Gettysburg Greg
First Sergeant
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2010
- Location
- Decatur, Illinois
In the mid 1880's, three Massachusetts Regiments placed their monuments on the south side of the Copse of Trees. Their intention was to show where they advanced to help stop the breakthrough at the Copse during Pickett's Charge. However, in December of 1887, the GBMA adopted the "line of battle" rule. Now, a unit wishing to place a monument would have to do it upon a regiments line of battle position, that is, a position assigned to the unit before combat began. The Massachusetts men objected to moving their monuments back to their original line of battle, but in 1888 all three monuments were moved without the knowledge of the veterans. To mollify the Massachusetts veterans, the GBMA placed bronze markers on the south side of the Copse that described the movement of each unit. Below is a ca. 1886 photo showing all three Mass. monuments on the south side of the CoT in their original location. Note that on the left is the 20th Mass Monument platform before the Puddingstone we see today was delivered. On the bottom is a modern view showing the monuments now replaced by the bronze plaques and Cowans' Battery monument now in place.
Bringing the