The Second Pennsylvania Cavalry 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. 6 ft. x 26 in. x 25 in.; Base: approx. 6 ft. x 4 ft. x 4 ft.
Who made it? Ellicott, Henry Jackson, 1848-1901, sculptor. Bureau Brothers, founder.
What does it depict? A standing figure of a cavalryman pausing in the midst of reloading his rifle to scan the horizon for the enemy. He holds the rifle in his proper left hand and a bullet in his proper right hand. A sword hangs on his proper left side. The sculpture stands atop a square granite base adorned with bronze plaques depicting the Pennsylvania state seal, the Cavalry Corps insignia, and the army emblem. A left flank marker is located just to the south of the monument. Monument is a tapered three-part granite shaft topped with a bronze statue of a dismounted and standing trooper loading his carbine. The center part of the shaft is polished granite with a bronze bas-relief tablet, details on two sides, and incised inscriptions on all sides. The monument rests on a four foot square rough cut base. Flanking marker on the left is one foot square.
What does it honor? The Pennsylvania Cavalry monument is located where the regiment was positioned as provost guard on July 3, 1863.
How is it inscribed? 2D. PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY./ATTACHED TO PROVOST GUARD,/ARMY HEADQUARTERS./THE REGIMENT HELD THIS POSITION JULY 3RD./UNTIL THE CLOSE OF THE DAY WHEN IT CONDUCTED/3000 PRISONERS TO WESTMINSTER, MD. DETACH/-MENTS SERVED ON OTHER PARTS OF THE FIELD/DURING THE BATTLE
When was this photograph taken? June 4, 2011.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Leister Farm field, southeast of Cyclorama Center, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. Located along Meade Avenue (paper street; no longer exists).
Is this monument located along the NPS Auto Tour route? No.
Has this monument been moved or changed? This monument has not been changed or materially altered.
Monument Details, Alternative Views, and Contextual Views
At Gettysburg
The 2nd Pennsylvania Cavalry served as a member of the Provost Guard at Army of the Potomac Headquarters.
Commander: Col. Richard B. Price (1807-1876)
Number Engaged: 573
Casualties: no loss
General Information
Raised: Philadelphia and the counties of Armstrong, Centre, Crawford, Lancaster, Northamption, and Tioga
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized at Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Pa., September, 1861, to April, 1862. Seven Companies dismounted, left State for Baltimore. Md., April 1, 1862. Five Companies Joined at Baltimore April 14, 1862. Moved to Washington, D.C., April 25, and camp on Capital Hill until June 27. Attached to Sturgis’ Command, Military District of Washington, to August, 1862. Buford’s Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Army Corps, Army of Virginia, to September, 1862. Price’s Cavalry Brigade, Defenses of Washington, to March, 1863. 2nd Brigade, Stahel’s Cavalry Division, 22nd Army Corps, to June, 1863. Provost Guard, Army of the Potomac, to December, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, to February, 1865. Provost Guard, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1865.
SERVICE.–Duty in Defenses of Washington, D. C., until July 27, 1862. Moved to Warrenton, thence to Madison Court House, Va., July 27-August 5. Action at Wolftown August 7. Battle of Cedar Mountain August 9. Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Chantilly September 1. Reconnaissance to Thoroughfare Gap and Aldie September 16. Antietam September 16-17. Ashby’s Gap September 22. Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C., until June, 1863. Reconnaissance to Snicker’s Ferry and Berryville November 28-30. Berryville November 30. Frying Pan, near Chantilly, December 27-28. Occoquan December 29. Mrs. Violet’s and Seleman’s Ford, near Occoquan, March 22, 1863 (Detachment). Expedition from Gainesville June 7-8 (Detachment). Headquarters Guard for General Meade June 29. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Provost duty at Gettysburg July 5-7. Old Antietam Forge, South Mountain, Md., July 10. Provost Guard duty with Army of the Potomac until December. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Near Bealeton October 22. Fayetteville October 23. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. New Hope Church November 27. Parker’s Store November 29. Expedition to Luray December 21-23. Luray December 23. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May-June, 1864. Todd’s Tavern May 5, 6, 7 and 8. Sheridan’s Raid to James River May 9-24. North Anna River May 9-10. Ground Squirrel Church and Yellow Tavern May 11. Brook’s Church, Fortifications of Richmond, May 12. Line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Haw’s Church May 28. Cold Harbor May 31-June 1. Sheridan’s Trevillian Raid June 7-24. Louisa Court House June 10. Trevillian Station June 11-12. White House or St. Peter’s Church June 21. Black Creek or Tunstall’s Station June 21. Germantown June 22. St. Mary’s Church June 24. Charles City Cross Roads June 29. Warwick Swamp and Jerusalem Plank Road July 12. Demonstration on north side of the James at Deep Bottom July 27-29. Malvern Hill July 28. Warwick Swamp July 30. Demonstration north of James River at Deep Bottom August 13-20. Gravel Bill August 14. Strawberry Plains August 16-18. Deep Bottom and Malvern Hill August 18. Dinwiddie Road, near Ream’s Station, August 23. Ream’s Station August 25. Belcher’s Mills September 17. Poplar Springs Church September 29-October 2. Arthur’s Swamp September 30-October 1. Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28. Reconnaissance toward Stony Creek November 7. Stony Creek Station December 1. Expedition to Hicksford December 7-11. Belle field December 8. Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865. On provost duty, Army of the Potomac, until June, 1865. Fall of Petersburg April 2. Pursuit of Lee April 3-9. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. March to Washington, D.C., May. Grand Review May 23. Consolidated with 20th Pennsylvania Cavalry June 17, 1865, to form 1st Provisional Cavalry. Regiment lost during service 6 Officers and 52 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 193 Enlisted men by disease. Total 253.
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
5 Comments
My Great Grandfather was in Company B of the 2nd Pennsylvania Cavalry. His name was William H. Brady. On August 31, 1864, Sergeant William Brady was discharged at a camp near Petersburg, Va. His Discharge was signed by a Captain Eckert. The reason for his discharge was noted as expiration of term of service. He returned to Bristol, Pennsylvania. He died on June 26, l877, leaving a wife and three children.
My Great Grandfather, Sergeant Robert Bruce Ferry, Company L of the 2nd Pennsylvania Cavalry from Tioga County, was wounded at Gettysburg during the battle but not necessarily on the 3rd – so there was at least one casualty. He was nursed back to health by a local family and died in Tioga County in 1911.
My Great,Great Grandfather,Samuel L.C. Steck was Chief bugler company M 2nd pennsylvania cavalry. He mustered in oct 1 1961 and mustered out july 1965, with 1st provisional cavalry PA. I was told there is a monument at Gettysburg with his name on it? He died in 1934 and is burried in venango county. If anyone has information on 2nd cavalry company M, or on Samuel L.C. Steck please let me know.
Samuel Likely Curry Steck is also my Great-Great-Grandfather! I am also searching for info on him. My family has daguerrotype pictures of him, and parts of his Union uniform. Would love to contact you. How?
Our Great-Great-Grandfather (Philip Cramer) was a member of “D” Company of the 2nd Pa. was mustered in 8-15-64 and we are told he caught up with the army at Petersburg. Was discharged by General Order 5- 31-65. He was from Lancaster Co.
If anyone has any additional information of Philip we would appreciate contact.
Thanks