Draw the Sword

Location: Ayres Avenue

Order of Battle: 5th Corps, 2nd Division, 1st Brigade

Number Engaged: 236; 4 killed, 40 wounded

Commander: Capt. Levi C. Bootes (1809-1896)

Raised: The regiment was enlisted from New York City and Suffolk County Massachusetts. It was originally organized in 1815; in 1861, headquarters for the 6th were at Benicia Banks, California.

Monument Specifications: Granite marker with bronze tablet affixed to front.

Dedication Date: ca. 1907.

Sculptor/Artist/Company: Erected by the U.S. Government.

Main Inscription: Reads,

ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
FIFTH CORPS
SECOND DIVISION FIRST BRIGADE
SIXTH U. S. INFANTRY
Five Companies
Captain Levi C. Bootes Commanding

July 2. Arrived in the morning and took position near the line of the Twelfth Corps. The Regiment with the Brigade moved from the right to the left of the line and at 5 P. M. advanced across Plum Run near Little Round Top and supported the Second Brigade in its advance to the crest of the rocky wooded hill beyond and facing to the left engaged the Confederates but retired under a deadly fire on both flanks and from the rear after the Confederates got possession of the Wheatfield in the rear of the Brigade and took position on Little Round Top.

July 3. Remained in same position.

July 4. The Regiment with the Brigade made a reconnaissance and developed a force of the Confederate infantry and artillery in front.

Casualties Killed 4 Men Wounded 1 Officer and 39 Men

Other Monuments and Memorials: None.

Supplemental Materials: After Action Report of Capt. Levi C. Bootes (will open a pop up window).

Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:

In California April, 1861. Regiment concentrated in Washington, D.C., October 31, 1861, to January 31, 1862. Attached to Sykes’ Regular Infantry, Reserve Brigade, Army of the Potomac, to May, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps, Army Potomac, to June, 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps, to August, 1863. Dept. of the East, to May, 1865. District of Savannah, Ga., Dept. of the South, to October, 1865.

SERVICE.–Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D. C., until March, 1862. Moved to the Virginia Peninsula. Siege of Yorktown, Va., April 5-May 4. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Battles of Mechanicsburg 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. Battle 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. Snicker’s Gap November 3. 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 July 1-3. Pursuit of Lee July 4-24. Moved to New York City August 16-21, thence to Fort Hamilton. N. Y. Harbor, and duty there until May 17, 1865. Moved to Savannah, Ga., May 17-21, and duty in District of Savannah, Ga., until October, 1865. Regiment lost during service 2 Officers and 29 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 43 Enlisted men by disease. Total 75.