Focus: 69th Pennsylvania Infantry
Posted to the Project on 21 May 07
Located near the stonewall at the famous Angle, the simple monument to the 69th Pennsylvania marks the position of a hard-fighting regiment that played a crucial role in the repulse of “Pickett’s Charge.”
Nicknamed the “Second California,” the 69th Pennsylvania was raised in Philadelphia and became part of the Philadelphia Brigade (commanded at Gettysburg by Alexander Webb). The 69th was an Irish regiment. The commander at Gettysburg was Colonel Dennis O’Kane, an Irish born tavern keeper in Philadelphia who was mortally wounded in the battle on July 3. The 69th Pennsylvania lost 40 men killed, 80 wounded, and 17 missing out of a total of 329 at Gettysburg.
The monument is a simple obelesik shape with various Irish symbols and the corps badge carved onto its shiny surface. This memorial is also unique because each company is represented by a small granite marker — and each marker is linked together with a chain, representing the unbreakable spirit of the 69th Regiment.
Members of the 2nd Corps, 2nd Division, 2nd Brigade (Philadelphia Brigade)
Commander Dennis O’Kane (1824-July 4, 1863)
Engaged 329; 40 killed, 80 wounded, 17 missing
Monument: Webb Avenue - located at the stonewall of the Angle near the Copse of trees