The Fifty Fourth New York Infantry is honored by a monument and a position stone at Gettysburg.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? July 4, 1890.
What is it made out of? Sculpture: Concord granite with bronze relief; Base: granite.
What size is it? Overall: approx. 14 ft. 4 in. x 8 ft. x 4 ft. 2 in.
Who made it? Buberl, Caspar, 1834-1899, sculptor.
What does it depict? Vertical marker with a relief of a uniformed color bearer who has just been struck by a bullet. A State Seal tondo is affixed to the front cap and the 11th Corps crescent insignia is affixed to the reverse cap of the marker, which sits on a tiered base. Monument that has two flanking markers and one position marker. Monument is a smooth cut granite shaft with bronze set on an 8×4.2 foot rough cut double base. The shaft has a bronze bas-relief, state seal, an excised inscription, and tablet on the west face. Flanking markers are one foot square. The figure on the monument is 20-year old shoemaker Heinrich Michel, who died on July 2, 1863 carrying the regimental colors.
What does it honor? It indicates the position held by the 54th New York Infantry on July 2 and 3, 1863.
How is it inscribed? 54th Regt. N.Y. Infantry July 1st skirmishing on extreme right near Rock Creek, July 2nd at sunset, severe fighting in this position, July 3rd held same position, Casualties, killed 7, wounded 47, missing 48, total loss 102.
When was this photograph taken? May 4, 2010.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Wainwright Avenue, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325.
Is this monument located along the NPS Auto Tour route? No.
Has this monument been moved or changed? The crescent was stolen in 1980 and replaced in 1981.
Monument Details, Alternative Views, and Contextual Views
Secondary Monuments and Markers
Monument Title: July 1 Position Marker
Photographed: May 2, 2010.
Location: Rock Creek east of Barlow’s Knoll. This monument is marked on the map above by a RED pushpin.
Description: A small stone marker located near Rock Creek. Denotes the regiment’s fighting on July 1st during the battle of Barlow’s Knoll.
Inscription: 54th N.Y. Infantry A detail of 45 men from this regiment occupied this position July 1st 1863
At Gettysburg
The 54th New York Infantry was also known as The Hiram Barney Rifles. During the battle of Gettysburg, it served as a member of Von Gilsa’s Brigade in Barlow’s Division of the Eleventh Corps, Army of the Potomac.
Commander: Maj. Stephen Kovacs (d. 1884). Part of Hungarian Revolution. Captured on July 1.
Number Engaged: 216
Casualties: 7 killed, 47 wounded, 48 missing
Soldiers Buried in the New York Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:
- Pvt. John Scherer, Company A, B-93
- Sgt. Henry Willann, Company F, C-78
General Information
Raised: New York City
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized at Hudson, N.Y., and mustered in September 5 to October 16, 1861. Left State for Washington, D.C., October 29. 1861. Attached to Provisional Brigade, Casey’s Division, Army of the Potomac, to December, 1861. Steinwehr’s Brigade, Blenker’s Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. Steinwehr’s 2nd Brigade, Blenker’s 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to April, 1862. 2nd Brigade, Blenker’s Division, Dept. of the Mountains, to June, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Corps, Pope’s Army of Virginia, to September, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 11th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to November, 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 11th Army Corps, to August, 1863. 1st Brigade, Gordon’s Division, Folly Island, S.C., 10th Army Corps, Dept. of the South, to April, 1864. Folly Island, S. C., Northern District, Dept. of the South, to October, 1864. 1st Separate Brigade, Morris Island, S.C., Dept. of the South, to July, 1865. 3rd Sub-District, Dept. of the South, to August, 1865. 1st Brigade, Dept. of the South, to April, 1865.
SERVICE.–Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C., until April, 1862. Movement to Winchester, Va., April 5-18. Operations in the Shenandoah Valley until June. Battle of Cross Keys June 8. At Sperryville July 7 to August 8. Battle of Cedar Mountain August 9. Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Fords of the Rappahannock August 20-23. Sulphur Springs August 26-27. Battles of Groveton August 29. Bull Run August 30. Duty in the Defenses of Washington. D.C., until November. Movement to Centreville November 1-19. Waterloo Bridge November 7. Reconnaissance to Snicker’s Ferry and Berryville November 28-30. Movement to Fredericksburg December 9-15. “Mud March” January 20-24, 1863. At Stafford Court House until April 27. 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. Ordered to Dept. of the South August 1. Siege of Forts Wagner and Gregg, Morris Island, and operations against Fort Sumter and Charleston August 9-September 7. Operations against Charleston and duty on Folly and Morris Islands, S.C., until June, 1865. Expedition to John’s and Islands February 6-14, 1864. James Island and October 24, 1864. Santee River February Duty in District of South Carolina, Dept. of the South, until April, 1866, Mustered out April 14, 1866. Regiment lost during service 2 Officers and 38 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 101 Enlisted men by disease. Total 142.
New York at Gettysburg
New York Infantry 10th Infantry :: 12th Infantry :: 33rd Infantry :: 39th Infantry :: 40th Infantry :: 41st Infantry :: 42nd Infantry :: 43rd Infantry :: 44th Infantry :: 45th Infantry :: 49th Infantry :: 52nd Infantry :: 54th Infantry :: 57th Infantry :: 58th Infantry :: 59th Infantry :: 60th Infantry :: 61st Infantry :: 62nd Infantry :: 63rd Infantry :: 64th Infantry :: 65th Infantry :: 66th Infantry :: 67th Infantry :: 68th Infantry :: 69th Infantry :: 70th Infantry :: 71st Infantry :: 72nd Infantry :: 73rd Infantry :: 74th Infantry :: 76th Infantry :: 77th Infantry :: 78th Infantry :: 80th Infantry :: 82nd Infantry :: 83rd Infantry :: 84th Infantry :: 86th Infantry :: 88th Infantry :: 94th Infantry :: 95th Infantry :: 97th Infantry :: 102nd Infantry :: 104th Infantry :: 107th Infantry :: 108th Infantry :: 111th Infantry :: 119th Infantry :: 120th Infantry :: 121st Infantry :: 122nd Infantry :: 123rd Infantry :: 124th Infantry :: 125th Infantry :: 126th Infantry :: 134th Infantry :: 136th Infantry :: 137th Infantry :: 140th Infantry :: 145th Infantry :: 146th Infantry :: 147th Infantry :: 149th Infantry :: 150th Infantry :: 154th Infantry :: 157th Infantry :: New York Cavalry :: 2nd Regiment :: 4th Regiment :: 5th Regiment :: 6th Regiment :: 8th Regiment :: 9th Regiment :: 10th Regiment :: Oneida Company :: New York Artillery :: 1st Artillery B (14th attached) :: 1st Artillery C :: 1st Artillery D :: 1st Artillery G :: 1st Artillery I :: 1st Artillery K (11th attached) :: 1st Artillery E&L :: 1st Artillery M :: 1st Independent :: 3rd Independent :: 4th Independent :: 5th Independent :: 6th Independent :: 10th Independent :: 13th Independent :: 15th Independent
