72nd Pennsylvania Infantry
Posted to the Project on 11 Nov 07
Due to its central location, the monument to the 72nd Pennsylvania competes with that of G.K. Warren for “most photographed” on the battlefield.
Nicknamed “Baxter’s Fire Zouaves,” the regiment was part of the Philadelphia Brigade. It’s commander at Gettysburg was Col. Dewitt C. Baxter (1829-1881), a wood engraver from Philadelphia. When Baxter fell wounded on July 2, Lt. Col. Theodore Hesser (1829-1863), a clerk from Philadelphia took command. Hesser was killed during the Mine Run Campaign.
The monument is simple enough: it depicts a statue of an infantryman using his musket like a club. The soldier is clad in the uniform of a Fire Zouave.
The soldier has a youthful appearence. Of the 1,400 men who eventually served in the 72nd Pennsylvania, 1,200 had been under the age of 21.
This is one of the most controversial monuments at Gettysburg. Not for what it depicts (a la the 42nd New York and it’s Indian chief), but rather for where it was placed.
The monument is located at the “High Water Mark” — the place where Pickett’s Charge was repulsed.
Because this became such a central location and stopping point on EVERY tour of Gettysburg, any unit that fought anywhere near here wanted a prominent monument at the “Angle.” The Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Assocation was concerned that the area could become literally cluttered by too many monuments. It thus decreed that any future monuments needed to be placed where the regiment was located in an established line of battle.
OK, so far so good.
The established line of battle prior to Pickett’s Charge had the 72nd Pennsylvania in line on Cemetery Ridge with the 42nd New York and 19th Maine. When Pickett’s men surged towards the wall, some of the men of the 72nd Pennsylvania rushed to the stonewall in their front that makes up the famous “Angle.” The 72nd wanted their monument at the stonewall, not yards behind it on Cemetery Ridge. In 1888, they dug a foundation for a monument at the stonewall. And, they set off a storm of controversy.
The fight eventually was taken to the legal system. The fight for the placement of the 72nd Monument wound it’s way through the courts. In the meantime, the regiment purchased land from the Codori Farm so that they could put their monument on the other side of the wall, if necessary. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court eventually decided that the 72nd Pennsylvania monument could be erected at the stonewall. This caused considerable bitterness among other regiments that had wanted their monuments placed at the stonewall.
The monument was dedicated on July 4, 1891. It is located at the stonewall at the Angle. The sculptor was a man name Stephens; the monument was designed by J. Reed, a private in the regiment.
72nd Pennsylvania Infantry
2nd Corps, 2nd Division, 2nd Brigade
Col. Dewitt C. Baxter (1829-1881)
Engaged: 458; 44 killed, 146 wounded, 2 missing
Monument: Stonewall at the Angle [Secondary Monument]
