The Twenty Sixth Pennsylvania Infantry is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? Installed between 1888-1890.
What is it made out of? Granite; Relief plaque: bronze.
What size is it? Overall: approx. H. 10 ft. 6 in.; Base: W. 6 ft. 5 in. x D. 6 ft. 5 in.
Who made it? Cessler, J. M., carver.
What does it depict? A square granite monument carved on the front with a relief depicting a soldier’s backpack and bedroll. Below the relief is a bronze plaque depicting the state seal, and above the relief is the diamond symbol of the Third Corps. Monument is a 3.2 foot square granite shaft with an apex cap with a panel containing the Third Corps diamond insignia and set on a 6.5 foot square rough hewn base. The shaft has incised inscriptions on all sides and a knapsack sculpted on the west face. Overall height is 10.6 feet. Flanking markers are one foot square with a polished flat top and inscriptions. Monument includes commemorative era fencing.
What does it honor? The monument indicates the position held by the 26th Infantry on the afternoon of July 2, 1863 in the brigade line along Emmitsburg Road. Here they were attacked by Confederates until relieved by a division of the 2nd Corps.
How is it inscribed? JULY 2ND WENT INTO ACTION/HERE WITH 365 OFFICERS AND/MEN. KILLED 30, WOUNDED 176,/MISSING 7, TOTAL 213
When was this photograph taken? September 20, 2009.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Emmitsburg Road, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. Located on the east side of Emmitsburg Road north of the junction with Sickles Avenue.
Is this monument located along the NPS Auto Tour route? No.
Has this monument been moved or changed? This monument has not been changed or materially altered.
Monument Details, Alternative Views, and Contextual Views
At Gettysburg
The 26th Pennsylvania Infantry served as a member of Carr’s Brigade in Humphrey’s Division of the Third Corps, Army of the Potomac.
Commander: Maj. Robert L. Bodine (1832-1874). He was a book keeper from Philadelphia.
Number Engaged: 365
Casualties: 30 killed, 176 wounded, 7 missing
Officers Killed at Gettysburg:
- 2nd Lieut. Francis B. Bird, Company K, mortally wounded on July 2, of Philadelphia
- 2nd Lieut. Benjamin R. Wright, Company A, of Philadelphia, killed on July 2
Soldiers Buried in the Pennsylvania Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:
- Pvt. Eliakim Brown, Company K, F-40
- Pvt. John Burns, Company C, F-30
- Pvt. William Callan, Company E, A-74
- Cpl. George A. Cogswell, Company A, F-29
- Pvt. John Devon, Company F, A-73
- Cpl. William A. Gordon, Company I, A-77
- Pvt. Joshua V. Hayman, Company A, A-75
- Pvt. John Little, Company B, F-35
- Pvt. John Loughrey, Company E, C-26
- Cpl. Peter McMahon, Company E, F-38
- Pvt. William Neal, Company I, F-45
- Pvt. George Roan, Company K, B-52
- Pvt. Francis Smith, Company I, D-44
- Cpl. James Wallace, Company G, B-94
- Pvt. Charles Webster, Company C, B-80
Medal of Honor Winners: ROOSEVELT, GEORGE W. Rank and organization: First Sergeant, Company K. 26th Pennsylvania Infantry. Place and date: At Bull Run, Va., 30 August 1862. At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: Chester Pa. Birth: Chester, Pa. Date of issue: 2 July 1887. Citation: At Bull Run, Va., recaptured the colors, which had been seized by the enemy. At Gettysburg captured a Confederate color bearer and color, in which effort he was severely wounded.
After Action Report: After Action Report of Maj. Robert L. Bodine (will open a pop up window).
General Information
Raised: Philadelphia.
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized at Philadelphia April 20, 1861. Mustered in May 27, 1861 (a detachment attacked in streets of Baltimore April 19, 1861). Moved to Washington, D.C., June 15, 1861. Attached to Defenses of Washington to August. 1861. Hooker’s Brigade, Division of the Potomac, to October, 1861. Grover’s Brigade, Hooker’s Division, Army of the Potomac; to March, 1862. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac; to March, 1864. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 2nd Army Corps, to June, 1864.
SERVICE.–Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D. C., until October, 1861, and at Budd’s Ferry, Md., October 20, 1861, to April 1, 1862. Moved to the Virginia Peninsula, Siege of Yorktown, April 5-May 4. Battle of Williamsburg May 5. Battle of Fair Oaks, Seven Pines, May 31-June 1. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Oak Grove June 25. Savage Station June 29. White Oak Swamp and Glendale June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. Duty at Harrison’s Landing until August 16. Action at Malvern Hill August 5. Movement to Centreville August 16-26. Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia August 26-September 2. Bristoe Station, Kettle Run, August 27. Battles of Groveton August 29; Bull Run August 30; Chantilly September 1. Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C., until November. Operations on Orange & Alexandria Railroad October 10-12. Movement to Falmouth, Va., November 18-28. Battle of Fredericksburg. Va., December 12-15. “Mud March” January 20-24, 1863. Operations at Rappahannock Bridge and Grove Church February 5-7. At Falmouth until April. 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. Whapping Heights, Va., July 23. Duty on line of the Rapidan until October. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Kelly’s Ford November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Payne’s Farm November 27. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7, 1864. Near Brandy Station until May. Rapidan Campaign May 4-28. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient May 12. Harris Farm, on Fredericksburg Road, May 19. North Anna River May 23-26. Ox Ford May 24. Line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Left front May 28. Mustered out June 18, 1864. Veterans and Recruits transferred to 99th Pennsylvania. Regiment lost during service 6 Officers and 143 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 71 Enlisted men by disease. Total 222.
Pennsylvania at Gettysburg
1st Reserve :: 2nd Reserve :: 5th Reserve :: 6th Reserve :: 9th Reserve :: 10th Reserve :: 11th Reserve :: 12th Reserve :: 13th Reserve :: 11th Infantry :: 23rd Infantry :: 26th Infantry :: 26th Emergency :: 27th Infantry :: 28th Infantry :: 29th Infantry :: 46th Infantry :: 49th Infantry :: 53rd Infantry :: 56th Infantry :: 57th Infantry :: 61st Infantry :: 62nd Infantry :: 63rd Infantry :: 68th Infantry :: 69th Infantry :: 71st Infantry :: 72nd Infantry :: 73rd Infantry :: 74th Infantry :: 75th Infantry :: 81st Infantry :: 82nd Infantry :: 83rd Infantry :: 84th Infantry :: 88th Infantry :: 90th Infantry :: 91st Infantry :: 93rd Infantry :: 95th Infantry :: 96th Infantry :: 98th Infantry :: 99th Infantry :: 102nd Infantry :: 105th Infantry :: 106th Infantry :: 107th Infantry :: 109th Infantry :: 110th Infantry :: 111th Infantry :: 114th Infantry :: 115th Infantry :: 116th Infantry :: 118th Infantry :: 119th Infantry :: 121st Infantry :: 139th Infantry :: 140th Infantry :: 141st Infantry :: 142nd Infantry :: 143rd Infantry :: 145th Infantry :: 147th Infantry :: 148th Infantry :: 149th Infantry :: 150th Infantry :: 151st Infantry :: 153rd Infantry :: 155th Infantry :: Cavalry :: 1st Regiment :: 2nd Regiment :: 3rd Regiment :: 4th Regiment :: 6th Regiment :: 8th Regiment :: 16th Regiment :: 17th Regiment :: 18th Regiment :: 21st Regiment :: Artillery :: 1st Artillery B :: 1st Artillery F&G :: 3rd Artillery H :: Independent C&F :: Independent E
