The Irish Brigade (New York Elements)
Posted to the Project on 04 Aug 07
Today’s monument is one of the many located in the area in and around the Rose Wheatfield at Gettysburg.
This monument is one of the few monuments at Gettysburg raised to represent an entire brigade. The Union Irish Brigade was made up of three New York regiments — the 63rd, 69th, and 88th Regiments — as well as the 28th Massachusetts and 116th Pennsylvania regiments. The three New York regiments are actually the ones who erected this monument by pooling together their state individual appropriations.
The Irish Brigade at Gettysburg was tiny, even by the depleted standards of the Army of the Potomac. It numbered just under 550 men — total. The brigade was worn down by many months of hard fighting and the New York regiments had been reduced to two companies, each.
The monument is one of the more interesting at Gettysburg. The monument features a large granite Celtic cross inset with bronze. The monument’s other major feature is a life-sized Irish wolfhound cast in bronze. The wolfhound symbolizes fidelity, faith, and devotion.
Close observors will also note that the monument contains the seal of Ireland as well as the New York state seal. Also of note, a plaque on the right base represents Captain James Rorty’s 14th New York Independent battery. This artillery unit was recruited from the men of the Irish Brigade in 1861. The 14th New York Battery does not have a monument at Gettysburg because it had been seperated into detachments; one section fought with the 1st New York Artillery Battery B (this was actually Rorty’s command) on Cemetery Ridge. Two other sections of the 14th New York battery served with the 1st New York Artillery, Battery G (which fought at the Peach Orchard).
The Irish Brigade monument cost $5,000.00 and was dedicated on July 2, 1888. It is located at an area known as “The Loop.” It is made of Gettysburg granite, Quincy granite, and bronze.
The other two regiments not from New York (the 28th Massachusetts and 116th Pennsylvania) have their own monuments at Gettysburg. They are located nearby and have been featured already as prior monument studies.
The Irish Brigade - New York Elements
2nd Corps, 1st Division, 2nd Brigade
63rd New York
Commanded by: Lt. Col. Richard C. Bentley (1830-1871) and Capt. Thomas Touhy (1833-1864; mortally wounded at the Wilderness)
Numbered: 112 (2 companies, A&B); 5 killed, 10 wounded, 8 missing
69th New York
Commanded by: Capt. Richard Moroney (1829-1865) and Lt. James J. Smith (1835-1913)
Numbered: 75 (2 companies, A&B); 5 killed, 14 wounded, 6 missing
88th New York
Commanded by: Capt. Denis F. Burke (1841-1893)
Numbered: 126 (2 companies, A&B); 7 killed, 17 wounded, 4 missing
Monument: Irish Brigade Monument. The Loop, Sickles Avenue, the Wheatfield.