** ** 143rd Pennsylvania Infantry
Posted to the Project on 04 Jun 08
The 143d Pennsylvania Infantry numbered just over 500 at Gettysburg. Raised from the counties of Luzerne and Susquehanna, it mustered in at Kingston Township (near Wilkes-Barre) in the late summer of 1862.
The regiment suffered fearful losses fighting along the Chambersburg Pike on July 1. It was later held in reserve along Cemetery Ridge. The first commander was Col. Edmund L. Dana (1817-1889), a Wilkes-Barre lawyer. When Dana was promoted to brigade command, Lt. Col. John D. Musser (1826-1864), of Lewisburg, took command of the 143rd. Musser was killed leading the regiment at the battle of the Wilderness on May 6, 1864.
The main regimental memorial is located at the intersection of the Chambersburg Pike and Reynolds Avenue. Dedicated on September 11, 1889, it consists of blue Westerly granite and stands 8′ in height. Costing $1,500.00, it was erected by the Smith Granite Company.
The monument features a large bas relief of a life sized soldier shaking his fist while carrying the regimental colors. This is Color Sgt. Ben Crippen, who defiantly shook his fist at the Confederates as his unit retreated. General A.P. Hill expressed sorrow when he saw Crippen finally fall. His body was never recovered.
A secondary monument is located on Hancock Avenue denoting the July 2 and 3 positions.
For more information on the story behind this monument, see the essay, The Defiant Fist.
143d Pennsylvania Infantry
1st Corps, 3rd Division, 2nd Brigade
Engaged: 515; 21 killed, 141 wounded, 91 missing
Monument: Chambersburg Pike
Monument Specifications: The monument is a large upright marker with rough-hewn edges. Sgt. Ben Crippen is the uniformed color bearer on the front in high relief. The full-length figure holds a flag on a pole in his proper right hand. His proper left hand is clenched in a fist. The flag drapes behind his proper right shoulder. The Pennsylvania Coat of Arms is affixed to the upper right corner. It is marks the position maintained by the 143rd Pennsylvania Infantry in the forenoon and early afternoon of July 1, 1863.
Dedication Date: Sept. 11, 1889.
Sculptor/Artist/Company: Smith Granite Company, fabricator.
Main Inscription: THIS MONUMENT MARKS RIGHT OF/FIRST POSITION JULY 1ST 1863,/FACING NORTH AND SECOND POSITION/FACING WEST WHICH THE REGIMENT/HELD FROM 11:00 A.M./UNTIL FIRST CORPS FELL BACK/LEFT POSITION ON SEMINARY RIDGE/RIGHT RESTING ON RAILROAD CUT/JULY 2D & 3D/REGIMENT WAS IN LINE ON LEFT CENTRE
Other Monuments & Markers: Secondary monument / marker, Hancock Avenue, south of the Copse of Trees. Faded marker denotes position on July 3, 1863. This memorial was erected in 1895.
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
Organized at Wilkes-Barre October 18, 1862. Left State for Washington, D.C., November 7, and duty in the Defenses of that city until January 17, 1863. Attached to 1st Brigade, Defenses of Washington, north of the Potomac, to January, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to December, 1863. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Army Corps, to March, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 4th Division, 5th Army Corps, to June, 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps, to September, 1864. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps, to February, 1865. Hart’s Island, New York Harbor, Dept. of the East, to June, 1865.
SERVICE.–Ordered to Join Army of the Potomac in the field January, 1863. Duty at Belle Plains, Va., until April 27. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Operations at Pollock’s Mill Creek April 29-May 2. Battle of Chancellorsville May 2-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3. Pursuit of Lee July 5-24. Duty at Bealeton Station until October. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Haymarket October 19. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Warrenton November 7. Guard at Manassas Junction November 22-December 5. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7, 1864. Duty near Culpeper until May. Rapidan Campaign May 4-June 12. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Laurel Hill May 8; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient May 12. North Anna River May 23-26. Jericho Ford May 25. 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, 1864, to February 10, 1865. Mine Explosion July 30, 1864 (Reserve). Weldon Railroad August 18-21. Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28. Warren’s Raid to Weldon Railroad December 7-12. Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865. Ordered to New York February 10. Assigned to duty at Hart’s Island, New York Harbor, guarding prison camp, and escorting recruits and convalescents to the front until June. Mustered out June 12, 1865. Regiment lost during service 8 Officers and 143 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 150 Enlisted men by disease. Total 303.