The Eighteenth 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: Blue Westerly granite with bronze tablet; Base: granite.
What size is it? Sept. 11, 1889.
Who made it? Smith Granite Company, fabricator.
What does it depict? Monument that has two flanking markers. Monument is roughly rectangular in shape with rough-hewn edges and a pointed top. On the front face is a relief of a horse’s head within an upturned horseshoe. A State Seal relief is affixed to the front, below the horse. The inscription on the reverse is on a polished surface. Above the inscription is an oval Cavalry emblem of crossed swords.
What does it honor? It indicates the approximate position from which the 18th Pennsylvania Cavalry launched its charge on Confederate positions on the afternoon of July 3, 1863.
How is it inscribed? THE REGIMENT PARTICIPATED IN THE CAVALRY FIGHTS/AT HANOVER JUNE 30TH AND HUNTERSTOWN JULY 2D/1863./ON JULY 3D OCCUPIED THIS POSITION, AND IN/THE AFTERNOON CHARGED WITH THE BRIGADE UPON THE/ENEMY’S INFANTRY BEHIND THE STONE WALL TO THE NORTH/OF THIS POINT ON THE OUTER EDGE OF THE WOODS./PRESENT AT GETTYSBURG 599 OFFICERS AND MEN./KILLED 2 MEN, WOUNDED 4 MEN,/CAPTURED OR MISSING 8 MEN./MUSTERED IN AUGUST, DECEMBER 1862./CONSOLIDATED/WITH THE 22D PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY, JULY 24TH 1865./FORMING THE 3D PROVISIONAL PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY,/WHICH WAS MUSTERED OUT OCTOBER 31ST 1865./PARTICIPATED WITH THE ARMIES OF THE POTOMAC AND/SHENANDOAH IN 51 BATTLES, AND OUT OF A TOTAL/ENROLLMENT OF 2020, LOST IN KILLED, DIED, WOUNDED/AND PRISONERS 668, OF WHOM 131 DIED IN THE/HANDS OF THE ENEMY WHILE PRISONERS OF WAR.
When was this photograph taken? December 8, 2011.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Bushman’s Woods, south of Confederate Avenue, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325.
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 moved. An incident of vandalism occurred on the horse’s ear in October 1992.
Monument Details, Alternative Views, and Contextual Views
At Gettysburg
The 18th Pennsylvania Cavalry served as a member of Farnsworth’s Brigade in Kilpatrick’s Division of the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac.
Commander: Lt. Col. William P. Brinton (b.1832). Native of Lancaster County. Post-War he went to Argentina as a school teacher. In 1881, he entered the Argentina interior and never returned.
Number Engaged: 599
Casualties: 2 killed, 8 wounded, 4 missing
Soldiers Buried in the Pennsylvania Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:
- Pvt. William Crawford, Company C, E-12
- Pvt. Jacob Harvey, Company M, E-11
- Pvt. David W. Winans, Company D, E-10
After Action Report: After Action Report of Maj. William B. Darlington (will open a pop up window).
General Information
Raised: Philadelphia and the counties of Allegheny, Cambria, Crawford, Dauphin, Greene, Lycoming, and Washington
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized at Pittsburgh and Harrisburg October to December, 1862. Left State for Washington, D.C., December 8, 1862. Attached to Wyndham’s Cavalry Brigade, Defenses of Washington, to February, 1863. Price’s Independent Cavalry Brigade, 22nd Corps, Dept. of Washington, to April, 1863. 3rd Brigade, Stahel’s Cavalry Division, 22nd Corps, to June, 1863. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army Potomac, to August, 1864, and Army Shenandoah to February, 1865. Cavalry Brigade, Army Shenandoah, to June, 1865.
SERVICE.–Duty at Bladensburg and Germantown and in the Defenses of Washington until June, 1863. Skirmishes at Chantilly, Va., February 10 and 26, 1863. Scout from Centreville to Falmouth, Va., February 27-28. Left Fairfax C. H. with Stahel’s Division to join Army Potomac, June 25, 1863. Hanover, Pa., June 30. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Hunterstown July 2. Monterey Gap July 4. Smithburg, Md., July 5. Williamsport July 6. Hagerstown July 6. Boonsboro July 8. Hagerstown July 11-13. Falling Water July 14. Battle Mountain near Newby’s Cross Roads July 24. Expedition to Port Conway September 1-3. Lamb’s Creek September 1. Advance to the Rapidan September 13-17. Culpeper C. H. and Brandy Station September 13. Rapidan Station September 13-14. Reconnaissance across the Rapidan September 21-23. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. James City and Bethesda Church October 10. Near Culpeper October 11. Near Warrenton and Brandy Station October 11. Gainesville October 14. Groveton October 17-18. Gainesville, New Baltimore, Buckland’s Mills and Haymarket October 19. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. (Cos. “B,” “H” at Headquarters, 5th Corps, and at Rappahannock Station November 7. Rejoined Regiment November 19.) Germania Ford November 18. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Morton’s Ford November 26. Near Ely’s Ford January 13, 1864. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7. Kilpatrick’s Raid on Richmond February 28-March 4. Fortifications of Richmond March 1. Rapidan Campaign May-June. Wilderness May 5-7. Craig’s Meeting House May 5. Todd’s Tavern May 5-6. Alsop’s Farm May 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 or Richmond fortifications May 12. Strawberry Hills May 12. Line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Demonstration on Little River May 27. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Hanover C. H. May 30. Mechump’s Creek May 31. Cold Harbor May 31-June 1. Totopotomoy and Gaines’ Mill June 2. Salem Church and Haw’s Shop June 2. Haw’s Shop June 3. Old Church June 10. Bethesda Church June 11. Long Bridge June 12. Smith’s Store near St. Mary’s Church June 15. Siege of Petersburg June to August. Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23. (Co. “B” at Headquarters, 6th Corps, June 25-July 16.) White Oak Swamp July 14. Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-November 28. Winchester August 15 and 17. Near Charlestown August 21-22. Limestone Ridge September 1. Abraham’s Creek near Winchester September 13. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Near Cedarville September 20. Front Royal September 21. Milford September 22. Waynesboro September 29. Near Brock’s Gap October 6. Tom’s Brook October 8-9. Cedar Creek October 13. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. Cedar Creek November 11. Newtown or Middletown November 12. Rude’s Hill near Mt. Jackson November 22. Expedition to Lacy Springs December 19-22. Duty at and near Winchester until May, 1865. Scout to Edenburg March 17-19. At Cumberland, Md., to June. Consolidated with 22nd Pennsylvania Cavalry June 24, 1865, to form 3rd Provisional Cavalry. Regiment lost during service 5 Officers and 55 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 232 Enlisted men by disease. Total 294.
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
2 Comments
This must be one of the more out-of-the-way monumnets on the field…
Jenny-
I started following your blog years ago and have always loved it. I’ve been on a tear as of late over the casino debacle and decided to look into which units fought at South Cavalry Field, partially to see if any of my ancestors fought there (I have at least one that was with Buford on the first day.
When I pulled up your picture of the 18th I was FLOORED. I’ve been to this monument. I have a picture of myself standing next to it. I knew they were planning on putting the casino close but I didn’t know it would be THAT close.
I’m horrified.
In any event, thank you for all the work you’ve done researching and photographing the monuments. I know when it’s a passion it brings you joy but know that it brings joy, knowledge and reflection to so many others.
-Jen