Monuments of the 15th Massachusetts at Gettysburg

John Hartwell

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In another thread about the monument to the 15th MVI at Antietam, I related, from the regimental history, how that regiment, nearly surrounded, suffered heavy casualties from friendly, as well as enemy fire fire. On the Second Day at Gettysburg, the 15th found itself in a similar situation. Facing overwhelming enemy force in front and on the flank, they suddenly found Federal artillery shells falling in their midst. The result was a casualty rate of another 60% the highest suffered by any Mass. unit at Gettysburg. And, the battered regiment had yet more fighting to do on the next day.
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The 1909 Reunion of the 15th Mass, at Gettysburg
The Col. George H. Ward Monument:
The 15th Mass. was part of the 1st Brigade of Gibbons’ 2nd Division of Hancock’s II Corps. They had arrived at Gettysburg on the morning of July 2, and after a brief rest, filed into position near the center of the II Corps line, along the ridge in front of the Leister House (Meade’s headquarters).

About 4 pm, the men of II Corps watched as elements of Sickell’s III Corps moved forward to take position along the Emmitsburg Pike and the Peach Orchard. As Longstreet’s attack developed, and Sickel’s line began to crumble Caldwell’s division of II Corps was sent forward to cover their open flank, only to be hit hard and overrun by the advancing Confederates. As the gap between the troops committed in the Wheat Field, and Gibbons’ Division widened, he sent forward his two left flank regiments to help bolster the III Corps line to his front and left; those regiments were the 82nd New York and the 15th Massachusetts, numbering less than 700 men between them.

Those two regiments advanced through farm fields about a quarter of a mile to their front, stopping to the right of the Codori Farm, on the Emmitsburg Pike. They positioned themselves there in support Brown’s Battery B of the 1st Rhode Island Artillery. The 82nd New York placed their left on the Codori House. The 15th Massachusetts was on their right with its right flank hanging in the air. It was a terribly exposed position and, realizing this, “we built a small breastwork of rails behind the fence, during which time the enemy were engaged on our left, and there was a rapid picket firing in our front. We remained in this position about half an hour, when the pickets were driven in,” and the engagement became general. One veteran recalled: “"Our artillery threw grape and canister which, no doubt, was intended to go over our heads; but a good share of it struck our regiment. One discharge of canister from our own guns wounded the captain of Company E, the orderly-sergeant and a private of my own company."

At this point, under assault by Wright’s Georgia Brigade the 82nd N.Y. fell back, exposing the left and rear of the 15th Mass. to the deadly fire of the rebel infantry. “We now opened a rapid fire, but being left alone, could hold the position but a short time, when we retired in some disorder, being pressed so closely that we lost quite a number of prisoners, captured by the enemy.” During this attack, Col. George H. Ward, the 15th’s commander, was struck by shell fragments resulting in wounds that would take his life the following day. He was at the time in temporary command of his Brigade, and a week later would be posthumously promoted to Brigadier General, to date from July 2.
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On June 2, 1886, veterans of the 15th Mass. gathered at Gettysburg to dedicate a monument in honor of their fallen colonel. It is located in a field about 100 yards north of the Codori farm, some 40 yards from the Emmitsburg Road. It sits in the field, alone and largely unnoticed, rarely visited. The slender obelisk bears a bronze medallion portrait of Col. Ward, and the inscription:

Here fell, mortally wounded
July 2d 1863
George H. Ward, Colonel Commanding
15th Mass. Vols.
His comrades and fellow
citizens of Worcester
raise this memorial of his
valor and patriotism.

General John Gibbon, the 2nd Division commander, reported: "They, the two regiments, did most excellent service in checking the advance of the enemy and preventing them from cutting off the Third Corps from our lines." General Hancock reiterated the same idea: “The two regiments and battery referred to above as having been advanced by General Gibbon to the vicinity of the brick house did excellent service in protecting it from being cut off from the line of battle."

And, there was still more work to be done the next day.

NOTE: quotes above are from: The story of the Fifteenth regiment Massachusetts volunteer infantry in the civil war, 1861-1864, by Ford, Andrew E. (1898)
 
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The 15th Massachusetts Regimental Monument:
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The 15th Mass. Reunion at Gettysburg, June 2, 1886

On the morning of July 3, the 15th Massachusetts occupied a position roughly 200 yards south of the Copse of Trees on Cemetery Ridge. Gen. William Harrow was now back in command of the 1st Brigade. They spent that morning building crude breastworks using whatever they could find and lay down behind them in expectation of the coming attack. Shortly after 1 p.m., the tremendous Confederate barrage on the center of the Union line began. Units up and down Cemetery Ridge hunkered down as best they could.

In the shimmering heat of mid-day the rebel shelling faded, and the Federals watched, as the men under the command of Gen. George Pickett began their advance. Feelings were tense, for at first it looked like they were headed directly for the position of the 15th Mass. and their brigade. But, by the time they reached the Emmitsburg Road, they had begun to oblique northward, focusing their attack on the Copse of Trees. The Massachusetts men contributed their part to the general fire on the advancing rebels, aiming progressively more to the right as the enemy closed on the Federal line.

The Regimental History sets the scene; “Willcox has failed to properly support Pickett's right, and Stannard's Vermont brigade, stationed in an advanced position to the left of the Second Corps, is pouring its terrible fire upon this flank. Now the rebels are within range of Gibbon's division, which rains leaden death upon them. Yet, all undaunted, after a momentary pause,'the Virginians slightly turning their course, which has previously been directly toward Harrow's brigade, charge upon the very crest of the hill where Webb's Pennsylvania brigade is waiting them behind the stone wall. This line falls back under the irresistible blow. Now the rebels are over the wall and now they are upon the guns of Cushing's battery. The Union line is pierced, and the Confederate battle-flags wave over Cemetery Ridge. But already Hall and Harrow have come to the assistance of Webb, and a line four deep has been formed in front, and surging masses of men are pressing upon Pickett's flanks. Military formations are lost; but one purpose fills every Union breast. There are a few minutes of Titantic struggle, then the rebels throw themselves on the ground in sign of surrender, or seek to retrace their steps across the death stricken plain.”

In June 1886, veterans of the 15th massachusetts Volunteer Infantry gathered at Gettysburg to dedicate two monuments. The first was the small obelisk memorial for Col. Ward, as described above. The second, is located on Hancock Avenue, near the Copse of Trees. It marks the original position of the regiment on the morning of July 3, and consists of a 54 inch upright on a 24 inch high base. It bears a bronze relief of an armed soldier.

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The base is inscribed, on the front, simply "15TH MASS", and on the back: "15th Regt. Mass. Vols./1st Brig. 2nd Div. 2nd Corps./July 3. 1863."

Just south of the Copse of trees there is also a bronze marker, erected by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, reading

Fifteenth Massachusetts Volunteers.
The position of this regiment in line of battle
is marked by its monument
235 yards due south.

It charged up to this point and attacked Pickett’s
Division in flank as his troops were coming
over the stonewall.


Of the 296 men with which the 15th Massachusetts began the battle of Gettysburg, they lost 22 killed, 93 wounded, and 38 missing or captured. About a dozen of the captured men escaped before they had been taken out of Pennsylvania.

NOTE: quotes above are from: The story of the Fifteenth regiment Massachusetts volunteer infantry in the civil war, 1861-1864, by Ford, Andrew E. (1898)
 
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About 7 p.m. on July 2, the 15th Massachusetts was confronted by part of the 2nd Georgia Battalion and the left companies of the 48th Georgia in Brig. Gen. Ambrose R. Wright's brigade; the remainder of the 48th Georgia opposed the 82nd New York on their left. The 15th Massachusetts delivered a telling volley, and might have held firm at the Emmitsburg Road behind a low barricade of fence rails, except in the meantime the 3rd Georgia had swung around to envelop the 82nd New York's left flank, forcing both that regiment and the 15th Massachusetts back from the road. The 15th regrouped behind the 69th Pennsylvania, near the copse that was to be made famous on the following day. As noted, before leaving the road, the 15th also took "friendly fire" in the form of grape and canister from Battery B, 1st Rhode Island Artillery, posted close behind them.
 
About 7 p.m. on July 2, the 15th Massachusetts was confronted by part of the 2nd Georgia Battalion and the left companies of the 48th Georgia in Brig. Gen. Ambrose R. Wright's brigade; the remainder of the 48th Georgia opposed the 82nd New York on their left. The 15th Massachusetts delivered a telling volley, and might have held firm at the Emmitsburg Road behind a low barricade of fence rails, except in the meantime the 3rd Georgia had swung around to envelop the 82nd New York's left flank, forcing both that regiment and the 15th Massachusetts back from the road. The 15th regrouped behind the 69th Pennsylvania, near the copse that was to be made famous on the following day. As noted, before leaving the road, the 15th also took "friendly fire" in the form of grape and canister from Battery B, 1st Rhode Island Artillery, posted close behind them.
The source I have says the friendly fire was from "Federal artillery on Cemetery Ridge." I don't imagine it much mattered to them who it was from. It was a heck of a situation anyway.
 
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