Draw the Sword

Ruger’s Brigade

Location: Colgrove Avenue, McAllister Woods

Order of Battle: 12th Corps, 1st Division, 3rd Brigade

Commander: Brig. Gen. Thomas Howard Ruger (April 2, 1833 – June 3, 1907) was an American soldier and lawyer who served as a Union general in the American Civil War. After the war, he was a superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.

Monument Specifications: Polished granite square base with bronze plaque affixed to front.

Dedication Date: ca. 1912.

Main Inscription: Reads,

ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
TWELFTH CORPS FIRST DIVISION
THIRD BRIGADE
Brig. Gen. Thomas H. Ruger
Col. Silas Colgrove
27th Indiana 2D Mass. 13th New Jersey
107th New York 3d Wisconsin Infantry

July 1. Arrived with the Division and bivouacked for the night east of rock Creek.

July 2. After sharp skirmishing in front crossed Rock Creek and went into position. The left on Culp’s Hill the right in McAllister’s Woods a swale between. Breastworks were constructed. At sunset went to support of the left of the Army and returned and found the works on left of swale occupied by Confederates. Those on the right were unoccupied and immediately repossessed.

July 3. The 2D Mass. and 27th Indiana in the morning charged across the open swale to get possession of a stone wall and woods on the left but were repulsed with great loss the 27th Indiana falling back in a direct line the 2D Mass. towards the left. A Confederate countercharge was made across the swale but receiving a front and enfilading fire it was quickly repulsed and the Confederate force left the works and retired across Rock Creek.

July 4. The Brigade with a battery and three regiments of First Brigade made a reconnaissance in front and around through the town the Confederate forces having withdrawn to Seminary Hill.

Casualties Killed 2 Officers 47 Men Wounded 20 Officers 205 Men Captured or Missing 5 Men Total 279

Other Monuments and Memorials: None.

Supplemental Materials: After Action Report of Col. Archibald L. McDougall (will open a pop up window).