The First Massachusetts Infantry is honored by a monument and a position marker at Gettysburg.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? Installed June 30, 1886. Dedicated July 2, 1886.
What is it made out of? Granite.
What size is it? Approx. 11 x 8 x 3 ft.; Base: approx. 3 ft. 9 ft. 6 in. x 4 ft. 7 in.
Who made it? Smith Granite Company, fabricator.
What does it depict? Atop a rough granite base is a large Third Corps diamond symbol carved with a relief depicting a soldier holding his rifle as he steps over a split-rail fence along Emmitsburg Road. Monument is a 7.10×2.1 foot granite shaft that is diamond shaped with a sculpted relief of an infantryman at a fence line along Emmitsburg Road and set on a 9.7×4.7 foot rough hewn base. Overall height is 13.3 feet. Monument includes commemorative era rail fencing.
What does it honor? The monument indicates the general position held by the 1st Massachusetts Infantry while supporting its skirmish line at about 6:30 P.M. on July 2, 1863.
How is it inscribed? WITH MALICE TOWARD NONE, WITH CHARITY FOR ALL/ON/JULY 2, 1863/FROM 11 AM UNTIL 6:30 PM/THE FIRST REGIMENT/MASS. VOL. INF./LT. COL. CLARK B. BALDWIN COMMANDING/OCCUPIED THIS SPOT IN SUPPORT OF ITS SKIRMISH LINE/800 FT. IN ADVANCE, THE REG. SUBSEQUENTLY TOOK/POSITION IN THE BRIGADE LINE AND WAS ENGAGED UNTIL THE CLOSE OF THE ACTION/CASUALTIES/KILLED 18, DIED OF WOUNDS 9/WOUNDED 80, PRISONERS 15/TOTAL 122/LET US HAVE PEACE/FIRST BRIG. SECOND DIV./THIRD CORPS
When was this photograph taken? June 7, 2008.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, West of Emmitsburg Road, near Sickles Avenue, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. Located on the west side of Emmitsburg Road south of the junction with Sickles Avenue.
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
Secondary Monuments and Markers
Monument Title: Marker denoting the regimental skirmish line.
Photographed: May 2, 2010.
Location: Fields west of Emmitsburg Road, north east of Rogers Farm site. The position marker is in a field west of the monument. This monument is marked on the map above by a RED pushpin.
Description: Denotes the flank right of the 1st Massachusetts Infantry’s skirmish line. The left of the skirmish line rested on the Spangler Farm lane. It is inscribed with a diamond, symbol of the Third Army Corps. The monolith, with an inscription on the face, was erected in 1913.
.
At Gettysburg
The 1st Massachusetts Infantry served as a member of Carr’s Brigade in Humphrey’s Division of the Third Corps, Army of the Potomac. A Fighting 300 Regiment.
Commander: Lt. Col. Clark B. Baldwin (1819-1890). Merchant in Boston.
Number Engaged: 384
Casualties: 16 killed, 83 wounded, 21 missing
Officers Killed at Gettysburg:
- 1st Lieutenant Henry Hartley, Company H, of Williamsburg, killed July 2
Soldiers Buried in the Massachusetts Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:
- Pvt. David H. Eaton, Company B, B-32
- Cpl. Henry Evans, Company A, B-37
- Pvt. George Golden, Company B, B-31
- Sgt. William Kelren, Company E, B-36
- Pvt. Jacob Kesland, Company B, B-33
- Pvt. Frederick S. Kettell, Company E, B-30
- Pvt. James M. Matthews, Company D, B-35
- Sgt. Edward J. McGinnis, Company C, B-34
- Pvt. Andrew Moore, Company F, B-28
After Action Report: After Action Report of Lieut. Col Clark B. Baldwin (will open a pop up window).
Medal of Honor Winners: ALLEN, NATHANIEL M. Rank and organization: Corporal, Company B, 1st Massachusetts Infantry. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: Boston, Mass. Birth: Boston, Mass. Date of issue: 29 March 1899. Citation: When his regiment was falling back, this soldier, bearing the national color, returned in the face of the enemy’s fire, pulled the regimental flag from under the body of its bearer, who had fallen, saved the flag from capture, and brought both colors off the field.
General Information
Raised: Norfolk and Suffolk counties.
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized at Boston and mustered in Companies “A,” “B,” “G” and “H” May 23; Companies “D,” “F,” “K” and “I” May 24; Company “E” May 25, and Company “C” May 27, 1861. Left State for Washington, D.C., June 15, arriving June 17. Attached to Richardson’s Brigade, Tyler’s Division, McDowell’s Army of Northeast Virginia, to August, 1861. Hooker’s Brigade, Division of the Potomac, to October, 1861. 1st Brigade, Hooker’s Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1864. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 2nd Army Corps, to May, 1864.
SERVICE.–Duty at Camp Banks, Georgeton, D.C., until July 16, 1861. Advance on Manassas, Va., July 16-21. Occupation of Fairfax Court House July 17. Battle of Bull Run July 21. At Fort Albany until August 15. Moved to Bladensburg August 15 and duty there until September 7. Expedition to Lower Maryland September 7-October 7. Moved to Posey’s Plantation October 25-27. Duty there and at Shipping Point until April 5, 1862. Affair at Mattawoman Creek November 14, 1861. Ordered to Fortress Monroe, Va., April 7, 1862; thence to Yorktown. Siege of Yorktown April 16-May 4. Affair at Yorktown April 26 (Cos. “A,” “H” and “I”). Battle of Williamsburg May 5. Battle of Fair Oaks, Seven Pines, May 31-June 1. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Battles of Oak Grove June 25; Savage Station June 29; White Oak Swamp and Glendale June 30; Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison’s Landing until August 15. Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Centreville August 15-26. Bristoe Station or Kettle Run August 27. Catlett’s Station August 28. Battles of Groveton August 29 and Bull Run August 30. Duty in the Defences of Washington until December –. At Fort Lyon until Sep tember 13. Near Fairfax Seminary until October 20 and at Munson’s Hill until November 1. Duty at Fairfax Station November 2-25. Operations on Orange & Alexandria Railroad November 10-12. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. “Mud March” January 20-24, 1863. At Falmouth until April 27. Operations at Rappahannock Bridge and Grove Church February 5-7. 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 until July 24. Moved to New York July 30-August 1. Duty at Governor’s Island Ricker’s Island and David’s Island, New York Harbor until October 15. Moved to Washington October 15 thence to Union Mills, Va., and rejoin Corps October 17. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Kelly’s Ford November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Payne’s Farm November 27. Duty near Brandy Station until May, 1864. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7. Rapidan Campaign May 3-20. Battles of the Wilderness May 5 7; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient at Spottsylvania Court House May 12. Harris Farm or Fredericksburg Road May 19. Ordered home for muster out May 20 Veterans and Recruits transferred to 11th Massachussetts Infantry May 20. Mustered out May 25, 1864. Expiration of term. Regiment lost during service 8 Officers and 134 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 78 Enlisted men by disease. Total 221.
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
One Comment
Very Good information here. My wifes Great Great Grandad was in 1st Mass. Infantry •Pvt. David H. Eaton, Company B.
He got wounded 2 July and died 13 days later in Trostles barn.Any body have photos, would appreciate to email them