The New York Irish Brigade (63rd, 69th, and 88th New York) is honored by a monument and two position stones (one to the 63d New York and the 69th New York) at Gettysburg.

About the Main Monument

When was it dedicated? July 2, 1888.

What is it made out of? Monument: Quincy granite and Standard bronze; Base: stone.

What size is it? Overall: approx. 19 ft. 6 in. x 10 ft. 2 in. x 8 ft.

Who made it? O’Donovan, William Rudolf, 1844-1920, sculptor. Power, Maurice J., 1838-1902, contractor. Duncan, John Hemingway, 1855-1929, architect.

What does it depict? A polished granite shaft with inset bronze carved in the shape of a traditional Celtic Cross. At the top of the cross is the trefoil symbol of the 2nd Army Corps. Beneath it are five medallions with the numeric designation of the three New York regiments that made up the Irish Brigade, the New York State Seal, and the seal of Ireland. At the base lies a life-size Irish wolf hound in bronze, representing faith and devotion. The sculptor was William Rudolph O’Donovan; John H. Duncan designed the monument; and Maurice J. Powers was contractor. Monument is a 1.8×11.4 foot polished black granite Celtic Cross with a bronze ornament set on a 10.2×8 foot rough hewn base. It has bronze inscription tablets attached and a bronze likeness of a Irish wolfhound. Overall height is 19.6 foot.

What does it honor? A bronze plaque on the right face of the base represents a section of an artillery battery in action and honors Captain James Rorty’s 14th New York Independent battery. The monument honors three New York regiments of the Irish Brigade, a unit organized by former Irish revolutionary Thomas Francis Meagher.

How is it inscribed? The Brigade entered the battle under command of Colonel Patrick Kelly 530 strong, of which this contingent, comprising three battalions of two companies each, numbered 240 men. The original strength of these battalions was 3,000 men. The Brigade participated with great credit to itself and the race it represented, in every battle of the Army of the Potomac in which the Second Corps was engaged, from Fair Oaks, June 1, 1862, to Appomattox Court House, April 9, 1865.

When was this photograph taken? June 5, 2011.

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Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Sickles Avenue, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. Located on Sickles Avenue east of the Loop.

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

At Gettysburg

The 63rd, 69th, and 88th New York Infantry Regiments served as a member of Kelly’s “Irish” Brigade in Caldwell’s Division of the Second Corps, Army of the Potomac.

Commander: Lt. Col. Richard C. Bentley (63rd), Capt. Richard Moroney (1829-1865) (69th), Capt. Denis F. Burke (1841-1893) (88th).

Casualties: 63rd New York: 5 killed, 10 wounded, 8 missing; 69th New York: 5 killed, 14 wounded, 6 missing; 88th New York: 7 killed, 17 wounded, 4 missing

63rd Infantry ~ Soldiers Buried in the New York Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:

• Pvt. Charles Hogan, Company A, E-104
• Pvt. Patrick Kenney, Company A, E-103
• Pvt. Timothy Manley, Company A, D-121
• Pvt. John O’Brien, Company A, A-59

69th Infantry ~ Soldiers Buried in the New York Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:

• Pvt. Daniel Mahoney, Company B, B-42

88th Infantry ~ Officers Killed at Gettysburg:

• 1st Lieutenant William M. McClelland, Adjutant, mortally wounded on July 2, of Jersey City (NJ), 22, buried in National Cemetery at F-93

Soldiers Buried in the New York Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:

• Pvt. John Ferry, Company B, E-99
• Pvt. James H. McBride, Company A, E-101

After Action Report: After Action Report of the Commanders of the New York Irish Brigade Regiments (will open a pop up window).

General Information

Raised: New York City.

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

63rd New York Infantry

Organized at New York City August 7 to November 4, 1861. Left State for Washington, D.C., November 28, 1861. Attached to Meagher’s Brigade, Sumner’s Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1864. Consolidated Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, to November, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, to June, 1865.

SERVICE.–Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C., November 30, 1861, to March 10, 1862. Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10-15. Ordered to the Virginia Peninsula. Siege of Yorktown, Va., April 16-May 4. Battle of Seven Pines or Fair Oaks May 31-June 1. Fair Oaks June 24. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Battles of Gaines’ Mill June 27. About Fair Oaks June 28-29. Peach Orchard and Savage Station June 29. White Oak Swamp Bridge and Glendale June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison’s Landing until August 16. Moved to Fortress Monroe, thence to Alexandria and Centreville August 16-30. Cover retreat of Pope’s Army to Washington, D.C., August 31-September 2. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Battle of Antietam September 16-17. Duty at Harper’s Ferry, W. Va., September 22-October 29. Reconnaissance to Charlestown October 16-17. Advance up Loudoun Valley and movement to Falmouth, Va., October 29-November 17. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. At Falmouth until April 27, 1863. “Mud March” January 20-24. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-4. 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. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Duty at and near Stevensburg, Va., until May, 1864. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May 3-June 15. 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 or “Bloody 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. Reconnaissance to Hatcher’s Run December 9-10. Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865. Watkins’ House March 25. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Hatcher’s Run or Boydton Road March 29-31. White Oak Road March 31. Sutherland Station and fall of Petersburg April 2. Sailor’s Creek April 6. High Bridge. Farmville, April 7. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Moved to Washington, D.C., May 2-12. Grand Review May 23. Mustered out June 30, 1865. Regiment lost during service 15 Officers and 141 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 92 Enlisted men by disease. Total 249.

69th New York Infantry

Organized at New York and mustered in November 18, 1861. Left State for Washington, D.C., November 18. Attached to Meagher’s Brigade, Sumner’s Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1864. Consolidated Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, to November, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, to June, 1865.

SERVICE.–Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D. C., until March, 1862. Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10. Ordered to the Peninsula, Va., March 28. Siege of Yorktown April 16-May 4. Battle of Seven Pines or Fair Oaks May 31-June 1. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Battles of Gaines Mill June 27; Peach Orchard and Savage Station June 29; White Oak Swamp and Glendale June 30; Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison’s Landing until August 16. Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Alexandria and Centreville August 16-30. Cover retreat of Pope’s Army to Washington August 31-September 2. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Battle of Antietam September 16-17. At Harper’s Ferry, W. Va., September 22-October 29. Reconnaissance to Charlestown October 16-17. Advance up Loudoun Valley and movement to Falmouth, Va., October 29-November 17. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. At Falmouth, Va., until April 27, 1863. “Mud March” January 20-24. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-4. Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap 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. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Duty at and near Stevensburg, Va., until May, 1864. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May 3-June 15. 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 or “Bloody 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, Weldon Railroad, June 22-23, 1864. Demonstration north of James River July 27-29. Deep Bottom July 27-28. Demonstration north of James River August 13-20. Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14-18. Ream’s Station August 25. Reconnaissance to Hatcher’s Run December 9-10. Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865. Watkins’ House March 25. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Hatcher’s Run or Boydton Road March 29-31. 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. Moved to Washington, D.C., May 2-12. Grand Review May 23. Mustered out June 30, 1865. Regiment lost during service 13 Officers and 246 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 142 Enlisted men by disease. Total 401.

88th New York Infantry

Organized at Fort Schuyler, N.Y., and left State for Washington, D.C., December 16, 1861. Attached to Meagher’s Brigade, Sumner’s Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. Meagher’s 2nd Brigade, Richardson’s 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to May, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, to June, 1864. Consolidated Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, to November, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, to June, 1865.

SERVICE.–Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D. C., until March, 1862. Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10-15. Ordered to the Peninsula, Va., April. Siege of Yorktown April 16-May 4. Battle of Fair Oaks or Seven Pines May 31-June 1. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Battles of Gaines Mill June 27; Peach Orchard and Savage Station June 29; White Oak Swamp Bridge and Glendale June 30; Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison’s Landing until August 16. Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Alexandria and Centreville August 16-30. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Battle of Antietam, Md., 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 October 29-November 17. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. At Falmouth until April 27, 1863. “Mud March” January 20-24. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Va., 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. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Mine Run November 28-30. Duty at and near Stevensburg until May, 1864. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May 3-June 15. 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 or “Bloody 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. Front of Forts Morton and Sedgwick October 27. Reconnaissance to Hatcher’s Run December 9-10. Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865. Watkins’ House March 25. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Hatcher’s Run or Boydton Road March 30-31. White Oak Road March 31. Sutherland Station and fall of Petersburg April 2. Sailor’s Creek April 6. Farmville April 7. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. At Burkesville until May 2. Moved to Washington, D.C., May 2-12. Grand Review May 23. Mustered out June 30, 1865. Regiment lost during service 15 Officers and 136 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 69 Enlisted men by disease. Total 223.