Draw the Sword

Location: Howard Avenue (Barlow’s Knoll).

Order of Battle: 11th Corps, 1st Division, 2nd Brigade

Number Engaged: 386; 20 killed, 81 wounded, 96 missing

Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Fowler (1826-July 1, 1863)

Raised: Fairfield County

Monument Specifications: Sarcophagus-like sculpture contains four plaques which list the names of the thirty-five men in the 17th Connecticut Infantry killed during the battle of Gettysburg. A relief of the Connecticut coat of arms also appears on the front face of the piece. This is one of 8 monuments on the battlefield dedicated to Connecticut troops who participated in the Gettysburg campaign, and was reportedly the first XI Corps monument erected on First Day’s field. It was erected by the surviving members of the regiment at a cost of $1,200. The sculpture marks the spot where Capt. James Moore fell and the position held by the regiment on July 1, 1862 before the retreat to Cemetery Hill. The monument was cleaned in Aug. 1980 and paint which was applied three years prior to the cleaning was removed.

Dedication Date: Installed June 24, 1884. Dedicated July 1, 1884.

Sculptor/Artist/Company: Curtis, W. H., sculptor.

Main Inscription: Erected by the survivors of the 17th Regiment Connecticut Volunteers 2nd Brigade 1st Division, 11th Corps In memory of their gallant comrades who fell here on the 1st day and on this battlefield on the 2nd and 3rd days of July, 1863.

Other Monuments and Memorials: There are two. Memorial flag pole on Barlow’s Knoll. Erected by the regimental veterans association. Monument on Wainwright Avenue at base of East Cemetery Hill. A granite shaft bearing incised inscriptions and a relief of the state seal of Connecticut. The shaft rests atop a triple base. The State of Connecticut appropriated $500 towards its construction on March 16, 1887, and did so again on May 6, 1889. The monument reportedly stands on the spot where Captain Burr captured the “la tiger color bearer.” Inscription is as follows,

After a fierce contest with Early’s Division at Barlow’s Knoll on July 1st, marked by monument there, this Regiment formed with the line of battle on East Cemetery Hill, and on the evening of July 2nd took position here and was engaged repulsing the desperate night assault of Haye’s and Hokes’ Brigades.

Supplemental Materials: After Action Report of Maj. Allen G. Brady (will open a pop up window).

Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:

Organized at Bridgeport August 28, 1862. Left State for Baltimore, Md., September 3. Attached to Defenses of Baltimore, Md., 8th Corps, Middle Dept., to October, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 11th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to August, 1863. 2nd Brigade, Gordon’s Division, South End Folly Island, S. C., 10th Corps, Dept. South, to February, 1864. 1st Brigade, Ames’ Division, District of Florida, Dept. South, to April, 1864. District of Florida, Dept. South, to October, 1864. 4th Separate Brigade, District Florida, Dept. South, to July, 1865.

SERVICE.–Duty at Fort Marshall, Defenses of Baltimore, October, 1862. At Tennallytown, building Fort Kearney, October 15-November 3. March to Thoroughfare Gap and Chany November 3-12. Duty at Brook’s Station. Va., December, 1862, to April, 1863. “Mud March” January 20-24, 1863. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3. Hagerstown, Md., July 11-13. Moved to Folly Island, S.C., August 1-12. Siege operations on Morris Island, S.C., against Forts Wagner and Gregg, and against Fort Sumter and Charleston August 15-September 7. Capture of Forts Wagner and Gregg September 7. Moved to Folly Island, S.C., and duty there, operating against Charleston, S.C., February, 1864. Expedition to John’s and James Islands February 6-14. Ordered to Jacksonville, Fla., February 22, and duty there April 15. Moved to St. Augustine, Fla, April 15-17, and duty there June, 1865. Action at Welaka May 19, 1864 (Detachment). Expedition to Camp Milton May 31-June 3. Action at Milton June 2. Whitesville July 24. Companies “A,” “C,” “I” and “K” at Picolata, St. Johns River, July 18, 1864, to February, 1865. Companies “A,” “E,” “F” and “H” moved to Jacksonville July 22, 1864, and participated in Expedition to Baldwin July 23-28. Expedition to Enterprise September 28, 1864. Companies “C,” “F” and “H” at Lake City, Fla., and “G” and “I” at Tallahatchie May and June, 1865. Regiment moved from St. Augustine to Jacksonville June 9, and duty there July 7. Mustered out July 19, 1865. Regiment lost during service 5 Officers and 48 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 74 Enlisted men by disease. Total 128.