The Fifty Third Pennsylvania Infantry is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? Cast 1888. Dedicated Sept. 11, 1889.
What is it made out of? Sculpture: bronze; Base: granite.
What size is it? Sculpture: approx. 8 ft. 7 in. x 2 ft. x 2 ft.; Base: approx. 9 ft. 7 in. x 6 ft. x 6 ft.
Who made it? Wagner, A., sculptor. Henry-Bonnard Bronze Company, founder. Oursler and Sons, fabricator.
What does it depict? Atop a tall granite base stands a bronze figure of an infantryman holding the barrel of his rifle in his proper right hand. His proper left hand rests at his waist with his thumb tucked into his belt. On his back he carries a bedroll, a knapsack, and a canteen. The base is adorned on the front with a bronze plaque depicting the Pennsylvania state seal. Monument is a 3.2 foot square granite shaft with an apex cap with crenellation topped with a bronze statue of an infantryman in an overcoat set on a six foot square rough hewn base. Overall height is 18.2 foot. The shaft has inscription panels on the west, south, and east. Flanking markers are apex topped, one foot square.
What does it honor? The monument marks the advance position held by the 53rd Pennsylvania Infantry on the late afternoon of July 2nd, 1863.
How is it inscribed? 53RD/PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY/4TH BRIGADE, 1ST DIVISION/2ND CORPS
When was this photograph taken? February 8, 2009.
Where is it located? Located at Gettysburg National Military Park, North side of Brook Avenue, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. Located on the north side of Brooke Avenue in Rose Woods.
Is this monument located along the NPS Auto Tour route? No.
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 53rd Pennsylvania Infantry served as a member of Brooke’s Brigade in Caldwell’s Division of the Second Corps, Army of the Potomac. A Fighting 300 Regiment.
Commander: Lt. Col. Richards McMichael (1816-1894). Mexican War veteran and carpenter in Reading.
Number Engaged: 136
Casualties: 7 killed, 67 wounded, 6 missing
Soldiers Buried in the Pennsylvania Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:
- Sgt. Almond M. Chesbro, Company G, B-39
- Pvt. Lewis Flazer, Company E, C-60
- Cpl. Daniel Harrington, Company F, A-21
- Sgt. Matthew G. Isett, Company C, C-64
- Pvt. Joseph Khyle, Company G, B-40
- Pvt. Robert McGuire, Company F, A-20
- Cpl. Sylvester Shoemaker, Company F, B-24
- Pvt. John E. White, Company D, A-48
After Action Report: After Action Report of Lieut. Col. Richards McMichael (will open a pop up window).
General Information
Raised: Juanita, Luzerene, Montgomery, Northumberland, Potter, and Westmoreland counties.
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized at Harrisburg October, 1861. Left State for Washington, D.C., November 7. Attached to French’s Brigade, Sumner’s Division, Army Potomac, to March, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army Potomac, to April, 1863. 4th Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, to June, 1865.
SERVICE.–Duty in the Defenses of Washington and Alexandria until March, 1862. Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10-15. Ordered to the Virginia Peninsula. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. Duty near Yorktown until June 12. Construction of Grape Vine Bridge over the Chickahominy May 28-30. Battle of Fair Oaks (Seven Pines) May 31-June 1. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Gaines Mill June 27. Peach Orchard and Savage Station June 29. White Oak Swamp Bridge and Glendale June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. Turkey Bend July 2. At Harrison’s Landing until August 16. Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Alexandria and Centreville August 16-30. Assist in checking Pope’s rout at Bull Run August 30, and cover retreat to Fairfax C. H: August 31-September 1. Maryland Campaign September 6-24. Battle of Antietam September 16-17. Duty at Bolivar Heights September 22-October 29. Reconnaissance to Charlestown October 16-17. Movement up Loudon Valley and to Falmouth, Va., October 29-November 17. Snicker’s Gap November 2. Manassas November 5-6. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15. Duty at Falmouth until April, 1863. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 13-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Funkstown, Md., July 12-13. 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. Payne’s Farm November 27. Mine Run November 28-30. New Hope Church November 29. Regiment reenlisted December 27, 1863. Duty near Stevensburg until April, 1864. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7. Rapidan Campaign May 4-June 12. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spottsylvania C. H. May 8-21; Po River May 10. 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 16-18. Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Weldon Railroad June 22-23, 1864. Demonstration north of the James at Deep Bottom July 27-29 and 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, Petersburg, March 25. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, March 31. White Oak Road March 31. Fall of Petersburg April 2. Sutherland Station April 2. Sailor’s Creek April 6. High Bridge, Farmville, April 7. Appomattox C. H. April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Mart to Washington, D.C., May 2-12. Grand Review May 23. Mustered out June 30, 1865. Regiment lost during service 5 Officers and 195 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 193 Enlisted men by disease. Total 394.
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
