** ** Kemper’s Brigade, Pickett’s Division, Longstreet’s Corps
Posted to the Project on 02 Feb 10
Kemper’s Brigade were members of Pickett’s Division in the First Corps (James Longstreet).
Location: West Confederate Avenue, Spangler Woods
Monument Specifications: Bronze marker with a round stone base. Marks the position and action of the brigade.
Erected Date: 1910-1911.
Inscription: The tablet reads as follows,
C. S. A.
LONGSTREET’S CORPS PICKETT’S DIVISION
KEMPER’S BRIGADE
1st 3rd 7th 11th 24th Virginia Infantry
July 2. Arrived about sunset and bivouacked on the western border of Spangler’s Woods.
July 3. In the forenoon formed line in the field east of the woods with right flank near Spangler’s Barn. At the close of the cannonade advanced and took part in Longstreet’s assault upon the Union position in the vicinity of the Angle. Exposed to a severe fire of artillery and vigorously assailed beyond the Emmitsburg Road by infantry on the right flank with ranks thinned and much disorganized by its losses especially of officers it pressed on against the Union line at the stone wall where after a fierce encounter the struggle ended. Gen. J. L. Kemper fell wounded in front of the stone wall.
July 4. Spent the day in reorganization and during the night began the march to Hagerstown.
Present 1575 Killed 56 Wounded 356 Missing 317 Total 731
Other Monuments: None.
About the Commander: Brig. Gen. James Lawson Kemper (June 11, 1823 – April 7, 1895). Biography on Wikipedia.
February 4th, 2010 at 10:19 am
I had a great-great-granfather in the 7th Virginia.
All we know of his participation at Gettysburg, indeed of the war, is a note on a Virginia state pension application: ‘lost eye in charge at Gettysburg’.
Is interesting to consider *our* knowledeg of the battle and their actual participation: arrived the evening before, fought on the 3rd for an hour and left the next day…