Draw the Sword

A tour through the most hallowed ground in America – the Gettysburg National Military Park.

Welcome to Draw the Sword, an attempt to collect together all of the monuments and memorials of the Gettysburg battlefield.

For three days in July, the Union Army of the Potomac and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia fought on the hills and in the farm fields surrounding Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. At stake was the fate of the American Republic, and when the fighting ended, over 50,000 soldiers had become casualties. In the years following the Civil War, those who survived the carnage at Gettysburg came back here and erected monuments to honor their comrades, joining the state of Pennsylvania and then the Federal government in laying out the Gettysburg National Military Park – a place to study the battle … a place to honor the men who fought and died here … a place to understand the great cataclysm that was the Civil War.

What you’ll find here.

Each monument on the battlefield is featured with a color photograph, a description of the monument, and information about when it was erected. For the military units, information about the commander as well as a copy of an official report (if one was generated) are also included. Secondary monuments and markers erected by each unit are also provided as well. The focus isn’t on telling the story of the battle as it is on the monuments and memorials, though I certainly hope you could learn a lot about the battle through this site.

Where should I start?

If you’re new to the site, you may want to check out the about page — it is the site FAQ and it explains the scope of the project as well as provides further resources on the battle. Another great place to start is Monument 101 which, as the name suggests, is an introduction to the monuments on the battlefield and the organization of a Civil War army.

Or, of course, you can just jump right in and start looking at monuments. You’ll find them organized by type, state, place within the Army of the Potomac or Army of Northern Virginia, or by the nearest road. Just select from the drop down menus in the sidebar on the right hand side of each page and start browsing.

Feel free to jump in.

If you have additional information about a unit, such as a website devoted to it or other information related to the unit at Gettysburg, please feel free jump in and to leave a comment so that others doing research can find your site. Comments are moderated to help reduce spam.

Contact Me.

If you need to contact the webmaster, you can do so at: jgoellnitz@gmail.com. The webmaster is female, so if you want her to respond, it is strongly recommended you not address your email as “Dear Sir.” :)

Right on they move, as with one soul, in perfect order, without impediment of ditch or wall or stream, over ridge and slope, through orchard and meadow and cornfield, magnificent, grim, irresistible. – Lieut. Frank Haskell

Farm Name: Wills Farm. (Sometimes called the Winebrenner Farm.)

War Time Owner: James Wills.

Location: Buford Avenue

Extant Buildings: The house was built in 1868. The barn dates to 1860.

About the Farm: The house is a Greek Revival Style. Was the scene of first day’s fighting w/ occupation by CSA forces, used probably as CSA field hospital. Building post-dates 1863 Battle of Gettysburg but falls with period of significance for park. House occupies approximate site of original 18th Century settlement homestead that was extant at time of battle. Building contributes to historic spatial organization of farmstead, an organization that provided cover for Confederate infantry and artillery and became an obstacle to movement on July 1. This post-1863 building serves as placeholder for previous house extant at time of battle. The barn is located between Herr’s Ridge an McPherson’s Ridge on battlefield of first day, and is only remaining building from battle era on Wills farm. Confederate artillery used shelter of barn for cover of limbers, horses, and ammunition chests during battle July 1. Most likely was used for temporary hospital and emergency aid purposes by Confederates who fought over grounds of farm during the first day of battle.

Location: In town.

Access Roads: Located off of Stratton Street near Stevens Street.

Part of Auto Tour? No.

Description: Located in a very hidden location in the middle of town, Coster Avenue is named for Colonel Charles Coster and marks the position of his brigade of the Eleventh Corps on the afternoon of July 1, 1863. At the time of the battle this area was farmland; adjacent to the area was a brickyard owned by Kuhn. Post-Civil War growth in the town eventually swallowed up everything except this small strip of land. The 80-foot long mural was dedicated on July 1, 1988 – the 125th anniversary of the battle. It was conceived and designed by Mark H. Dunkelman and painted by Rhode Island artist Johan Bjurman. It received restoration work in 2001.

Additional Photographs: More Photographs of the area (will open a pop up window).