Focus: the 140th New York
Posted to the Project on 26 May 07
Returning to the monument series with the 140th New York monument on Little Round Top.
This monument happens to be one of the more popular memorials at Gettysburg. This is in part due to its prominent location on Little Round Top and in part due to the fact that rubbing the nose of Patrick O’Rourke on the front of the monument is immensely popular and (supposedly) good luck.
(This unwanted attention damages the patina on the bronze on the relief.)
Members of the Fifth Corps, the 140th New York brought 526 men to Gettysburg. The unit was mainly raised in Monroe County. Of the 526 men and officers, 26 fell killed, 89 were wounded, and 18 were among the missing. Among those killed is the officer featured in portrait relief on the monument, Colonel Patrick H. O’Rourke.
Born in Ireland in 1836, O’Rourke moved to America and graduated from West Point with the class of 1861, number one in his class. After service with the engineers, he became colonel of the 140th Regiment on September 19, 1862. He was a brave officer and one of the up and coming stars in the Corps. He was killed leading the regiment in a charge to turn back the enemy, probably very near if not at the spot where the regimental monument now sits.
The monument was placed by the surviving veterans of the regiment in honor of all their comrades who died at Gettysburg. By unanimous vote, O’Rourke’s bust was placed in the center of the monument on a die in bronze. The monument, which is located next to the famous 44th New York “castle,” was dedicated on September 17, 1889.
Members of 5th Corps, 2nd Division, 3rd Brigade
Commander at Gettysburg: Patrick H. O’Rorke (1836-July 2, 1863)
Engaged 526; 26 killed, 89 wounded, 18 missing
Monument: Little Round Top. (Sykes Avenue)