The Thirteenth Massachusetts Infantry is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? October 1885.
What is it made out of? Sculpture: white granite; Base: white granite.
What size is it? Sculpture: approx. H. 14 ft. 2 in.; Base: approx. W. 6 ft. x D. 6 ft.
Who made it? Smith Granite Company, fabricator.
What does it depict? Full-length figure of uniformed Color Sargent Roland G. Morris stands atop a square, tapered base. The figure holds a flagpole with both hands on his proper left side. The upper portion of the base is banded with a row of stars on each side.
What does it honor? It indicates the position held by the 13th Massachusetts Infantry on July 1, 1863 near the base of Oak Hill. Later in the day, the regiment retreated with Paul’s Brigade to Cemetery Hill. The monument also indicates the spot where color sergeant Roland G. Morris fell.
How is it inscribed? 13TH MASS. VOLS’/1ST BRIG. 2ND DIV. 1ST CORPS/JULY 1ST 1863
When was this photograph taken? April 15, 2011.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Robinson Avenue, near the base of Oak Hill, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325.
Is this monument located along the NPS Auto Tour route? Included on the extended tour route that includes Barlow’s Knoll.
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 13th Massachusetts Infantry served as a member of Paul’s Brigade in Robinson’s Division of the First Corps, Army of the Potomac.
Commander: Col. Samuel H. Leonard (1825-1902). Involved in the express business in Boston. Wounded slightly on July 1.
Number Engaged: 284
Casualties: 7 killed, 77 wounded, 101 missing
Soldiers Buried in the Massachusetts Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:
- Pvt. John M. Brock, Company H, A-35
- Cpl. Prince A. Dunton, Company H, A-37
- Pvt. Edwin Field, Company B, A-34
- Sgt. Edgar A. Fiske, Company E, A-39
- Pvt. John Flye, Company K, A-38
- Pvt. Francis A. Gould, Company K, A-36
- Pvt. Michael O’Laughlin, Company K, A-33
- Pvt. George S. Wise, Company D, A-32
After Action Report: After Action Report of Lieut. Col. N. Walter Batchelder (1825-1868) (will open a pop up window).
General Information
Raised: Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Worchester counties.
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized at Fort Independence June 16, 1861. Left State for Washington, D.C., July 30. Attached to Stile’s Brigade, Banks’ Division, Army of the Potomac, to October, 1861. Abercrombie’s Brigade, Banks’ Division, to March, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Banks’ 5th Army Corps and Dept. of the Shenandoah, to May, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, Dept. of the Rappahannock, to June, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of Virginia, to September, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps Army of the Potomac, to May, 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps, to March, 1864. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps, to June, 1864. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps, to July, 1864.
SERVICE.–Patrol and outpost duty on the Upper Potomac until March, 1862. Action at Beller’s Mill, near Harper’s Ferry, W. Va., September 2, 1861. Pritchard’s Mills September 18 (2 Cos.). Bolivar Heights near Harper’s Ferry, October 16. (Cos. “C,” “D,” “I” and “K” detached at Hancock, Md., January 5-30, 1862.) Operations in the Shenandoah Valley March and April. Occupation of Winchester, Va., March 12. Pursuit of Jackson up the Valley March 24-April 27. Guard duty on the Orange & Alexandria Railroad May 3-18. Battle of Cedar Mountain August 9. Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Thoroughfare Gap August 28. Battle of Bull Run August 30. Chantilly September 1. Maryland Campaign September-October. Battles of South Mountain September 14, and Antietam September 16-17. At Sharpsburg until October 30. Movement to Warrenton, thence to Falmouth, Va., October 30-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15. “Mud March” January 20-24, 1863. At Falmouth and Belle Plain until April 27. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Operations at Pollock’s Mill Creek April 29-May 2. Fitzhugh’s Crossing April 29-30. Battle of Chancellorsville May 2-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3. Picket duty along the Rapidan until October –. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahanock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Duty on the Orange & Alexandria Railroad until April, 1864. Demonstrations on the Rapidan February 6-7. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May-June. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient May 12. North Anna River May 23-26. Jericho Ford May 23. Line of the Pamunkey June 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Bethesda Church June 1-3. White Oak Swamp June 13. Before Petersburg June 16-18. Siege of Petersburg June 16-July 14. Mustered out August 1, 1864. Regiment lost during service 4 Officers and 117 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 40 Enlisted men by disease. Total 161.
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
