The Fifty Sixth Pennsylvania Infantry is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? Sept. 11, 1889.
What is it made out of? Sculpture: bronze; Base: granite.
What size is it? Sculpture: approx. H. 15 ft. x Circum. 10 ft. 6 in.; Base: approx. H. 8 in. x Circum: 11 ft. 11 in.
Who made it? Bureau Brothers, founder.
What does it depict? A furled standard of a flag and two muskets atop a two-layered cylindric pedestal and low, round base. The bronze sculpture — featuring a stack of rifle muskets and a furled battle flag — is meant to symbolize the completion of a soldier’s work. It cost $1500.00. The monument is located “where the regiment delivered the opening fire of the infantry” in the battle. The flanking markers are apex topped and one foot square.
What does it honor? It indicates the position held by the 56th Pennsylvania Infantry on July 1, 1863 when they opened first Union Infantry fire upon Hill’s Corps.
How is it inscribed? 56TH PENNA INFANTRY/2D BRIGADE, 1ST DIVISION/1ST CORPS/THE REGIMENT HERE DELIVERED THE/OPENING FIRE OF THE INFANTRY IN THE/BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG IN THE/FORENOON OF JULY 1ST, 1863/JULY 2ND AND 3RD OCCUPIED POSITION/ON CULP’S HILL AS INDICATED BY/STONE MARKERS (There are no stone markers on Culp’s Hill to the 56th Pennsylvania. They were apparently never erected or added.)
When was this photograph taken? September 19, 2009.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, North Reynolds Avenue, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. It is located on east side of north Reynolds Avenue north of the Western Maryland Railroad Cut bridge.
Is this monument located along the NPS Auto Tour route? Yes.
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 56th Pennsylvania Infantry served as a member of Cutler’s Brigade in Wadsworth’s Division of the First Corps, Army of the Potomac.
Commander: Col. John W. Hofmann (1824-1902). Merchant from Philadelphia.
Number Engaged: 252
Casualties: 14 killed, 61 wounded, 55 missing
Officers Killed at Gettysburg:
- 2nd Lieutenant John D. Gordon, Company B, mortally wounded on July 1, buried at A-3 of the National Cemetery
Soldiers Buried in the Pennsylvania Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:
- Pvt. Robert W. Bell, Company I, A-46
- Pvt. Jacob Christ, Company D, E-2
- Pvt. John W. Crusan, Company B, B-64
- Pvt. Christian B. Ling, Company B, E-19
After Action Report: After Action Report of Col. J. William Hofmann (will open a pop up window).
General Information
Raised: Centre, Indiana, Luzerene, and Susquehanna counties and the city of Philadelphia
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, March 7, 1862. Left State for Washington, D.C., March 8. Attached to Defenses of Washington to May, 1862. Doubleday’s Brigade, Dept. of the Rappahannock, to June, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 3rd Corps, Army of Virginia, to September, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Array Corps, Army Potomac, to September, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps, to July, 1865.
SERVICE.–Duty at Fort Albany, Defenses of Washington, until April 4, 1862, and at Budd’s Ferry until April 24. At Aquia Creek Landing until May 10. Guard railroad bridge at Potomac Creek May 21-27. (Five Companies moved to Belle Plains May 10.) Guard duty near Fredericksburg until August 9. Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Battles of Gainesville August 28; Groveton August 29; Bull Run August 30. Maryland Campaign September 6-24. Battles of South Mountain September 14; Antietam September 16-17. Duty on the battlefield of Antietam until October 20. (Co. “A” at Fairfax October 20-30.) At Bakersville October 20-30. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 30-November 19. Union, Va., November 2-3. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15. Burnside’s 2nd Campaign, “Mud March,” January 20-24, 1863. At Falmouth and Belle Plains until April 27, 1863. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Operations at Pollock’s Mill Creek April 29-May 2. Fitzhugh’s Crossing April 29-30. Chancellorsville May 2-5. Brandy Station and Beverly Ford June 9. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Pursuit of Lee July 5-24. Duty on line of the Rappahannock until October. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7, 1864. On Veteran furlough March 10-April 17. Rapidan Campaign May 4-June 12. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Laurel Hill May 8; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spottsylvania C. H. May 12-21. Assault on the Salient May 12. North Anna River May 23-26. Jericho Ford May 25. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Bethesda Church June 1-3. Before Petersburg June 16-18. Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30, 1864 (Reserve). Weldon Railroad August 18-21. Poplar Springs Church September 29-October 2. Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28. Warren’s Raid on Weldon Railroad December 7-12. Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Lewis Farm near Gravelly Run March 29. Boydton and White Oak Road March 31. Five Forks April 1. Fall of Petersburg April 2. Appomattox C. H. April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. March to Washington, D.C., May 2-12. Grand Review May 23. Mustered out at Philadelphia, Pa., July 1, 1865. Regiment lost during service 7 Officers and 111 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 96 Enlisted men by disease. Total 215.
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
One Comment
I have the original July 16,1888 hand written letter from GE. W. Graham. mailed to J. William Hoffman on the Board of Commisioners on Gettysberg Monuments stationary. On it is the EXACT HAND WRITTEN INSCRIPTION THAT IS NOW ON THE MARKER HAND WRITTEN BY Geo. W. Graham. He wrote this 2 page letter to then Gen J. W. Hoffman. to give all the information for the Gettysberg monument.
If you guys are interested in acquiring this piece of history, contact me immediately before I dispose of it in a different manner.
Thanks