The One Hundred Fifty First Pennsylvania Infantry is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.

About the Main Monument

When was it dedicated? July 1, 1888.

What is it made out of? Sculpture: granite with bronze elements; Base: granite.

What size is it? Sculpture: approx. H. 15 ft. 9 in.; Base: approx. W. 6 ft. x D. 6 ft. 1 in.

Who made it? Unknown, sculptor.

What does it depict? The monument consists on a rough-hewn base, pedestal with inscriptions and a bronze relief of the Pennsylvania State Seal, a shaft and a cap. There is a recessed panel in the shaft which contains a relief of three upright, crossed muskets. The cap of the shaft is castellated and contains the 1st Corps disk insignia on all four sides. Made of Fuller New Hampshire Granite. Flanking markers are apex topped, one foot square.

What does it honor? It marks the position held by the 151st Pennsylvania Infantry after 3:00 P.M. on July 1, 1863, when heavily engaged with the 26th North Carolina until the regiment was outflanked and forced to retire to the Seminary area.

How is it inscribed? RECRUITED IN THE/COUNTIES OF BERKS/JUNITA, SCHUYLKILL/SUSQUEHANA, PIKE/AND WARREN/MUSTERED IN OCT & NOV. 1862/MUSTERED OUT JULY 27, 1863

When was this photograph taken? August 31, 2007. Monument faces mainly west.

Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, West Reynolds Avenue in the east fringe of Herbst Woods, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325.

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 151st Pennsylvania Infantry was also known as The School Teacher’s Regiment. During the battle of Gettysburg, it served as a member of Biddle’s Brigade in Doubleday’s Division of the First Corps, Army of the Potomac.

Commander: Lt. Col. George F. McFarland (1834-1891). Wounded on July 1 and lost his right leg. He had been the head of the school in McAlisterville, Pennsylvania.

Number Engaged: 467

Casualties: 51 killed, 211 wounded, 75 missing

Officers Killed at Gettysburg:

• 1st Lieutenant Aaron S. Seaman, Company E, aged 25, of Harrisburg, killed on July 1. His brother, Cpl. William F. Seaman, was also killed at Gettysburg.
• 2nd Lieutenant Charles A. Trexler, Company K, aged 18, killed on July 3

Soldiers Buried in the Pennsylvania Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:

• Cpl. Thomas D. Allen, Company A, B-28
• Pvt. Nelson McMicken, Company A, D-67
• Pvt. Nelson Reaser, Company B, A-39
• Pvt. William Stamm, Company G, B-61
• Pvt. William T. Strause, Company H, C-87
• Pvt. Jacob Zimmerman, Company I, E-14

After Action Report: After Action Report of Lieut. Col. George F. McFarland (will open a pop up window).

General Information

Raised: Berks, Juniata, Pike, Susquehanna, and Warren counties. The regiment contained 13 schoolteachers, and Company D was composed almost entirely from instructors and students from a Juniata County school called Lost Creek Academy.

Notable Facts: There is a plaque across from the old McAlisterville Academy where several members of the regiment, including Lt. Col. McFarland, used to teach. It memorializes the regiment and its actions at Gettysburg.

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

Organized at Harrisburg October 18 to November 24, 1862. Moved to Washington, D.C., November 26. Attached to 3rd Brigade, Casey’s Division, Defenses of Washington, to February, 1863. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to July, 1863.

SERVICE.–Duty in the Defenses of Washington until February, 1863. Moved to Belle Plains, Va., and Joined 1st Army Corps. Duty there until April 27. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Operations about Pollock’s Mill Creek April 29-May 2. Battle of Chancellorsville May 2-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Pursuit of Lee July 5-24. Mustered out July 27, 1863. Regiment lost during service 2 Officers and 67 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 53 Enlisted men by disease. Total 123.