The 15th and 50th New York Engineers is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? Sept. 17, 1890.
What is it made out of? Sculpture: granite with bronze elements; Base: granite.
What size is it? Sculpture: approx. 11 ft. 6 in. x 13 ft. 7 in. x 3 ft. 11 in.; Base: approx. W. 14 ft. 4 in. x D. 4 ft. 9 in.
Who made it? Beattie & Brooks, fabricator. Frederick & Field, fabricator.
What does it depict? Monument consists of three coursed piers connected by granite coursing. The center pier is shorter than the two flanking piers. A bronze tondo, relief and tablets are affixed to the piece. The monument was built with the combined state appropriations of these two units and cost $3,000.00. The bronze relief depicts the massive pontoon bridge erected to span the Potomac River to allow the Army of the Potomac to pursue the Army of Northern Virginia into the North. Monument is a miniature Corps of Engineers castle composed of coursed and rough cut granite set on a 14.3×4.9 foot base. The castle has bronze medallions, tablets, bas-reliefs, and excised inscriptions. Overall height is twelve feet.
What does it honor? The 15th & 50th Engineers were not actually present at Gettysburg; they laid pontoons over the Rappahannock and Monocacy in June 1863 to facilitate troop movements.
How is it inscribed? 15TH AND 50TH/NEW YORK/ENGINEERS,/HEAD-QUARTERS A.P./ESSAYONS/EXCELSIOR
When was this photograph taken? December 11, 2011.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Pleasonton Avenue, north side, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325.
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 15th and 50th New York Engineers served as a member of Benham’s Brigade in the Army of the Potomac.
Number Engaged: Not present at Gettysburg but participated in the Campaign. Monument indicates participation in Gettysburg campaign though not present during battles; this unit helped lay pontoons over the Rappahannock and Monocacy Rivers June 1863 to facilitate troop movements.
General Information
Raised: At large.
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
15th Regiment
Organized at Washington, D.C.. October 25, 1861, from 15th Regiment New York Infantry. Attached to Engineer Brigade, Army of the Potomac.
SERVICE.–Duty at Washington and Alexandria until March, 1862. Moved to the Virginia Peninsula March. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. Advance up the Peninsula and constructing bridges on the Chickahominy River May. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Seven Pines June 27. White Oak Swamp and Charles City Cross Roads June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison’s Landing until August 16. Moved Washington, D.C., August 16-22. Maryland Campaign September-October. Rappahannock Campaign November, 1862, to June, 1863. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. “Mud March” January 20-24, 1863. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Operations about Franklin’s Crossing April 29-May 2. Maryes Heights, Fredericksburg, May 3. Salem Heights May 3-4. Banks’ Ford May 4. Deep Run Ravine June 5-13. Mustered out June 25, 1863. Three years men consolidated to a Battalion of three Companies, “A,” “B” and “C.” Company “D” assigned December 9, 1863; Company “E” assigned March, 1864, and other seven Companies November, 1864. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June-July, 1863. Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Rapidan Campaign May-June, 1864. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spottsylvania Court House May 8-21; North Anna River May 23-26. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Crossing of James River June 15. Before Petersburg June 16-18. Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Deep Bottom July 27-28, 1864. Hatcher’s Run February 5-7, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Fall of Petersburg and Richmond April 2-3. Pursuit of Lee April 3-9. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Expedition to reinforce General Sherman April 23-29. Moved to Washington, D.C., May 2-15. Grand Review May 23. (Cos. “A,” “B” and “H” with Terry’s Expedition to Fort Fisher, N. C., January 3-15, 1865. Capture of Fort Fisher January 15. Capture of Wilmington, N. C., February 22. Campaign of the Carolinas March 1-April 26. Occupation of Goldsboro and Raleigh. Bennett’s House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. Duty in Dept. of North Carolina until June.) Mustered out Companies “E,” “F,” “G,” “H,” “I,” “K,” “L” and “M” at Washington, D.C., June 13, 1865; Companies “C” June 14, 1865, and Companies “A,” “B” and “D” July 2, 1865. Regiment lost during service 7 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 119 Enlisted men by disease. Total 129.
50th Engineers
Organized at Washington, D.C., from 50th New York Infantry October 22, 1861. Attached to Woodbury’s Brigade, Army of the Potomac, to April, 1862, and Engineer Brigade, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1865.
SERVICE.–Duty at Alexandria, Va., until March, 1862, and at Washington, D.C., until March 18. Moved with Army of the Potomac to the Virginia Peninsula. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. Advance up the Peninsula and constructing bridges on the Chickahominy River May. Battle of Fair Oaks, Seven Pines, May 31-June 1. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Battle of Seven Pines June 27. White Oak Swamp and Charles City Cross Roads June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison’s Landing until August 16. Moved to Washington, D.C., August 16-22. Maryland Campaign September-October. Operating at and about Harper’s Ferry, W. Va., and Berlin, Md., during and after the battle of Antietam. Threw two pontoon bridges over the Potomac River at Berlin, Md., for the crossing the Army of the Potomac in their pursuit of Lee from Antietam. Rappahannock Campaign November, 1862, to June, 1863. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. “Mud March” January 20-24, 1863. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Operations at Franklin’s Crossing April 29-May 2. Maryes Heights, Fredericksburg, May 3. Salem Heights May 3-4. Banks’ Ford May 4. Operations at Deep Run Ravine June 5 13. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 13-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-4. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James River May 3-June 15, 1864. Laid all bridges for Army of the Potomac during the Campaign. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spottsylvania Court House May 8-21. To expedite the transportation of wounded three Companies made a forced march to Fredericksburg on May 10, starting at 11:30 a.m. Built bridge over the Rappahannock at Fredericksburg Lower Crossing, having it completed and ready for use at 4:30 p.m., having marched 8 miles and built bridge 420 feet long in 5 hours. North Anna River May 23-26. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. On line of the Totopotomoy May 28-31. About Cold Harbor June 1-12. Crossing of James River June 15. Before Petersburg June 16-18. Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond June, 1864, to April, 1865. Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23, 1864. Demonstration on north side of James River July 27-29. Deep Bottom July 27-28. Hatcher’s Run February 5-7, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Fall of Petersburg April 2. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. (Co. “I” march to Danville with 6th Army Corps April 23-27.) Mustered out at Washington, D.C., June 13, 1865. Regiment lost during service 1 Officer and 19 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 206 Enlisted men by disease. Total 227.
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
