARTER’S, PAGE’S & FRY’S BATTERIES,
BROWN’S BATTALION,
WATSON’S, SMITH’S CUNNINGHAM’S & GRIFFIN’S BATTERIES.

From the Right side of the Book
REPULSE OF
LONGSTREET’S ASSAULT.


LONGSTREET’S ASSAULT
WAS REPULSED BY
WEBB’S, HALL’S & HARROW’S BRIGADES OF
GIBBON’S DIVISION SECOND ARMY CORPS;
SMYTH’S & WILLARD’S BRIGADES AND
PORTIONS OF CARROLL’ BRIGADE OF
HAYS’ DIVISION SECOND ARMY CORPS;
AND THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS SHARP-SHOOTERS
(UNATTACHED)
PORTIONS OF ROWLEY’S & STANNARD’S BRIGADES OF
DOUBLEDAY’S DIVISION FIRST ARMY CORPS;
HAZARD’S SECOND CORPS ARTILLERY BRIGADE,
CONSISTING OF
WOODRUFF’S, ARNOLD’S, CUSHING’S BROWN’S & RORTY’S BATTERIES,
ASSISTED ON THE RIGHT BY
HILL’S, EDGELL’S, EAKIN’S, BANCROFT’S, DILGER’S & TAFT’S BATTERIES
ON CEMETERY HILL;
AND ON THE LEFT BY
COWAN’S, FITZHUGH’S, PARSON’S, WHEELER’S, THOMAS’,
DANIELS’ & STERLING’S BATTERIES AND
MCGILVERY’S ARTILLERY BRIGADE
CONSISTING OF
THOMPSON’S, PHILLIP’S, HART’S, COOPER’S, DOW’S, & AMES’
BATTERIES,
AND BY HAZLETT’S BATTERY ON LITTLE ROUND TOP.
AND SUPPORTED BY
DOUBLEDAY’S DIVISION OF THE FIRST ARMY CORPS
WHICH WAS IN POSITION
ON THE IMMEIDATE LEFT OF THE TROOPS ASSAULTED.
THE THIRD ARMY CORPS
MOVED UP TO WITHIN SUPPORTING DISTANCE ON THE LEFT, AND
ROBINSON’S DIVISION OF THE FIRST ARMY COR
PS
MOVED IN TO POSITION TO SUPPORT THE RIGHT.

DESIGNED BY AND ERECTED UNDER THE SUPERINTENDENCE OF JOHN B. BATCHELDER
CAST BY THE HENRY-BONNARD BRONZE CO., NEW YORK, NEW YORK

From the Rear of the Monument
GETTYSBURG BATTLEFIELD MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION
ORGANIZED APRIL 30, 1864
DIRECTORS 1895

GOVERNOR DANIEL H. HASTINGS, PRESIDENT
COLONEL CHARLES H. BUEHLER, VICE PRESIDENT
CALVIN HAMILTON, SECRETARY
J. LAWRENCE SCHICK, TREASURER

JOHN B. BACHELDER
COLONEL GEORGE C. BRIGGS
BREVET MAJOR GEN. JOSEPH B. CARR
MAJOR GEN. S.W. CRAWFORD
BRIGADIER GEN. LUCIUS W. FAIRCHILD
BREVET MAJOR GEN. D. MCM. GREGG
BREVET MAJOR GEN. GEORGE S. GREENE
FIRST LIEUT. C.E. GOLDSBOROUGH
BREVET MAJOR CHILL W. HAZARD
JACOB A. KITZMILLER
JOHN C. LINEHAN
CAPTAIN EDWARD MCPHERSON
CAPTAIN H.W. MCKNIGHT
MAJOR GEN. DANIEL E. SICKLES
MAJOR GEN. HENRY W. SLOCUM
CAPTAIN FRANK D. SLOAT
SAMUEL MCC. SWOPE
COLONEL WHEELOCK C. VEAZEY
JOHN M. VANDERSLICE
BREVET BRIG. GEN. LEWIS WAGNER
BREVET MAJOR GEN. ALEX S. WEBB
BREVET LIEUT. COL. CHARLES YOUNG
BREVET LIEUT. COL. JOHN P. NICHOLSON


ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

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LOC Photo c.1903

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William Tipton, Date Unknown

RELATED LINKS

citation information The following information is provided for citations.
Article Title:
High Water Mark of the Rebellion Monument (Gettysburg)
Authors:
CivilWarTalk
Website Name:
CivilWarTalk.com
URL:
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/high-water-mark-of-the-rebellion-monument-gettysburg.185692/
Publisher:
CivilWarTalk, LLC
Original Published Date:
April 29, 2022

links to state and national monuments, and nearby landmarks Located at Gettysburg National Military Park, in Adams County, Pennsylvania (rev.6/1/21)
National Monuments
Eternal Light Peace Memorial Friend to Friend Masonic Memorial High Water Mark
Lincoln Speech Memorial Soldiers' National Monument
U.S. State Monuments
DE IN MD NY NY Auxiliary PA VT U.S. Regulars
C.S. State Monuments
AL AR DE FL GA LA MD MS NC SC TN TX VA
Union Regimentals
CT DE IL IN ME MD MA MI MN
NH NJ NY OH PA RI VT WV WI U.S. Regulars
Individual &
Commemorative
Monuments
Equestrian Monuments: Hancock Howard Lee Longstreet Meade Reynolds Sedgwick Slocum
Standing Bronze Statues:
Barlow Buford Burns Father Corby Crawford Doubleday Geary Gibbon
Greene Hays Humphreys Robinson Wadsworth
Warren Webb Wells
Other Individual Monuments:
Armistead Chapman Collis Cushing Fuller Rev. Howell Humiston Merwin
Nicholson
Sickles Taylor Vincent Ward Weed & Hazlett Willard Woolson Zook
Landmarks
Black Horse Tavern Cashtown Inn Dobbin House Evergreen Cemetery Jennie Wade House Lutheran Theological Seminary
McAllister's Mill Railroad Station Sachs Covered Bridge
Thompson House David Wills House
Farms: Codori Bliss Brian
Daniel Schaefer Hummelbaugh Klingle Lady Leister McLean McPherson
Rogers Rose Rummel Sherfy Slyder Snyder Taney Trostle George Weikert Wentz
Points of Interest
New Museum & Visitor Center Benner's Hill Cemetery Hill Copse of Trees Culp's Hill
Devil's Den Peach Orchard Little Round Top
Big Round Top Sachs Covered Bridge
Spangler's Spring East Cavalry Field Soldiers' National Cemetery National Cemetery Annex

Gone But Not Forgotten: Old Museum, Visitor Center, & Electric Map Old Cyclorama National Tower
 
Last edited:
Dedication Ceremony June 2, 1892

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Oration of Former Governor of Pennsylvania, James Addams Beaver:

The formal unveiling of the monument before us furnishes the occasion for this public gathering.​
The monument itself has been erected by appropriations of money made by several of the States whose troops were engaged upon this field in the great battle, which was fought here in July, 1863.​
So far as the significance of the monument itself is concerned, so far as it serves to perpetuate in an especial manner the significance of the history which was made here, it would have been entirely proper for all the States whose troops were engaged in the magnificent charge of the Army of Northern Virginia and its repulse by the Army of the Potomac to have joined in making such an appropriation.​
The monument is historical. It perpetuates the history of an event. Around us, on every hand, are the monuments of military organizations.​
The different States represented by troops in the Army of the Potomac have made generous provision for the erection of monuments to mark the spot occupied by their several State organizations during the memorable contest which occurred upon this field.​
Individual effort, representing those military organizations has supplemented the State appropriations. The result is the most remarkable collection of works of art grouped for such a purpose to be found anywhere in the world. I am not in sympathy with the sentiment which would discourage such monuments. They serve a varied purpose. The military student will learn from them the tactics of the great Battle. The survivor of the organization for which each stands will recount beneath its shadow the events o the day in which he took part. The descendants of the men who served their Country well here will gather a fresh inspiration for the discharge of duty as they assemble about the memorial which marks the place where their fathers stood, heroic in maintaining the majesty of the law, and proving the perpetuity of the Government, and the citizens of our several States will rival each other in devotion to the memory of those who here proved themselves their worthy representatives.​
Let these monuments stand. Let them be preserved and perpetuated for all time to come. They provoke no jealousies. They harbor no resentments. They are eloquent in their mute appeal to patriotism and to duty. They have a mission and they meet its requirements well.​
The monument which we dedicate today is different from them all. It marks, as I have said, a new era in the erection of memorials upon this field. It is significant and that significance should be emphasized in this presence.​
The story of Gettysburg has been oft times told. We have not yet reached the point where all personal feeling can be laid aside. The motives which actuated the different organizations confronting each other, the question of responsibility for this and that movement resulting disastrously on both sides, the claims of the relative importance of the services rendered by men and organizations on the one side and on the other will naturally provoke controversy for many years to come.​
The period, when all problems can be solved and all conflicting claims and statements crystallized in accepted history is not likely soon to come, but as we gather here today and look out upon the lovely valley across which Pickett and his gallant Virginians made their magnificent charge, and stand upon this spot where the equally gallant Pennsylvanians, and the men of other States, like a wall of adamant, received its shock and against which it broke and scatted and receded, we can all join in admiration of the courage and the enthusiasm which animated the men who made the charge and the fortitude and solidity of those who received its momentum.​
This monument stands for both.​
 
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