The Eighth 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 8th Infantry during Battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863.
How is it inscribed? This monument is inscribed as follows,
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
HEADQUARTERS
PROVOST GUARD
EIGHTH U. S. INFANTRY
Eight Companies
Captain Edwin W. H. Read Commanding
July 2. Arrived in the morning and engaged in Provost duty until the close of the battle.
When was this photograph taken? June 17, 2012.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. Located along former Meade Avenue, Liester Farm, near Meade’s headquarters.
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
At Gettysburg
The 8th United States Infantry served as a member of the units attached to Army of the Potomac Headquarters.
Commander: Captain Edwin W. H. Read.
Engaged: At Taneytown, Maryland during the battle of Gettysburg
General Information
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
In Texas January, 1861. Forced to surrender while en route north. “C” at San Antonio April 22, “A” and “D” at Indianola April 24, and Companies “B,” “E,” “F,” “H,” “I” and “K” at San Lucas Springs May 9, 1861. Company “G” attached to Porter’s Brigade, Hunter’s Division, McDowell’s Army of Northeast Virginia, to August, 1861. Advance on Manassas, Va., July 16-21. Battle of Bull Run July 21. Company “F” reached Washington, D.C., July, 1861. Companies “F” and “G” attached to Porter’s City Guard, Washington, D.C., to March, 1862. Provost Guard, Headquarters, Army Potomac, to July, 1863 (Cos. “A,” “B,” “D,” “F,” “G”). Dept. of the East to April, 1864. Provost Guard, 9th Army Corps, Army Potomac, to October, 1864. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps, to November, 1864. Baltimore, Md., 8th Army Corps, Middle Department, to August, 1865.
SERVICE.–Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D. C., until March, 1862. Moved to Virginia Peninsula. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. Expedition up the Pamunkey May 17. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Mechanicsville June 26. Gaines’ Mill June 27. Turkey Bridge June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. Movement to Alexandria August 16-23. Battle of Antietam September 16-17. (Co. “B” joined at Sharpsburg October 3, 1862.) At Sharpsburg, Md., until October 29. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 29-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6, 1863. (Co. “C” joined at Falmouth, Va., April 18, 1863.) Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Ordered to New York July 15. At City Hall Park, New York July 17-30, and on the Battery, New York, until August 22. At Forts in N.Y. Harbor until April 23, 1864. Moved to Washington, D.C., April 23. Rapidan Campaign May 4-June 12. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spotsylvania May 8-21; North Anna River May 22-26; Totopotomoy May 28-31; Cold Harbor June 1-12; Bethesda Church June 1-3. Before Petersburg June 16-18. Siege of Petersburg June 16-November 2. Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30. Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28. Moved to Buffalo, N.Y., November 2, thence to Baltimore, Md., November 22, and duty there until August, 1865.
Companies “C” and “D” reached Washington, D.C., April, 1862. Attached to Defenses of Washington, to May, 1862. Cooper’s 1st Brigade, Sigel’s Division, Dept. of the Shenandoah, to June, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Virginia, to September, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 12th Army Corps, Army Potomac, September, 1862. Joined other Companies at Headquarters Army Potomac. Moved to Harper’s Ferry, W. Va., May 24, 1862. Defense of Harper’s Ferry May 24-30. Operations in the Shenandoah Valley until August. Battle of Cedar Mountain August 9. Pope’s Virginia Campaign August 16-September 2. Fords of the Rappahannock August 20-23. Sulphur Springs August 26. Plains of Manassas August 27-29. Battle of Bull Run August 30. Battle of Antietam, Md., September 16-17. Regiment lost during service 1 Officer and 15 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 4 Officers and 47 Enlisted men by disease. Total 67.
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
