Draw the Sword

Union Guards

A Fighting 300 Regiment

Location: Hancock Avenue (Cemetery Ridge) just south of the clump of trees on the Hall – Harrow line.

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

Number Engaged: 182; 6 killed, 28 wounded.

Commander: Lt. Col. Max A. Thoman (ca. 1830-1863). Thoman is one of the highest ranked officers buried in the Gettysburg National Cemetery.

Raised: Lewis (NY) and Richland (OH) counties and New York City

Monument Specifications: Granite marker with pyramidal cap contains reliefs of a Coat of Arms tondo, trophy with cartridge box, crossed bayonets and a laurel branch. It marks the position held by the 59th New York Infantry on July 2 & 3, 1863.

Dedication Date: July 8, 1889.

Sculptor/Artist/Company: Frederick & Field, fabricator.

Main Inscription: FOUR COMPANIES/OF THIS REGIMENT/HELD THIS POSITION/JULY 2 AND 3, 1863./WHERE MAX A. THOMAN./LIEUT. COLONEL IN COMMAND/FELL MORTALLY WOUNDED/CASUALTIES/KILLED 6 WOUNDED 28.

Other Monuments and Memorials: None.

Supplemental Materials: After Action Report of Capt. William McFadden (will open a pop up window).

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

Organized at New York City July to November, 1861. Left State for Washington, D.C., November 23, 1861. Attached to Wadsworth’s Command, Defenses of Washington, to January, 1862. 2nd Brigade, Casey’s Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. Military District of Washington to May, 1862. Sturgis’ Brigade, Military District of Washington, to July, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1864. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, to June, 1865.

SERVICE.–Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D. C., until May, 1862. At Fort Pennsylvania until June. Ordered to the Peninsula, Va., and Join Army of the Potomac at Harrison’s Landing, Va., and duty there until August 16. Movement from Harrison’s Landing to Fortress Monroe, thence to Alexandria and Centreville August 16-28; thence to Fairfax Court House August 28-31. Cover Pope’s retreat to Washington August 31-September 2. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Batties of South Mountain September 14. Antietam September 16-17. Moved to Harper’s Ferry, W. Va., September 22, and duty there until October 29. Reconnaissance to Charlestown October 16-17. Advance up Loudoun Valley and movement to Falmouth, Va., October 30-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. “Mud March” January 20-24, 1863. At Falmouth until April 27. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Operations at Franklin’s Crossing April 29-May 2. Battle of Maryes Heights, Fredericksburg, May 3. Salem Heights May 3-4. Banks’ Ford May 4. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-4. Pursuit of Lee July 5-24. Duty on line of the Rappahannock until October. Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13-17. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Auburn and Bristoe October 14. Blackburn’s Ford October 15. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. At Stevensburg until May, 1864. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May 3-June 15. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Laurel Hill May 8; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Po River May 10; Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient or “Blood Angle” 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 16-18. Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23, 1864. Demonstration north of the James July 27-29. Deep Bottom July 27-28. Demonstration north of the James August 13-20. Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14-18. Ream’s Station August 25. Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28. Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865. Watkins’ House March 25. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. On line of Gravelly and Hatcher’s Run March 29. Boydton and White Oak Road March 30-31. Crow’s House March 31. 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 2-16. Grand Review May 23. Mustered out June 30, 1865. Regiment lost during service 14 Officers and 129 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 127 Enlisted men by disease. Total 270.