Draw the Sword

Location: Crawford Avenue (between Crawford and Ayres Avenue; grass access path through growth near Devil’s Den at Crawford Avenue)

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

Number Engaged: 601; 18 killed, 110 wounded, 4 missing

Commander: Maj. Grotius R. Giddings (1834-1867)

Raised: The men were recruited from New York City, Providence (Rhode Island), and Onondaga and Chemung (both in New York). It was formed at Fort Trumbull in New London, Connecticut in 1861.

Monument Specifications: Polished granite monument with rough hewn sides with bronze plaque and seal affixed to the front.

Dedication Date: ca. 1907-1908.

Main Inscription: Reads,

FIFTH CORPS
SECOND DIVISION FIRST BRIGADE
FOURTEENTH U. S. INFANTRY
Eight Companies
Captain Crotius R. Giddings Commanding

July 2. Arrived in the morning and took position with the Brigade and Division near the Twelfth Corps on the right. Moved with the Division from the right to the left of the line and at 5 P. M. with the Brigade moved 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 left engaged the Confederates but retired under heavy fire on both flanks and from the rear after the Confederates had possession of the Wheatfield in the rear of the Brigade and went into position on Little Round Top.

July 3. Remained in same position.

July 4. The Regiment with the 12th supported the 3D 4th and 6th U. S. Infantry in a reconnaissance and developed a force of the Confederate infantry and artillery in front.

Casualties Killed 16 Men Wounded 2 Officers and 106 Men Missing 4 Men

Other Monuments and Memorials: None.

Supplemental Materials: After Action Report of Maj. Grotius R. Giddings (will open a pop up window).

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

Organized by direction of the President May 4, 1861, and confirmed by Act of Congress July 29, 1861. Organized at Fort Trumbull, Conn. Moved to Perryville, Md., October, 1861, and duty there until March, 1862. Moved to Washington, D.C. Attached to Sykes’ Regular Infantry, Reserve Brigade, Army of the Potomac, to May, 1862. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, 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 November, 1864. Dept. of the East to April, 1865. Provost Guard, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1865. Dept. of Virginia to ?.

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 September 16-17. Shepherdstown Ford September 19-20. At Sharpsburg, Md., until October 29. Kearneysville and Shepherdstown October 16-17. 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, Pa., July 1-3. Pursuit of Lee July 5-24. Moved to New York August 13-16, and duty there until September 14. Rejoined army at Culpeper, Va., September 24. 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, 1864. 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 to November 2. Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30 (Reserve). Weldon Railroad August 18-21. Poplar Springs Church, Peeble’s Farm, September 29-October 2. Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28. Ordered to New York November 1, thence to Elmira, N.Y., and duty there until March, 1865. Ordered to the field, arriving at City Point, Va., April 4. Provost duty until May, and at Richmond, Va., until ?. Regiment lost during service 8 Officers and 158 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 206 Enlisted men by disease. Total 374.