The Twelfth Massachusetts Infantry is honored by a monument and two position stones (one to July 2 and one to July 3) at Gettysburg.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? Oct. 8, 1885.
What is it made out of? Sculpture: granite; Base: granite.
What size is it? Sculpture: approx. H. 10 ft. 9 in. x Circum. 8 ft. 8 in.; Base: approx. W. 5 ft. x D. 5 ft.
Who made it? Smith Granite Company, fabricator.
What does it depict? It is 10.9 foot high with an 8.8 foot circumference. The base is five foot square. Cylindric sculpture with a conical cap stands on a low, square base. Relief elements include a draped flag and tondo of Daniel Webster in profile on the sculpture and a cartridge box, bayonet and scabbard on the base. The monument had a cost of $500.
What does it honor? It designates the place where seven companies of the regiment were placed behind the stone wall on July 1, 1863, pouring a deadly crossfire into Iverson’s brigade.
How is it inscribed? Erected by survivors of the Regiment aided by its friends and the State of Massachusetts 1885.
When was this photograph taken? April 15, 2011.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Doubleday Avenue, west side, south of Oak Hill Observation Tower, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. It is located on the west side of Doubleday Avenue.
Is this monument located along the NPS Auto Tour route? Yes.
Has this monument been moved or changed? This monument has not been moved or materially altered.
Monument Details, Alternative Views, and Contextual Views
Secondary Monuments and Markers
Monument Title: July 2, 1863 Position Marker
Photographed: March 25, 2010.
Location: South Hancock Avenue, Cemetery Ridge. This monument is denoted on the map above by a RED pushpin.
Description: Denotes the location of the regiment on July 2, 1863. The position markers are two foot high and eight inches wide.
Monument Title: July 3, 1863 Position Marker
Photographed: March 25, 2010.
Location: North Hancock Avenue, Ziegler’s Grove. This monument is denoted on the map above by a BLUE pushpin.
Description: Marker denotes the regiment’s position on July 3, 1863. The position markers are two foot high and eight inches wide.
At Gettysburg
The 12th Massachusetts Infantry was also known as The Webster Regiment. During the battle of Gettysburg, it served as a member of Baxter’s Brigade in Robinson’s Division of the First Corps, Army of the Potomac. A Fighting 300 Regiment.
Commander: Col. James L. Bates (1820-1875). Boot and shoe manufacturer in Weymouth; wounded on July 1. Lt. Col. David Allen, Jr. (1829-1864) took command. Carpenter from Gloucester. Wounded at Antietam and Fredericksburg and killed at the Wilderness.
Number Engaged: 301
Casualties: 5 killed, 52 wounded, 62 missing
Officers Killed at Gettysburg:
- 1st Lieutenant Charles G. Russell, Company D, of Boston, killed on July 1
- 1st Lieutenant Francis Thomas, Company A, A.I.G., of Weymouth, killed on July 1
Soldiers Buried in the Massachusetts Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:
- Sgt. William R. Carr, Company I, C-13
- Pvt. George F. Lewis, Company H, C-14
- Pvt. Hardy P. Murray, Company K, C-15
General Information
Raised: Essex, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Suffolk counties.
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized at Fort Warren and mustered in June 26, 1861. Moved to Sandy Hook, Md., July 23-27. Attached to George H. Thomas’ Brigade, Dept. of the Shenandoah, to October, 1861. Abercrombie’$ Brigade, Banks’ Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. 2nd Brigade, Williams’ 1st Division, Banks’ 5th Army Corps and Dept. of the Shenandoah, to May, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, Dept. of the Rappahannock, to June, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of Virginia, to September, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to November, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps, to March, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps, to May, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps, to July, 1864.
SERVICE.–Operations on the Upper Potomac August, 1861, to February, 1862. Operations opposite Edward’s Ferry October 21-24, 1861. Operations in the Shenandoah Valley March 24-April 27. Strasburg March 27. Edenburg April 1-2. Rappahannock Crossing April 18. Battle of Cedar Mountain August 9. Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Rappahannock Station August 20-23. Thoroughfare Gap August 28. Bull Run August 30. Chantilly September 1. Maryland Campaign September-October. Battles of South Mountain September 14, and Antietam September 16-17. Duty at Sharpsburg until October 30. Movement to Warrenton, thence to Falmouth, Va., October 30-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15. “Mud March” January 20-24, 1863. At Falmouth and Belle Plain, Va., until April 27. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Operations at Pollock’s Mill Creek April 29-May 2. Fitzhugh’s Crossing April 29-30. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3. Picket duty on the Rapidan until October. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7, 1864. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May-June, 1864. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Laurel Hill May 8; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spottsylvania Court House May 12:21. Assault on the Salient May 12. North Anna River May 23-26. Jericho Ford May 23. Line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Bethesda Church June 1-3. White Oak Swamp June 13. Before Petersburg June 16-18. Ordered home for muster out June 25. Mustered out July 8, 1864. Regiment lost during service 18 Officers and 175 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 83 Enlisted men by disease. Total 276.
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
