The Seventh West Virginia Infantry is honored by a monument and three position stones at Gettysburg (one on East Cemetery Hill, one on Wainwright Avenue, and one at Meade’s headquarters).
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? Sept. 28, 1898.
What is it made out of? Figure: granite; Base: granite with bronze elements.
What size is it? approx. 15 ft. x 72 in. x 45 in.
Who made it? W. E. Spragg Granite and Marble Works, fabricator.
What does it depict? Full-length figure of a uniformed Union soldier stands atop a tall tiered base. The figure wears a long caped coat, cap and mustache. He holds his rifle in front of him, with both hands around the barrel, the butt by his proper left foot.
What does it honor? Erected by the State of West Virginia, this monument marks the point to which the 7th West Virginia Infantry was ordered by General Hancock on the evening of July 2, 1863. It was there where they met the Infantry of Hay’s Louisiana Brigade who had captured Wiedrich’s Battery. The 7th West Virginia forced Hays’ Brigade to fall back beyond the crest of the hill.
How is it inscribed? ERECTED BY THE/STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA/TO COMMEMORATE/THE/VALOR AND FIDELITY/OF THE/SEVENTH WEST VIRGINIA/INFANTRY
When was this photograph taken? June 7, 2011. Monument faces both east and west. The front of the monument faces west. The soldier, however, faces east. This is the eastern side of the monument.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Baltimore Street, East Cemetery Hill, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325.
Is this monument located along the NPS Auto Tour route? Yes, included along the extended Culp’s Hill tour route.
Has this monument been moved or changed? Monument has not been materially altered or moved.
Monument Details, Alternative Views, and Contextual Views
Secondary Monuments and Markers
Monument Title: Marker, Base of East Cemetery Hill
Photographed: March 23, 2008.
Location: Wainwright Avenue. Marker is marked on the map above with a RED pushpin.
Description: Small stone marker denotes regimental location on July 3, 1863. Dedicated on June 25, 1898. Position markers are 2×1 foot with chamfered flat tops.
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Monument Title: Position During the July 2nd Battle
Photographed: March 27, 2010.
Location: East Cemetery Hill. Marker is marked on the map above with a BLUE pushpin.
Description: Marker denotes location at end of July 2nd Charge. Position markers are 2×1 foot with chamfered flat tops.
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Monument Title: Marker at Meade’s Headquarters
Photographed: May 2, 2010.
Location: Field near Meade’s headquarters. Marker is marked on the map above with a YELLOW pushpin.
Description: Small stone marker denotes regimental location on July 2, 1863. Dedicated on June 25, 1898. Position markers are 2×1 foot with chamfered flat tops.
At Gettysburg
The 7th West Virginia Infantry served as a member of Carroll’s Brigade in Hays’ Division of the Second Corps, Army of the Potomac. A Fighting 300 Regiment.
Commander: Lt. Col. Jonathan H. Lockwood (1808-1892). Moundsville businessman. Wounded at Spotsylvania.
Number Engaged: 319
Casualties: 5 killed, 41 wounded, 1 missing
Soldiers Buried in the West Virginia Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:
- Pvt. Aaron A. Austin, Company E, A-3
- Pvt. George Berger, Company G, A-5
- Pvt. Simon Main, Company F, A-1
- Pvt. Martin L. Scott, Company B, A-6
- Sgt. Theodore Stewart, Company C, A-4
After Action Report: After Action Report of Lt. Col. Jonathan H. Lockwood (will open a pop up window).
General Information
Raised: Grant, Hardy, Marshall, Monogalia, Preston, and Tyler counties; also Monroe County in Ohio.
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized at Portland, Cameron, Grafton, Wheeling, Morgantown and Greenland, W. Va., July 16 to December 3, 1861. Attached to Railroad District, West Virginia, to January, 1862. 1st Brigade, Landers’ Division, Army Potomac, to March, 1862. 1st Brigade, Shields’ 2nd Division, Banks’ 5th Army Corps and Dept. of the Shenandoah, to May, 1862. 1st Brigade, Shields’ Division, Dept. of the Rappahannock, to June, 1862. Kimball’s Independent Brigade, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to September, 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army Potomac, to March, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, to June, 1865.
SERVICE.–Moved to Romney, W. Va., and duty there until January 10, 1862. Skirmish at Romney, Mill Creek Mills, October 26, 1861. Expedition to Blue’s Gap January 6-7, 1862. Hanging Rock, Blue’s Gap, January 7. At Paw Paw Tunnel until March 4. Advance on Winchester March 4-15. Battle of Winchester March 23. Cedar Creek March 25. Woodstock April 1. Edenburg April 2. Columbia Furnace April 16. Occupation of Mt. Jackson April 17. March to Fredericksburg, Va., May 12-22. Ravenswood May 15. March to Front Royal May 25-30. Front Royal May 30. Expedition to Luray June 3-7. Forced march to Port Republic June 8-9. Battle of Port Republic June 9 (Reserve). Moved to Alexandria June 29, thence to Harrison’s Landing June 30-July 2. Haxall’s, Herring Creek, Chickahominy Swamp, July 3-5. Moved to Alexandria, thence to Centreville August 16-29. Plains of Manassas August 29-30. Germantown September 1. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Battles of South Mountain, Md., September 14; Antietam September 16-17. Moved to Harper’s Ferry, W. Va., September 22, and duty there until October 30. Reconnaissance to Leesburg October 1-2. Advance up Loudoun Valley and march to Falmouth, Va., October 30-November 18. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. Duty at Falmouth until April. “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 September. Advance from line of 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. Kelly’s Ford November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Robertson’s Tavern November 27. Mine Run November 28-30. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7, 1864. Morton’s Ford February 6-7. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May 3-June 15. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Laurel Hill May 8; Spotsylvania May 8-12; Po River May 10; Spotsylvania 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. Poplar Springs Church September 29-October 1. Yellow House October 1-3. Hatcher’s Run October 27-28. Raid on Weldon Railroad December 7-12. Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865. Watkins’ House March 25. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Boydton and White Oak Roads March 30-31. Crow’s House March 31. Fall of Petersburg April 2. Sailor’s Creek April 6. Farmville and High Bridge April 7. Clover Hill, Appomattox Court House, April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. March to Washington, D. C, May 1-12. Grand Review May 23. Moved to Louisville, Ky., June. Mustered out July 1, 1865. Regiment lost during service 9 Officers and 133 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 4 Officers and 154 Enlisted men by disease. Total 300.
West Virginia at Gettysburg
7th Infantry :: 1st Cavalry :: 3rd Cavalry :: Battery C
4 Comments
This Regiment was raised from the northern counties. West Virginia was formed illegally; there is NO record of anyone from my home county [Mercer] joining the yankees.
Hardy and Grant counties are considered a part of “The Potomac Highlands” and
not “northern counties.”
Many wounded from the 7th died after the battle. The 5 dead listed are an incomplete list. Many of the 7th’s wounded are buried at Mount Moriah Cemetery in South Philadelphia, including my ancestor, Caleb Anderson of Company G of the 7th. While I didn’t actually count, I can remember seeing gravestones for at least a dozen members of the 7th at Mount Moriah. The number of dead from the 7th who were mortally wounded at Gettysburg is significantly higher than 5 as a walk through Mount Moriah will demonstrate.
The list of five is the list of officers killed and soldiers from that regiment who are buried in the Gettysburg National Cemetery. The numbers on the site come from Busey and Martin’s Regimental Strengths and Losses at Gettysburg.