Draw the Sword

Gray Reserves

A Fighting 300 Regiment

Location: Howe Avenue.

Order of Battle: 6th Corps, 1st Division, 3rd Brigade

Number Engaged: 466; 2 wounded

Commander: Col. Peter C. Ellmaker (1813-1890)

Raised: Philadelphia and from Delaware County

Monument Specifications: Tapered, castellated monument stands on a low, rough-hewn base. Relief elements include a knapsack with infantry accouterments and a bronze State Seal, both on the front. The monument is topped with a four-sided Greek cross, the insignia of the VI Corps. It indicates the position of the 119th Pennsylvania Infantry on the morning of July 3, 1863 when confronting a possible Confederate flanking movement.

Dedication Date: September 22, 1888.

Sculptor/Artist/Company: Ferguson (Firm), fabricator.

Other Monuments and Memorials: Monument on Big Round Top dedicated on October 3, 1885. Tapered square monument with multi-tiered base and polished die with incised inscriptions, an arched cornice and an apexed top with a sphere finial. The entire monument sits atop a boulder. Erected by surviving members of the regiment and others, it indicates the position held by the regiment from the evening of July 3, 1863 until it began the pursuit of Lee’s Army on July 5, 1863.

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

Organized at Philadelphia August 15, 1862. Moved to Washington, D.C., August 31-September 1. Duty in the Defenses of Washington until October. Joined Army of the Potomac in the field and attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to February, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, and Army of the Shenandoah to June, 1865.

SERVICE.–Duty at Hagerstown, Md., until October 29, 1862. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 29-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. Burnside’s 2nd Campaign, “Mud March,” January 20-24, 1863. At White Oak Church until April. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Operations at Franklin’s Crossing April 29-May 2. Bernard House April 29. Maryes Heights, Fredericksburg, May 3. Salem Heights May 3-4. Banks’ Ford May 4. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 13-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg July 2-4. Pursuit of Lee July 5-24. At and near Funkstown, Md., July 10-13. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Rappahannock Station November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Duty near Brandy Station until May, 1864. Rapidan Campaign May 4-June 12. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spottsylvania May 8-12. 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 17-18. Weldon. Railroad June 22-23. Siege of Petersburg until July 9. Moved to Washington, D. C, July 9-11. Repulse of Early’s attack on Washington July 11-12. Pursuit of Early July 14-22. Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign August to December. Demonstration on Gilbert’s Ford, Opequan, September 13. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Duty in the Shenandoah Valley until December. Moved to Petersburg, Va. Siege of Petersburg December, 1864, to April, 1865. Fort Fisher, Petersburg, March 25, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army, Moved to Danville April 23-27, and duty there until May 23. Moved to Richmond, thence to Washington May 23-June 3. Corps Review June 8. Mustered out June 19, 1865. Regiment lost during service 9 Officers and 132 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 71 Enlisted men by disease. Total 213.