The Fifty Seventh New York Infantry is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? October 6, 1889.
What is it made out of? Monument: granite with bronze adornment; Base: stone.
What size is it? Monument: approx. 14 ft. 8 in. x 7 ft. x 7 ft.; Base: approx. 15 in. x 6 ft. x 6 ft.
Who made it? Frederick & Field, fabricator.
What does it depict? Granite shaft with apex cap, and bronze adornments, including a trefoil design, state tondo, and military insignia of crossed bayonets and cartridge box. The monument sits on a two-tiered base. Monument is a 14.8 foot square granite shaft with cornice and apex cap set on a seven foot square rough hewn double base. The shaft has bronze inscription tablets on all sides and a bronze cartridge box, crossed bayonets, trefoil, and state seal on the south face. The flanking markers are flat-topped with inscriptions, one foot square.
What does it honor? The monument marks the position taken by the 57th New York Infantry on the afternoon of July 2, 1863 when ordered here by General Zook to support front line.
How is it inscribed? ENGAGED THE ENEMY HERE/JULY 3, ON CEMETERY RIDGE/,RESISTING PICKETT’S ATTACK./TOTAL NUMBER ENGAGED 175/KILLED 4, WOUNDED 28/MISSING 2
When was this photograph taken? February 8, 2009.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Sickles Avenue, Wheatfield, at Excelsior Field, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. Located on the north side of Sickles Avenue at the west edge of the Wheatfield.
Is this monument located along the NPS Auto Tour route? Yes.
Has this monument been moved or changed? This monument has not been changed or materially altered.
Monument Details, Alternative Views, and Contextual Views
At Gettysburg
The 57th New York Infantry was also known as Zook’s Voltigeurs. During the battle of Gettysburg, it served as a member of Zook’s Brigade in Caldwell’s Division of the Second Corps, Army of the Potomac.
Commander: Lt. Col. Alford B. Chapman (1835-1864). Merchant of “fancy goods” in New York City. Wounded at Fredericksburg and killed in action at the Wilderness.
Number Engaged: 179
Casualties: 4 killed, 28 wounded, 2 missing
Soldiers Buried in the New York Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:
- Pvt. Davis Smith, Company I, D-122
- Pvt. John Smith, Company D, E-90
After Action Report: After Action Report of Lieut. Col. Alford B. Chapman (will open a pop up window).
General Information
Raised: New York City and Dutchess and Oneida counties.
Notable Facts: Regiment had multiple, colorful nicknames, including National Guard Rifles; Clinton Rifles; United States Voltigeurs; and Zook’s Voltigeurs.
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized at New York City August 12 to November 19, 1861. Left State for Washington, D.C., November 19, 1861. Attached to French’s 3rd Brigade, Sumner’s Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1864. Consolidated Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, to November, 1864.
SERVICE.–Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D. C., until March, 1862. Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10. Reconnaissance to Cedar Run March 14-16. Ordered to the Peninsula, Va. Siege of Yorktown, Va., April 5-May 4. Battle of Seven Pines or Fair Oaks May 31-June 1. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Battles of Gaines Mill June 27; Peach Orchard and Savage Station June 29; White Oak Swamp and Glendale June 30; Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison’s Landing until August 16. Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Alexandria and Centreville August 16-30. Cover Pope’s retreat to Washington August 31-September 1. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Sharpsburg, Md., September 15. Battle of Antietam, Md., September 16-17. Duty at Harper’s Ferry, W. Va., September 22-October 29. Reconnaissance to Charlestown October 16-17. Advance up Loudoun Valley and movement to Falmouth, Va., October 29-November 17. 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 1-4. Duty on line of the Rappahannock until October. Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13-17. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Auburn and Bristoe October 14. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7, 1864. At and near Stevensburg, Va., until May. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May 3-June 15. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient or “Bloody Angle” May 12. 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 to December 6, 1864. Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23. Demonstration north of the James July 27-29. Deep Bottom July 27-28. Demonstration north of the James August 13-20. Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14-18. Ream’s Station August 25. Mustered out by Companies as follows: Company “C” July 14, Company “F” August 11, Company “D” August 14, Company “I” August 13, Company “K” September 3, Company “A” September 10, Company “B” September 23 and Company “H” October 15, 1864. Veterans and Recruits transferred to 61st Regiment New York Infantry December 6, 1864. Regiment lost during service 8 Officers and 95 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 90 Enlisted men by disease. Total 194.
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
One Comment
I don’t know what your take is on reincarnation…I don’t know what MY take is on reincarnation…but when I read these entries I think that in your previous life you must’ve been a key part of the Civil War. People who believe in reincarnation say we are heavily drawn to the familiar (to things we experienced in the life before our present one). But like I said…I don’t know what to think about that.