The Eighty Eighth Pennsylvania Infantry is honored by a monument and three position stones (advanced position on July 1, July 2, and July 3) at Gettysburg.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? Sept. 1889.
What is it made out of? Sculpture: granite; Base: granite with bronze relief.
What size is it? Overall: approx. H. 13 ft. 2 in.; Sculpture: approx. H. 7 ft. 4 1/2 in. x W. 4 ft.; Base: approx. H. 5 ft. 10 in. x W. 2 ft. 6 in.
Who made it? Lackner, John, sculptor.
What does it depict? The monument was designed by the regiment’s surviving members. It cost $3,000.00 and consists of Quincy and Concord granite. Various infantry accouterments topped with an open-winged eagle stand on a polished die and rough-hewn base. A square relief of the Pennsylvania State Seal is affixed to the right side. Accouterments include a book, trumpet, revolver, flag, drum, sword, rifle, hat, canteen and haversack. The flanking markers are flat topped and measure one foot square.
What does it honor? The monument indicates the position in the brigade line held by the 88th Pennsylvania Infantry on the afternoon of July 1, 1863.
How is it inscribed? 88TH PENNA.INFANTRY/2ND BRIGADE 2ND DIVISION 1ST CORPS
When was this photograph taken? April 15, 2011.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Doubleday Avenue, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. It is located on the west side of Doubleday Avenue.
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
Secondary Monuments and Markers
Monument Title: Advanced Position, July 1, 1863
Photographed: November 14, 2009
Location: Forney Field, accessed via a trail from the monument along Doubleday Avenue. Marker is west of the Oak Ridge Tower parking area. This monument is denoted on the map above by a PINK pushpin.
Description: Small stone position marker. The inscription is as follows: On the afternoon of July 1st 1863 the Regiment charged to this point capturing two battle flags and a number of prisoners.
Monument Title: July 2nd Position Marker
Photographed: September 18, 2009.
Location: South Hancock Avenue, Cemetery Ridge. South of the Pennsylvania Monument. This monument is denoted on the map above by a RED pushpin.
Description: Small stone position marker. The inscription is as follows: Held this position from the evening of July 2nd 1863 until the morning of July 3rd. The principal monument is erected on Oak Ridge the scene of the First Day’s Battle.
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Monument Title: July 3, 1863 Position Marker
Photographed: March 25, 2010.
Location: Ziegler’s Grove, North Hancock Avenue, southwest of the old visitor center parking area. This monument is denoted on the map above by a BLUE pushpin.
Description: Small stone position marker. The inscription is as follows: Arrived here in time to assist in repelling the enemy’s charge on July 3rd 1863 and remained until the morning of July 5th.
At Gettysburg
The 88th Pennsylvania Infantry was also known as The Cameron Light Guards. During the battle of Gettysburg, it served as a member of Baxter’s Brigade in Robinson’s Division of the First Corps, Army of the Potomac.
Commander: Maj. Benzet F. Foust (1840-1870). Lawyer from Philadelphia. Wounded on July 1.
Number Engaged: 296
Casualties: 4 killed, 55 wounded, 51 missing
Soldiers Buried in the Pennsylvania Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:
- Pvt. William Beaumont, Company A, B-73
- Sgt. Henry Evans, Company B, F-58
Medal of Honor Winners: GILLIGAN, EDWARD L. Rank and organization: First Sergeant, Company E, 88th Pennsylvania Infantry. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 1 July 1863. Entered service at: Philadelphia, Pa. Birth: Philadelphia, Pa. Date of issue: 30 April 1892. Citation: Assisted in the capture of a Confederate flag by knocking down the color sergeant.
General Information
Raised: Philadelphia and Berks County
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized at Philadelphia September, 1861. Left State for Washington, D.C., October 1. At Kendall Green, Washington, D.C., until October 12. Provost duty at Alexandria until April 17, 1862. (Cos. “A,” “C,” “D,” “E” and “I” garrison forts on Maryland side of the Potomac River February 18 to April 17.) At Cloud’s Mills, Va., April 17-23. Guard Orange & Alexandria Railroad between Bull Run and Fairfax C. H. until May 7. Attached to 1st Brigade, Ord’s 2nd Division, Dept. of the Rappahannock, to June, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 3rd Corps, Army of Virginia, to September, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army Potomac, to March, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps, to May, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps, to March, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps, to June, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps, to March, 1865. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps, to June, 1865.
SERVICE.–Duty near Fredericksburg, Va., until May 25. Expedition to Front Royal to intercept Jackson May 25-June 18. Duty at Manassas, Warrenton and Culpeper until August. Battle of Cedar Mountain August 9. Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Fords of the Rappahannock August 21-23. Thoroughfare Gap August 28. Battle of Bull Run August 30. Chantilly September 1. Maryland Campaign September 6-24. Battles of South Mountain September 14; Antietam September 16-17. Duty near Sharpsburg, Md., until October 30. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 30-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15. Burnside’s 2nd Campaign, “Mud March,” January 20-24, 1863. At Falmouth and Belle Plains until April 27. 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. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg 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. Regiment reenlisted February 6, 1864, and on furlough until April 7. 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. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Bethesda Church June 1-3. White Oak Swamp June 13. 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. Hatcher’s Run October 27-28. Warren’s Expedition to 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. White Oak Road March 30-31. Five Forks April 1. Pursuit of Lee April 2-9. Appomattox C. H. April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Moved to Washington, D.C., May 1-12. Grand Review May 23. Mustered out June 30, 1865. Regiment lost during service 8 Officers and 101 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 72 Enlisted men by disease. Total 181.
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
