The Seventeenth United States Infantry is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? Erected between 1907 and 1908.
What is it made out of? Foundation: Concrete. Monument: Polished red Jonesboro Granite. Plaque: Bronze.
What size is it? 24 by 50 inches and 7 feet high.
Who made it? Van Armitage Granite Company
What does it depict? One of 45 monuments erected to units of the United States regular army on the battlefield. A red polished Jonesboro granite monolith that is set upon a concrete foundation with a descriptive 3’6′x3’7′ bronze tablet with the coat of arms of the United States in bronze.
What does it honor? Locates positions occupied by Regular 17th Infantry during Battle of Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
How is it inscribed? This monument is inscribed,
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
FIFTH CORPS
SECOND DIVISION SECOND BRIGADE
SEVENTEENTH U. S. INFANTRY
Seven Companies
Lieut. Colonel J. Durell Green Commanding
July 2. Arrived in the morning and took position with the Brigade on the right of the Twelfth Corps. Later moved to the left and at 5 P. M. formed line with the Brigade at the right of Little Round Top and advanced across Plum Run to the crest of the rocky wooded hill beyond near the Wheatfield under a severe fire from the Confederate sharpshooters on the left then facing left the Regiment with the Brigade occupied the stone wall on the edge of the woods. The Confederates having opened fire on the right and advanced in the Wheatfield in the rear the Brigade was withdrawn under a heavy fire on both flanks and from the rear and formed in line on the right of Little Round Top having been engaged about two hours.
July 3. Remained in same position.
Present 25 Officers and 235 Men
Casualties Killed 1 Officer and 24 Men Wounded 13 Officers and 105 Men Missing 7 Men
When was this photograph taken? August 26, 2012.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. Located in field South of Ayres 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
At Gettysburg
The 17th United States Infantry was also known as Maine Regulars. During the battle of Gettysburg, it served as a member of Burbank’s Brigade in Ayres’ Division of the Fifth Corps, Army of the Potomac.
Commander: Lt. Col. James D. Greene (1828-1902). Born in Lynn, Massachusetts. Graduate of Harvard University. Inventor of a breech loading rifle.
Number Engaged: 334
Casualties: 25 killed, 118 wounded, 7 missing
Officers Killed at Gettysburg:
- 2nd Lieutenant Edward S. Abbott, Company A, mortally wounded on July 2, of Boston, Massachusetts
- 1st Lieutenant William H. Chamberlain, Company H, killed on July 2, buried in National Cemetery at B-27
Soldiers Buried in the United States Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:
- Sgt. Silas P. Blanchard, Company B, A-29
- Pvt. William A. Byrne, Company D, B-15
- Pvt. Solan L. Cornell, Company A, C-16
- Pvt. William Duffy, Company D, A-31
- Pvt. Julius Fergeson, Company A, C-17
- Sgt. Charles P. Giles, Company G, B-12
- Pvt. Barney McNamee, Company B, C-18
- Cpl. John H. Small, Company D, A-24
- Pvt. Charles H. Whitney, Company C, A-30
After Action Report: After Action Report of Lieut. Col. J. Durell Greene (will open a pop up window).
General Information
Raised: It was enlisted from the counties of Aroostook, Cumberland, and Penobscot in Maine, as well as from Erie County (New York) and Wayne County (Michigan). It was organized in Maine in 1861 at Fort Preble.
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized by direction of the President May 4, 1861, and confirmed July 29, 1861, by Act of Congress. Regiment organized at Fort Preble, Maine. Moved to Washington, D.C., March 4, 1862. Attached to Sykes’ Regular Infantry, Reserve Brigade, Army of the Potomac, to May, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps, to September, 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps, to March, 1864. 4th Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps, to April, 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps, to June, 1864. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps, to October, 1864. Dept. of the East to October, 1865.
SERVICE.–Moved to the Virginia Peninsula March, 1862. Siege of Yorktown, Va., April 5-May 4. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Battles of Mechanicsville June 26; Gaines’ Mill June 27; Turkey Bridge June 30; Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison’s Landing until August 16. Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Centerville August 16-28. Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia August 28-September 2. Battles of Groveton August 29. Bull Run August 30. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Battle of Antietam, Md., September 16-17. Shepherdstown Ford September 19-20. At Sharpsburg, Md., until October 29. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 29-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. “Mud March” January 20-24, 1863. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Pursuit of Lee July 5-24. At New York on special duty August 14-September 21. Rejoined army at Culpeper, Va. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Rapidan Campaign May 4-June 12. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spotsylvania Court House May 8-21; North Anna River May 22-26. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Bethesda Church June 1-3. Before Petersburg June 16-18. Siege of Petersburg June 16-October 13. Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30 (Reserve). Weldon Railroad August 18-21. Poplar Springs Church, Peeble’s Farm, September 29-October 2. Ordered to New York October 13, 1864, and duty at Fort Lafayette, New York Harbor, until October, 1865. Regiment lost during service 9 Officers and 92 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 100 Enlisted men by disease. Total 203.
United States Regular Army at Gettysburg
Infantry Units :: 2nd Infantry :: 3rd Infantry :: 4th Infantry :: 6th Infantry :: 7th Infantry :: 8th Infantry :: 10th Infantry :: 11th Infantry :: 12th Infantry :: 14th Infantry :: 17th Infantry :: Artillery Units :: 1st Artillery E&G :: 1st Artillery H :: 1st Artillery I :: 1st Artillery K :: 2nd Artillery A :: 2nd Artillery D :: 2nd Artillery G :: 2nd Artillery B&L :: 2nd Artillery M :: 3rd Artillery C :: 3rd Artillery F&K :: 4th Artillery A :: 4th Artillery B :: 4th Artillery C :: 4th Artillery E :: 4th Artillery F :: 4th Artillery G :: 4th Artillery K :: 5th Artillery C :: 5th Artillery D :: 5th Artillery F :: 5th Artillery I :: 5th Artillery K :: Cavalry Units :: 1st Cavalry :: 2nd Cavalry :: 5th Cavalry :: 6th Cavalry :: Other Units :: Engineer Battalion :: Signal Corps
4 Comments
My great grandfather Stephen Jones Marlett was a private with the unit. He suffered a gun shot to the leg. His obituary said he was involved in 17 engagements until the end of the War.
He is buried in Idaho.
My Great Great Grandfather commanded Co. H in this unit. His name is John Sullivan Knapp. He was wounded twice in the leg on July 3rd. He saw action at Gettysburg, Antietam, Chancellorsville, and a few other major battles. Anyone with additional info on him or others in Company H would be hugely appreciated.
Mr. Pearson,
As your great, great grandfather was Lt. John Sullivan Knapp, I am writing to let you know that I own a document containing an autograph endorsement written and signed by Lincoln specifically naming him, Gen. McClellan and John Nicolay in connection with an assignment Lincoln was helping Lt. Knapp obtain. If you are interested in seeing it and perhaps purchasing it, please contact me at SBrizek@aol.com.
Steven Brizek
North Haledon, NJ
Mr. Pearson,
Here is the text of the Lincoln document that pertains to your great, great grandfather:
“The within letter (not included) of Gen. McClellan is in answer to one from me in regard to Lieut. John S. Knapp of 17th regular infantry, being detailed on recruiting service. Adjt. General, please fix it up. Mr. Nicolay goes to you with the father; and please hear them as to when the Lieut. is to go.
A. Lincoln
Oct. 15, 1862