27th Connecticut Infantry
Posted to the Project on 03 Nov 07
Although the 27th Connecticut only had had three companies and 160 men at Gettysburg, it has multiple monuments on the battlefield (five in the Wheatfield area, including two “major” monuments).
A nine-month regiment raised from New Haven County in October 1862, the regiment was virtually destroyed at Chancellorsville. Only companies D & F survived the blood-letting and mass capture. To these two companies, a third company was added prior to Gettysburg. The regiment was set to muster out at the end of July.
Their commander was Lt. Col. Henry C. Merwin (1839-1863), a native of Brookfield. He was killed on July 2 (a marker is placed in the Wheatfield where he fell). Maj. James H. Coburn (1836-1899) took command from Merwin.
Coburn was a merchant from New Haven.
The main monument is a large granite shaft surmounted by an eagle with outspread wings. It is located in the Wheatfield. Dedicated October 22, 1885, it was placed by the Regimental Association and cost $950.00. The monument consists of St. Johnsbury Granite.
In the later 1880s, Connecticut appropriated $1,000.00 to each unit to erect a monument at Gettysburg. The 27th Connecticut used this money to erect a relatively simple “Advanced Position” monument along Brooke Avenue. This memorial was dedicated April 17, 1889.
Small markers that locate the places Col. Merwin and Capt. Jed Chapman, respectively, were killed as well as another advanced position marker are also located in the Wheatfield area.
27th Connecticut Infantry
2nd Corps, 1st Division, 4th Brigade
Lt. Col. Henry C. Merwin (1839-1863)
Engaged: 160; 10 killed, 23 wounded, 4 missing
Monument: Wheatfield. Secondary monument along Brooke Avenue.
August 9th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
I’m doing research for a book and the 27th Connecticut comes into it. Could you tell me where you got your information for the Wheatfield battle so I could verify? If the Wheatfield was on July 2; what occurred on the 3rd for the 27th?