- Joined
- Dec 30, 2019
This will be similar to a previous post of mine in a string where someone asked about the big monument on Little Round Top (i.e. the 44th and 12th NY). However, given all the discussion of late about monuments, it seemed a good idea to again note some at Gettysburg that recognize soldiers on both sides and to add some photos.
Although officially named the Gregg Cavalry Shaft in honor of Union General David McM. Gregg, this monument on the East Cavalry Field is the first one at Gettysburg to recognize both Union and Confederate soldiers. It states that it marks the engagement between Union cavalry under Union Brig. Gen. David McM. Gregg and Confederate cavalry under Confederate Maj. Gen. J. E. B. Stuart. It designates all the units, both north and south, who fought in the engagements there on the afternoon of July 3, 1863. Notice in the photo of the base that all the units who fought at the East Cavalry Field are listed, not just Gregg’s command. It was dedicated October 15, 1884.
The next monument to recognize men from both armies is the High Water Mark of the Rebellion Monument. The design for the monument was suggested by John Bachelder, whose name you will know as one of the earliest and very important historians of the battle. It is an open bronze book with the identity of all units who participated in the attack that we have come to call “Pickett’s Charge”, as well as all those who were part of the repulse. It sits at the famous “Copse of Trees” and was dedicated June 2, 1892.
Another monument that can be reasonably thought of as remembering men from both sides is the Eternal Light Peace Memorial on Oak Hill. The idea for a peace memorial originated with the veterans during the 1913 reunion at Gettysburg. However, it was not dedicated until 25 years later, on July 3, 1938, the 75th anniversary of the battle. The tall column at the center of the monument is made of Alabama Limestone, while the wide base of the monument is made from Maine Granite. The symbolism is rather obvious. Just as we had veterans attending the 75th anniversary of D-Day last year, there were about 2,000 Civil War veterans in the crowd of about a quarter million listening to the dedication speech by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. During the festivities, many of the children in the crowd were introduced to, and encouraged to shake hands with, some of the veterans. Some of those children, although aging now, are almost certainly still alive. This means that we are only one handshake away from the generation of the Civil War. This is a good time in our history to aspire to the statement on the from of the monument: “Peace Eternal in a Nation United”.
The next monument honoring men from both sides is the Friend to Friend Masonic Memorial located in the National Cemetery Annex. It is a bronze sculpture by Ron Tunison depicting Union Captain Henry Bingham giving succor to mortally wounded Confederate Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead. Upon learning that Bingham was a Mason, Armistead, who was also a Mason, asked that Bingham see to it that certain personal effects were returned to the Armistead family. (As a side note, Bingham’s letter to Bachelor describing this incident does not mention the oft referred to bible.) The monument was dedicated in 1993. It is located in the annex to the National Cemetery.
The last monument honoring men from both sides is one that I am ashamed to say I missed in my earlier post. It is the Maryland State Monument. One could not imagine a monument more appropriate for Maryland, which was deeply divided during the Civil War. The sculpture by Lawrence M. Ludtke is titled “Brothers Again”. It shows two soldiers, and one Union and one Confederate, helping to support each other, as both appear somewhat injured. During the fighting on Culp’s Hill on July 3, 1863, there is evidence that Marylander fought directly against Marylander. This monument is located near the parking lot for the National Cemetery and was dedicated in 1994.
Although officially named the Gregg Cavalry Shaft in honor of Union General David McM. Gregg, this monument on the East Cavalry Field is the first one at Gettysburg to recognize both Union and Confederate soldiers. It states that it marks the engagement between Union cavalry under Union Brig. Gen. David McM. Gregg and Confederate cavalry under Confederate Maj. Gen. J. E. B. Stuart. It designates all the units, both north and south, who fought in the engagements there on the afternoon of July 3, 1863. Notice in the photo of the base that all the units who fought at the East Cavalry Field are listed, not just Gregg’s command. It was dedicated October 15, 1884.
The next monument to recognize men from both armies is the High Water Mark of the Rebellion Monument. The design for the monument was suggested by John Bachelder, whose name you will know as one of the earliest and very important historians of the battle. It is an open bronze book with the identity of all units who participated in the attack that we have come to call “Pickett’s Charge”, as well as all those who were part of the repulse. It sits at the famous “Copse of Trees” and was dedicated June 2, 1892.
Another monument that can be reasonably thought of as remembering men from both sides is the Eternal Light Peace Memorial on Oak Hill. The idea for a peace memorial originated with the veterans during the 1913 reunion at Gettysburg. However, it was not dedicated until 25 years later, on July 3, 1938, the 75th anniversary of the battle. The tall column at the center of the monument is made of Alabama Limestone, while the wide base of the monument is made from Maine Granite. The symbolism is rather obvious. Just as we had veterans attending the 75th anniversary of D-Day last year, there were about 2,000 Civil War veterans in the crowd of about a quarter million listening to the dedication speech by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. During the festivities, many of the children in the crowd were introduced to, and encouraged to shake hands with, some of the veterans. Some of those children, although aging now, are almost certainly still alive. This means that we are only one handshake away from the generation of the Civil War. This is a good time in our history to aspire to the statement on the from of the monument: “Peace Eternal in a Nation United”.
The next monument honoring men from both sides is the Friend to Friend Masonic Memorial located in the National Cemetery Annex. It is a bronze sculpture by Ron Tunison depicting Union Captain Henry Bingham giving succor to mortally wounded Confederate Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead. Upon learning that Bingham was a Mason, Armistead, who was also a Mason, asked that Bingham see to it that certain personal effects were returned to the Armistead family. (As a side note, Bingham’s letter to Bachelor describing this incident does not mention the oft referred to bible.) The monument was dedicated in 1993. It is located in the annex to the National Cemetery.
The last monument honoring men from both sides is one that I am ashamed to say I missed in my earlier post. It is the Maryland State Monument. One could not imagine a monument more appropriate for Maryland, which was deeply divided during the Civil War. The sculpture by Lawrence M. Ludtke is titled “Brothers Again”. It shows two soldiers, and one Union and one Confederate, helping to support each other, as both appear somewhat injured. During the fighting on Culp’s Hill on July 3, 1863, there is evidence that Marylander fought directly against Marylander. This monument is located near the parking lot for the National Cemetery and was dedicated in 1994.