The Sixteenth Massachusetts Infantry is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? Installed Dec. 1885. Dedicated July 1, 1886.
What is it made out of? Granite; Plaque: bronze.
What size is it? Approx. H. 10 ft. x 5 ft. 10 in. x 5 ft. 10 in.
Who made it? Hallowell Granite Company, fabricator.
What does it depict? A square granite monument with a rounded top is adorned on each side with the Third Corps diamond symbol. Monument is a 3.7 foot square granite shaft with a dome cap that has chamfered edges and a four-sided diamond decoration and set on a 5.10 foot square smooth base. The shaft has a bronze inscription tablet on the west face. Overall height is ten feet. Flanking markers are 1.6×8 foot with gable tops and cut inscriptions on the faces.
What does it honor? The monument indicates the position held by the regiment on July 2, 1863 prior to Humphreys retrograde movement.
How is it inscribed? SIXTEENTH MASSACHUSETTS/1ST BRIGADE 2ND DIVISION 3RD CORPS/ARMY OF THE POTOMAC/ON THIS FIELD JULY 2ND 1863/4 OFFICERS AND 23 ENLISTED MEN/WERE KILLED/TO WHOSE MEMORY THIS MONUMENT/IS ERECTED BY THE/COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
When was this photograph taken? April 15, 2011.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, East side of Emmitsburg Road, north of Klingel Farm, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. It is surrounded on three sides with a War Department board fence.
Is this monument located along the NPS Auto Tour route? No.
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 16th Massachusetts Infantry served as a member of Carr’s Brigade in Humphrey’s Division of the Third Corps, Army of the Potomac. A Fighting 300 Regiment.
Commander: Lt. Col. Waldo Merriam (1839-1864). Merriam was a merchant from Boston and was killed at the battle of Spotsylvania.
Number Engaged: 307
Casualties: 15 killed, 53 wounded, 13 missing
Officers Killed at Gettysburg:
- 1st Lieutenant George F. Brown, Company B, of Waltham, killed on July 2.
- Captain Charles R. Johnson, Company F, of Lexington, mortally wounded on July 2
Soldiers Buried in the Massachusetts Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:
- Pvt. Nathan D. Bicknell, Company C, D-13
- Pvt. Jeremiah Croakley, Company A, D-35
- Pvt. Pierce Harvey, Company B, D-14
- Pvt. George Lawton, Company H, D-34
After Action Report: After Action Report of Capt. Matthew Donovan (will open a pop up window).
General Information
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized at Camp Cameron, Cambridge, June 29, 1861. Left State for Old Point Comfort, Va., August 17. Attached to Fortress Monroe, Dept. of Virginia, to May, 1862, 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Dept. of Virginia, to June, 1862. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1864. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 2nd Army Corps, to May, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Army Corps, to July, 1864.
SERVICE.–Garrison duty at Fortress Monroe, Va., September 1, 1862, to May 8, 1862. Occupation of Norfolk May 10. Moved to Suffolk May 17, and joined Army of the Potomac at Fair Oaks June 13. Nine-Mile Road, near Richmond, June 18. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Oak Grove, near Fair Oaks, June 25. White Oak Swamp and Glendale June 30. Malvern Hill July 1 and August 5. Duty at Harrison’s Landing until August 15. Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Centreville August 15-26. Bristoe Station, Kettle Run, August 27. Battles of Groveton August 29; Bull Run August 30; Chantilly September 1. Duty at Fort Lyon and at Fairfax Station, Defenses of Washington, until October 30, and at Munson’s Hill until November 2. At Fairfax Station 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. “Mud March” January 20-24, 1863. At Falmouth 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. Wapping Heights, Va,, July 23. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to the Rappahannock November 7-8. Kelly’s Ford November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Payne’s Farm November 27. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7, 1864. Duty near Brandy Station until May, 1864. Rapidan Campaign May-June, Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient, Spottsylvania Court House, May 12. Harris’ Farm, Fredericksburg Road, May 19. North Anna River May 23-26. Ox Ford May 23-24. 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-July 11. Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23. Left front for muster out July 11. Veterans and Recruits transferred to the 11th Massachusetts Infantry. Mustered out July 27, 1864. Regiment lost during service 16 Officers and 134 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 93 Enlisted men by disease. Total 245.
Massachusetts at Gettysburg
1st Infantry :: 1st Company Sharpshooters :: 2nd Infantry :: 2nd Company Sharpshooters :: 7th Infantry :: 9th Infantry :: 10th Infantry :: 11th Infantry :: 12th Infantry :: 13th Infantry :: 15th Infantry :: 16th Infantry :: 18th Infantry :: 19th Infantry :: 20th Infantry :: 22nd Infantry :: 28th Infantry :: 32nd Infantry :: 33rd Infantry :: 37th Infantry :: 1st Cavalry :: 1st Light A :: 3rd Light C :: 5th Light E :: 9th Light
