The Third Pennsylvania Cavalry is honored by a monument, a marker, and a memorial flagpole at Gettysburg.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? Installed July 24, 1889. Dedicated Sept. 5, 1890.
What is it made out of? Sculpture: granite with bronze relief; Base: granite.
What size is it? Sculpture: approx. 6 ft. x 5 ft. 8 in. x 2 ft. 6 in.; Base: approx. 2 ft. 6 in. x 7 ft. x 4 ft.
Who made it? Unknown, sculptor.
What does it depict? Monument consists of a square marker, rounded at top with rough-hewn edges, a sloped plinth and a rough-hewn base. On the front face is a relief of a uniformed mounted Cavalryman holding his rifle upright in both hands. Other relief elements on the front include a crossed-sword Cavalry Corps insignia on the plinth and a State Seal on the base. There are two small flank markers, one on each side of the piece. Monument is a monolithic granite shaft with rough cut front and smooth cut rear, and set on a 7.4×4 foot rough cut base with a chamfered top. The shaft has an incised inscription on the lower part, a granite bas-relief of a mounted cavalryman on the front, and an incised inscription on the smooth cut rear. Overall height is 8 feet.
What does it honor? It indicates the positions taken by the 3rd Pennsylvania Cavalry on the afternoon of July 3, 1863 when engaged with the Brigade against Stuart’s Confederates.
How is it inscribed? July 2nd 1863 Reached the field at noon from Hanover engaged dismounted a Confederate brigade of infantry on Brinkerhoff’s Ridge from 6 to 10 p.m. July 3rd engaged mounted and dismounted with the Confederate Cavalry Division on this field from 2 p.m. until evening portions of the regiment advancing in a mounted charge and driving the enemy beyond the Rummel Farm buildings.
When was this photograph taken? May 30, 2009.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, East Cavalry Field, Gregg Avenue, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. Located on the north side of Gregg Avenue at East Cavalry Field.
Is this monument located along the NPS Auto Tour route? No.
Has this monument been moved or changed? One of the flank markers was moved, and later relocated to its original position in 1912.
Monument Details, Alternative Views, and Contextual Views
Secondary Monuments and Markers
Monument Title: William Brooke Rawles Flagpole
Photographed: September 3, 2007.
Location: Confederate Cavalry Avenue on the East Cavalry Field.
Description: Memorial flagpole; one of two on the battlefield. It was dedicated in 1909; 1915. The plaque was added in 1915. Painted, sectional steel flagpole w/ bronze plaque. 55′ tall, about 8″-10″ in diameter w/ ball finial at top. This flagpole was erected by the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS) to honor one of its members, William Brooke Rawle, a veteran of East Cavalry Battlefield and one of its most noted historians.
Inscription: “To the Memory of Brevet Lieut. Colonel William Brooke Rawle 1843-1915.”
Monument Title: Right flank of the 3rd Pennsylvania and Gregg’s Cavalry Division.
Photographed: March 26, 2010.
Location: Low Dutch Road, north of the Hanover Road. Located North East of East Cavalry Field on 3rd day battle, along Low Dutch Road. This monument is marked on the map above by a BLUE pushpin.
Description: Erected in 1913. Granite base with a bronze plaque. Marker is a tapered, polished granite pedestal with an angled bronze tablet on the top. Overall height is 4 feet. Located along the Low Dutch Road to the northeast of East Cavalry Field. Denotes the extreme right flank of the Cavalry Corps.
Inscription: The extreme right flank of the Army of the Potomac July 3, 1863 held by Capt. James W. Walsh’s squadron 3d Pennsylvania Cavalry on the left of which to the west of the Low Dutch Road was posted Capt. Frank W. Hess’s squadron on the left of the latter squadron was Capt. Wm. E. Miller’s battalion of the regiment which charged through the Confederate column almost up to their batteries on Cress’s Ridge north of the Rummel farm buildings.
At Gettysburg
The 3rd Pennsylvania Cavalry was also known as The Kentucky Light Cavalry. During the battle of Gettysburg, it served as a member of McIntosh’s Brigade in Gregg’s Division of the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac.
Commander: Lt. Col. Edward S. Jones (1818-1886).
Number Engaged: 394
Casualties: 15 wounded, 6 missing
After Action Report: After Action Report of Maj. Oliver O. G. Robinson (will open a pop up window).
Medal of Honor Winners: MILLER, WILLIAM E. Rank and organization: Captain, Company H, 3d Pennsylvania Cavalry. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 3 July 1863. Entered service at: ——. Born: 5 February 1836, West Hill, Pa. Date of issue 21 July 1897. Citation: Without orders, led a charge of his squadron upon the flank of the enemy, checked his attack, and cut off and dispersed the rear of his column. Photo of Capt. Miller’s grave in the Gettysburg National Cemetery.
General Information
Raised: Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and from the Pennsylvania counties of Allegheny, Cumberland, and Schuylkill.
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized at Philadelphia July and August, 1861. Moved to Washington, D.C., August, 1861. Attached to Porter’s Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. Cavalry, 3rd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to July, 1862. 1st Brigade, Cavalry Division, Army of the Potomac, to August, 1862. 5th Brigade, Pleasanton’s Cavalry Division, to November, 1862. Averill’s Cavalry Brigade, Centre Grand Division, Army of the Potomac, to February, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1864. Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, Provost Marshal General’s Command, to May, 1865.
SERVICE.–Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D. C., until March, 1862. Skirmish at Magruder’s Ferry September 16, 1861. Springfield Station September 27. Hunter’s Mills or Vienna November 26 (Co. “F”). Vienna December 3 (Cos. “F” and “M”). Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10-15, 1862. Reconnaissance to Cedar Run March 14-16. Moved to the Virginia Peninsula March 22-30. Howard’s Mills April 4. Near Cockletown April 4 (Co. “A”). Warwick Road April 5. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. Cheese Cake Church May 4. Near Williamsburg May 4. Battle of Williamsburg May 5. Expedition to James River May 25-26 (Detachment Co. “I”). Battle of Seven Pines, Fair Oaks, May 31-June 1. New Market Road June 8 (Cos. “D,” “K”). Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Savage Station June 29. James River Road near Fair Oaks June 29-30 (Detachment). Jones’ Bridge and Jordan’s Ford June 30. White Oak Church July 1. Malvern Hill July 2. Reconnaissance toward White Oak Church July 10. Reconnaissance to Jones’ Ford July 31, and to Malvern Hill August 2-8. Sycamore Church August 3. White Oak Swamp Bridge August 4. Malvern Hill August 5. Warrenton August 26. Battle of Antietam, Md., September 16-17. Sharpsburg September 19. Shepherdstown Ford September 19. Harper’s Ferry September 27. Four Locks, Md., October 9. Reconnaissance to Smithfield October 16-17. Bloomfield November 2-3. Markham Station November 4. Manassas Gap November 5-6. Newby’s Cross Roads November 9. Newby’s Cross Roads near Amissville November 10. Near Hartwood Church November 28. Reconnaissance to Grove Church December 1. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15. Expedition to Richard’s and Ellis’ Fords, Rappahannock River, December 29-31. Operations at Rappahannock Bridge and Grove Church February 5-7, 1863. Hartwood Church February 25. Kelly’s Ford March 17. Chancellorsville Campaign, Stoneman’s Raid, April 27-May 8. Near Dumfries May 17 (Detachment). Brandy Station or Fleetwood, Stevensburg and Beverly Ford June 9. Aldie June 17. Upperville June 21. Aldie June 22. Lisbon or Poplar Springs June 29. Westminster June 30. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Emmettsburg July 4. Old Antietam Forge near Leitersburg July 10. Near Harper’s Ferry July 14. Shepherdstown September 15-16. Scouting and picketing Upper Rappahannock July to September. Scout to Middleburg September 10-11. Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13-17. Culpeper Court House September 13. Near Catlett’s Station October 6 (Detachment). Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Warrenton or White Sulphur Springs October 12-13. Auburn and Bristoe October 14. Brentsville October 14. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Vine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. New Hope Church November 27. Ellis Ford December 3. Scout to Piedmont February 17-18, 1864. Sprigg’s Ford February 28 (Co. “L”). Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May-June, 1864. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spottsylvania C. H. May 12-21; Guinea Station May 21; 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, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Assaults on Petersburg June 16-18, 1864. Charles City Cross Roads June 29. Consolidated to a Battalion of three companies July 27, 1864. Non-Veterans on duty in Cumberland Valley until mustered out August 24, 1864. Reconnaissance to Hatcher’s Run December 9-10. Hatcher’s Run December 9. Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865. Fall of Petersburg April 2. Pursuit of Lee to Appomattox C. H. April 3-9. Provost duty at Richmond May 4-8. Transferred to 5th Pennsylvania Cavalry May 8, 1865. Regiment lost during service 1 Officer and 41 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 125 Enlisted men by disease. Total 169.
Pennsylvania at Gettysburg
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