2nd Maryland CSA
In stark contrast to the hundreds of Union regimental monuments, there are relatively few monuments to Confederate regiments at Gettysburg. A very notable exception is the monument to the “2nd Maryland.”
Located on Culp’s Hill near the “saddle” where Slocum Avenue makes a hairpin turn, the monument is relatively simple and rather unremarkable in design. The monument appears very traditional and in keeping with the rest of the memorials on the field. It consists mainly of a tapered die topped by a highly polished granite ball. Each of the four sides includes the Baltimore cross.
The monument was dedicated on November 19, 1886 at a cost of $1,000.00. It consists of Hardwick Granite. A small marker also represents the point reach during the July 3 fighting. General Steuart was among those in attendance at the dedication.
The sharp-eyed will notice if they peruse the Army of Northern Virginia’s Order of Battle that there is, in fact, no 2nd Maryland! And therein lies the relatively interesting history of the monument.
In October 1884, the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association granted permission to the survivors of the 1st Maryland Battalion (which had served in Steuart’s Brigade of Ed Johnson’s Division) to erect a monument indicating it’s position on the battlefield. Some Union veterans opposed allowing a Confederate monument. Of particular problem was the fact that there were already TWO Union “First Marylands” — the 1st Maryland “Potomac Home Brigade” and the 1st Maryland “Eastern Shore.” Both units also had monuments nearby the site chosen by the 1st Maryland, CSA.
The GBMA decided to allow the 1st Maryland CSA to build a monument, but required that it be designated as the 2nd Maryland Infantry, CSA, to avoid confusion with the two Union 1st Marylands. The men of the 1st Maryland CSA reluctantly agreed.
(Defiantly, however, they etched the words “1st Maryland changed to” right above the 2nd Maryland CSA designation on the monument.)
Tags: Army of Northern Virginia, Culp's Hill, Gettysburg, Maryland, Monument Project
Interesting story…..”Maryland” Steuart was an interesting man…cavalry in old Army…infantry in ANV; maybe not our best commander, but far from the worst. Severely wounded twice; was long-time Commander, Maryland Division UCV…died in 1903…buried in Green Mount Cemetery, Baltimore, as is Joe Johnston.