The Twenty Seventh Pennsylvania Infantry is honored by two monuments at Gettysburg, one on East Cemetery Hill and one on Coster Avenue.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? Sept. 12, 1889.
What is it made out of? Sculpture: granite with bronze elements; Base: granite.
What size is it? Sculpture: approx. H. 10 ft. 10 in.; Base: approx. W. 5 ft. 8 in. x D. 5 ft. 8 in.
Who made it? Unknown, sculptor.
What does it depict? Vertical shaft on a tiered base is topped with a decorative apex cap with crescents. A square bronze relief of the State Seal of Pennsylvania is affixed to the upper front face. Monument is a two-part shaft of polished granite tapering to an ornate polished apex and set on a 5.8 foot square base. The lower part of the shaft has incised letters and the upper part has an incised inscription with a bronze state shield on the front and incised inscriptions on two sides. Overall height is 10.10 feet. Flanking markers are one foot square.
What does it honor? It marks the position taken by the 27th Pennsylvania on the night of July 1, 1863 which they held until they moved to the cemetery on July 3.
How is it inscribed? 27TH PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY/1ST BRIGADE 2ND DIVISION 11TH CORPS
When was this photograph taken? September 25, 2010.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, East Cemetery Hill, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. Located by Coster’s Brigade wall on East Cemetery Hill.
Is this monument located along the NPS Auto Tour route? Located on extended tour route that includes Cemetery Hill.
Has this monument been moved or changed? This monument has not been moved or materially altered. This monument replaced the original monument which was moved to Coster Avenue.
Monument Details, Alternative Views, and Contextual Views
Secondary Monuments and Markers
Monument Title: Secondary Monument to July 1, 1863 Position
Photographed: June 5, 2011.
Location: Coster Avenue, the Brickyard. Located at the west end of Coster Avenue. This monument is denoted on the map above by a RED pushpin.
Description: Dedicated 1884. Relocated circa 1888-1889 from East Cemetery Hill where the current larger regimental monument now stands. Donnelly, A., sculptor. It was one of the earliest monuments placed on the battlefield. A shaft topped by an eagle with spread wings atop a sphere. The shaft itself ends in lion’s paws and has an octagonal plinth and tiered, octagonal base. It marks the general location of the regiment on the evening of July 1, 1863 when it advanced to cover the retreat of Barlow’s Division. It was originally installed on East Cemetery Hill in 1884 and was moved to its current location in 1889. Represents general location of regiment covering retreat of Barlow’s Division on July 1, 1863.
Monument consists of a soft, non-granite stone and shows signs of erosion.
At Gettysburg
The 27th Pennsylvania Infantry was also known as the Washington Brigade. During the battle of Gettysburg, it served as a member of Coster’s Brigade in Von Steinwehr’s Division of the Eleventh Corps, Army of the Potomac.
Commander: Lt. Col. Lorenz Cantador (1810-1883)
Number Engaged: 324
Casualties: 6 killed, 29 wounded, 76 missing
Officers Killed at Gettysburg:
- 1st Lieutenant Walter S. Briggs, Adjutant, killed on July 2, buried at F-76 in the National Cemetery
- 1st Lieutenant John Kuempel, Company E, C-39
Soldiers Buried in the Pennsylvania Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:
- Pvt. Alexander Bond, Company K, D-65
- Cpl. Emil Preiser, Company E, A-98
General Information
Raised: Philadelphia
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized at Philadelphia January, 1861. Moved to Baltimore, Md., April 18. Attacked in streets of Baltimore April 19. Returned to Philadelphia and reorganized for three years. Mustered in May 31 to date from May 5. 1861. Moved to Washington, D.C., June 17-18. Attached to 1st Brigade, Miles’ Division, McDowell’s Army of Northeast Virginia, to August, 1861. Blenker’s Brigade, Division of the Potomac, to October, 1861. Stahl’s Brigade, Blenker’s Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. 1st Brigade, Blenker’s 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, March, 1862. 1st Brigade, Blenker’s Division, Dept. of the Mountains, to June, 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division. 1st Corps, Army of Virginia, to September, 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 11th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to October, 1862. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 11th Corps, Army of the Potomac, to October, 1863, and Army of the Cumberland to April, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 20th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to May, 1864.
SERVICE.–Advance on Manassas, Va., July 16-21, 1861. Battle of Bull Run July 21. Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C., until April, 1862. Operations in the Shenandoah Valley May to August. Battle of Cross Keys June 8. At Sperryville and Centreville until August. Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Battles of Groveton August 29: Bull Run August 30. Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C., until December. Reconnaissance to Snicker’s Ferry and Berryville November 28-30. March to Fredericksburg, Va., December 10-15. Duty at Falmouth and Brooks’ Station until April, 1863. Operations at Welford’s, Kelly’s and Beverly Fords April 14-15. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3. Pursuit of Lee July 5-24. Duty on line of the Rapidan, near Bristoe Station, until September. Movement to Bridgeport, Ala., September 24-October 3. March along Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad to Lookout Valley, Tenn., October 25-28. Reopening Tennessee River October 26-29. Battle of Wauhatchie October 28-29. Battles of Chattanooga November 23-27; Orchard Knob November 23; Tunnel Hill November 23-24; Mission Ridge November 25. March to relief of Knoxville November 27-December 17. Duty in Lookout Valley until May, 1864. Atlanta Campaign May 1-25. Demonstration on Rocky Faced Ridge May 8-11. Dug Gap, or Mill Creek, May 8. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Near Cassville May 19. Advance on Dallas May 22-25. Left front May 25. Mustered out June 11, 1864. Veterans and Recruits transferred to 109th Pennsylvania. Regiment lost during service 5 Officers and 67 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 62 Enlisted men by disease. Total 134.
Pennsylvania at Gettysburg
1st Reserve :: 2nd Reserve :: 5th Reserve :: 6th Reserve :: 9th Reserve :: 10th Reserve :: 11th Reserve :: 12th Reserve :: 13th Reserve :: 11th Infantry :: 23rd Infantry :: 26th Infantry :: 26th Emergency :: 27th Infantry :: 28th Infantry :: 29th Infantry :: 46th Infantry :: 49th Infantry :: 53rd Infantry :: 56th Infantry :: 57th Infantry :: 61st Infantry :: 62nd Infantry :: 63rd Infantry :: 68th Infantry :: 69th Infantry :: 71st Infantry :: 72nd Infantry :: 73rd Infantry :: 74th Infantry :: 75th Infantry :: 81st Infantry :: 82nd Infantry :: 83rd Infantry :: 84th Infantry :: 88th Infantry :: 90th Infantry :: 91st Infantry :: 93rd Infantry :: 95th Infantry :: 96th Infantry :: 98th Infantry :: 99th Infantry :: 102nd Infantry :: 105th Infantry :: 106th Infantry :: 107th Infantry :: 109th Infantry :: 110th Infantry :: 111th Infantry :: 114th Infantry :: 115th Infantry :: 116th Infantry :: 118th Infantry :: 119th Infantry :: 121st Infantry :: 139th Infantry :: 140th Infantry :: 141st Infantry :: 142nd Infantry :: 143rd Infantry :: 145th Infantry :: 147th Infantry :: 148th Infantry :: 149th Infantry :: 150th Infantry :: 151st Infantry :: 153rd Infantry :: 155th Infantry :: Cavalry :: 1st Regiment :: 2nd Regiment :: 3rd Regiment :: 4th Regiment :: 6th Regiment :: 8th Regiment :: 16th Regiment :: 17th Regiment :: 18th Regiment :: 21st Regiment :: Artillery :: 1st Artillery B :: 1st Artillery F&G :: 3rd Artillery H :: Independent C&F :: Independent E
