E&H 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters
Posted to the Project on 15 Oct 07
The monument to companies E & H of the 2nd United States Sharpshooters is located near the Slyder House at the base of Big Round Top.
The monument is accessible via the Slyder Farm lane (today a horse trail) off the Emmitsburg Road and Confederate Avenue. This is one of the monuments that you need to walk to get to at Gettysburg.
Companies E & H were both from Vermont. The monument is a plain granite structure. The main features on the front of the die are a pair of crossed rifles and the state seal. A granite scroll tells what the two companies did at Gettysburg.
But by far the real highlight of th is monument is the hornet’s nest.
Gettysburg is not famous like Shiloh for having the Hornet’s Nest, but this monument features a tree branch with a large wasp nest with angry granite hornets coming out.
This is symbolic of the hot spot that these companies found themselves in on the afternoon of July 2, 1863 when the Confederates advanced straight towards this position and on to Devil’s Den.
2nd United States Sharpshooters - E&H (Vermont)
3rd Corps, 1st Division, 2nd Brigade
Maj. Homer R. Stoughton (1836-1902)
Engaged: 200; 5 killed, 23 wounded, 15 missing
Monument: Slyder House (E&H only)