The Twenty Eighth Massachusetts Infantry is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? 1885.
What is it made out of? Monument: granite; Eagle: marble; Base: stone.
What size is it? approx. 13 ft. 4 in. x 5 ft. x 5 ft.
Who made it? Brady, T. M., sculptor. Ford, A., sculptor.
What does it depict? Granite shaft topped by a marble eagle. The shaft is decorated with the U.S. shield, an Irish harp, a trefoil design, the flags of the Irish Brigade and the U.S. flag crossed, and shield of a person with bow and arrows. The monument cost $500.00. Monument is a three foot square granite shaft with a flat top that contains a sculptured marble eagle and set on a five foot square rough hewn base. The shaft has scotia molding and polished panels with inscriptions. Overall height is 13.4 foot. Flanking markers have gable tops with inscriptions on the west faces, 1.6×8 foot.
What does it honor? The monument marks the position attained by the 28th Massachusetts regiment about 5:30 on July 2, 1863 as they engaged the Confederates.
How is it inscribed? FAUGH A BALLAUGH/28TH MASS. INF’Y./VOL/COL. RICHARD BURNS COM./MEAGHER’S IRISH BRIG./COL. PATRICK KELLY COM/THIS REGT. WENT INTO BATTLE/JULY 2, 1863./NUMBERING 220/OFFICERS AND MEN/101 OF WHOM/WERE KILLED OR WOUNDED/ERECTED BY THE SURVIVORS/AND FRIENDS OF THE REGT./TO MARK THE SPOT WHERE IT/FOUGHT IN DEFENCE OF THE/AMERICAN UNION./28TH MASS
When was this photograph taken? December 10, 2011. Monument faces somewhat northeast.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Sickles Avenue at the Loop, east side, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325
Is this monument located along the NPS Auto Tour route? Yes.
Has this monument been moved or changed? This monument has not been materially altered or moved.
Monument Details, Alternative Views, and Contextual Views
At Gettysburg
The 28th Massachusetts served as a member of Kelly’s “Irish” Brigade in Caldwell’s Division of the Second Corps, Army of the Potomac. A Fighting 300 Regiment.
Commander: Colonel Richard Byrnes (1833-1864).
Number Engaged: 265
Casualties: 8 killed, 57 wounded, 35 missing
Soldiers Buried in the Massachusetts Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:
- Pvt. John Caswell, Company G, D-18
- Pvt. John Hickey, Company C, D-17
- Sgt. Edward Mooney, Company D, D-19
- Sgt. Peter W. Price, Company C, D-33
After Action Report: After Action Report of Col. Richard Byrnes (will open a pop up window).
General Information
Raised: Suffolk, Middlesex, and Worchester counties
Notable Facts: Among all Union regiments, the 28th Massachusetts ranked seventh in total losses. Roughly one-quarter of the 1,746 men who served in the unit were killed, died of wounds or disease, taken prisoner, or reported missing. The 28th Massachusetts Infantry regiment was the second primarily Irish American volunteer infantry regiment recruited in Massachusetts for service in the American Civil War.
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized at Cambridge and Boston December 12, 1861. Left State for New York January 11, 1862. Duty at Fort Columbus, New York Harbor, until February 14. Sailed on Steamer “Erickson” for Hilton Head, S.C., February 14, arriving there February 23. Attached to Dept. of the South to April, 1862. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Dept. of the South, to July, 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to December, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, to November, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, to June, 1865.
SERVICE.–Moved to Dafuskie Island, S.C., April 7, 1862, and duty there until May –. (Cos. “A” and “K” detached at Jones and Bird Islands April 18-May 6. Cos. “A,” “C,” “D,” “F” and “K” moved to Tybee Island May 12 and duty there until May 28. Cos. “B,” “E,” “G,” “H” and “I” moved to Dafuskie Island and to Hilton Head May 28.) Operations on James Island, S.C., June 1-28. Skirmishes on James Island June 3-4. Battle of Secessionville June 16. Evacuation of James Island June 28-July 7. Moved from Hilton Head to Newport News. Va., July 14-18; thence to Aquia Creek and Fredericksburg August 3-6. Operations in support of Pope August 6-16. Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Battles of Groveton August 29. Bull Run August 30. Chantilly September 1. Maryland Campaign September-October. Battles of South Mountain September 14. Antietam September 16-17. March to Pleasant Valley September 19-October 2 and duty there until October 25. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 25-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15. “Mud March” January 20-24, 1863. At Falmouth until April 27. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg July 2-4. Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13-17. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Auburn and Bristoe October 14. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. At Stevensburg until May, 1864. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May-June. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Po River May 10; Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient May 12. North Anna River May 23-26. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg June 16-19. Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23, 1864. Demonstration on north side of the James July 27-29. Deep Bottom July 27-28. Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14-18. Ream’s Station August 25. Boydton Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28. Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865. Watkin’s House March 25. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Hatcher’s Run or Boydton Road March 31. White Oak Road March 31. Sutherland Station and fall of Petersburg April 2. Sailor’s Creek April 6. High Bridge and Farmville April 7. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. At Burkesville until May 2. March to Washington, D.C., May 2-15. Grand Review May 23. Duty at Washington until June 25. Mustered out June 29, 1865. Regiment lost during service 15 Officers and 235 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 136 Enlisted men by disease. Total 387.
Massachusetts at Gettysburg
1st Infantry :: 1st Company Sharpshooters :: 2nd Infantry :: 2nd Company Sharpshooters :: 7th Infantry :: 9th Infantry :: 10th Infantry :: 11th Infantry :: 12th Infantry :: 13th Infantry :: 15th Infantry :: 16th Infantry :: 18th Infantry :: 19th Infantry :: 20th Infantry :: 22nd Infantry :: 28th Infantry :: 32nd Infantry :: 33rd Infantry :: 37th Infantry :: 1st Cavalry :: 1st Light A :: 3rd Light C :: 5th Light E :: 9th Light
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For additional information about the 28th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, visit the web site of the living history unit.
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