The One Hundred Twentieth New York Infantry is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? June 25, 1889.
What is it made out of? Quincy granite; Relief plaque: bronze.
What size is it? Approx. H. 25 ft. x Diam. 8 ft.
Who made it? Frederick & Field, fabricator.
What does it depict? A column of rough granite blocks is topped with the Third Corps diamond symbol and adorned on the front with a bronze relief plaque depicting the state seal. Monument is a cylindrical castellated granite turret with an apex cap that contains a diamond-shaped granite finial and set on an eight foot diameter base. The shaft is rusticated stone with a bronze inscription tablet and state seal on the west side. Overall height is twenty-five feet. Flanking markers are one foot square with flat tops.
What does it honor? The location of the monument designates the part of the line occupied by the regiment on the afternoon of July 2, 1863. Marks line occupied by regiment on July 2, 1863, after Confederate troops had pierced the 1st line established along the Emmitsburg Road.
How is it inscribed? 120TH NEW YORK INFANTRY,/2D BRIGADE 2D DIVISION, 3D CORPS.
When was this photograph taken? December 17, 2010.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Sickles Avenue, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. Located on the east side of Sickles Avenue between its junctions with Emmitsburg Road and United States Avenue.
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 120th New York Infantry was also known as The Washington Guards. During the battle of Gettysburg, it served as a member of Brewster’s “Excelsior” Brigade in Humphreys’ Division of the Third Corps, Army of the Potomac. A Fighting 300 Regiment.
Commander: Lt. Col. Cornelius D. Westbrook (1823-1905). Civil engineer in Kingston. Wounded on July 2. Maj. John R. Tappen (1831-1875) took command. Merchant from Kingston. Wounded at Second Manassas.
Number Engaged: 427
Casualties: 32 killed, 154 wounded, 17 missing
Officers Killed at Gettysburg:
- Capt. Ayres G. Barker, Company K, aged 29, of Kingston, killed on July 2
- 2nd Lieutenant John R. Burnhans, Company I, aged 28, of Kingston, killed on July 2
- 2nd Lieutenant Jason Carle, Company G, aged 24, of Saugerties, killed on on July 2
- 2nd Lieutenant William J. Cockburn, Company H, mortally wounded on July 2, aged 29, of Kingston
- 1st Lieutenant Michael E. Creighton, Company H, of Kingston, aged 26, killed on July 2
- 2nd Lieutenant Frederick Freelewick, Company E, of Kingston, aged 31, killed on July 2, buried in National Cemetery at G-1
- Capt. Lansing Hollister, Company D, aged 22, of Kingston, killed on July 2
- 2nd Lieutenant Edward H. Ketchum, Company A, aged 26, of Kingston, killed on July 2
Soldiers Buried in the New York Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:
- Cpl. Josiah D. Barnes, Company I, D-52
- Pvt. William H. Bell, Company F, F-111
- Pvt. Theodore Bogard, Company I, G-9
- Pvt. George Christiana, Company A, E-34
- Cpl. Andrew M. De Witt, Company H, F-113
- Cpl. James M. Delanoy, Company I, F-112
- Pvt. Charles W. Dubois, Company G, E-114
- Pvt. Orin W. Hotchkiss, Company F, G-56
- Cpl. Gilbert Meyer, Company I, G-7
- Pvt. William Sheeley, Company E, G-57
- Sgt. George L. Smith, Company G, C-56
- Pvt. Rufus Thompson, Company C, G-36
- Pvt. Justus C. Warner, Company I, G-60
- Pvt. Rush M. Whitcomb, Company E, G-10
After Action Report: After Action Report of Capt. Abram L. Lockwood (will open a pop up window).
General Information
Raised: Ulster and Greene counties
Notable Facts: There is another monument to the 120th New York in the Old Dutch Churchyard in Kingston, Ulster County, New York.
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized at Kingston, N.Y., and mustered in August 22, 1862. Left State for Washington, D.C., August 24, 1862. Attached to Whipple’s Brigade, Defenses of Washington, D.C., to October, 1862. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to December, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 3rd Army Corps, to March, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 2nd Army Corps, to May, 1864. 4th Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Army Corps, to July, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Army Corps, to June, 1865.
SERVICE.–Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D. C., until November, 1862. At Fairfax Station, Va., until November 25. Operations on Orange & Alexandria Railroad November 10-12. Rappahannock Campaign December, 1862, to June, 1863. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15, 1862. At Falmouth, Va., until April, 1863. “Mud March” January 20-24. Operations at Rappahannock Bridge and Grove Church February 5-7. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3. Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Va., July 5-24. Wapping Heights July 23. Duty on line of the Rappahannock and Rapidan until October. Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13-17. Bristoe Campaign October 8-22. James City October 8, 9 and 10. Russell’s Ford, Robertson’s River, and Bethesda Church October 10. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Kelly’s Ford November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Payne’s Farm November 27. Mine Run November 28-30. Duty near Brandy Station until May, 1864. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May 3-June 15. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Laurel Hill May 8; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient or “Bloody Angle” May 12. Harris Farm or Fredericksburg Road May 19. 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 16-18. Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon Railroad, June 22-23, 1864. Demonstration north of the James July 27-29. Deep Bottom July 27-28. Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30 (Reserve). Demonstration north of the James August 13-20. Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14-18. Poplar Springs Church September 29-October 2. Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28. Front of Forts Hascall and Morton November 5. Reconnaissance to Hatcher’s Run December 9-10. Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865. Watkins’ House March 25. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Boydton and White Oak Roads March 29-31. Fall of Petersburg April 2. Pursuit of Lee April 3-9. Sailor’s Creek April 6. High Bridge, Farmville, April 7. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. At Burkesville until May 2. Moved to Washington, D.C., May 2-12. Grand Review May 23. Mustered out June 3, 1865. Veterans and Recruits transferred to 73rd New York Infantry. Regiment lost during service 11 Officers and 140 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 179 Enlisted men by disease. Total 333.
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
