About the Main Monument

When was it dedicated? June 30, 1888.

What is it made out of? Sculpture: pink granite; Base: grey granite.

What size is it? Sculpture: approx. H. 114 ft. 10 in.; Base: approx. W. 6 ft. x D. 6 ft.

Who made it? Ryegate Granite Company, fabricator.

What does it depict? Obelisk stands on a pedestal and two-tiered rough-hewn base. Base is three-part of which the lowest is six foot square. Overall height is 14.10 foot. Flanking markers are finished and polished with excised inscription, 1.4×1.2 foot. There is a relief of a crescent Corps insignia in the middle of the obelisk.

What does it honor? It marks the position held by the 26th Wisconsin Infantry on July 1, 1863.

How is it inscribed? JULY 1, 1863/ON CEMETERY HILL/JULY 2 AND 3/EFFECTIVE STRENGTH 516/KILLED 46/WOUNDED 134/MISSING 37/26TH REG’T/WIS. VOL. INF. (On left side:) CHANCELLORSVILLE/GETTYSBURG/WAUHATCHIE/CHATANOOGA (sic)/ATLANTA CAMPAIGN/TO THE SEA/AVERYSBORO/BENTONVILLE (On rear:) 2D BRIG/3D DIV/11TH CORPS (On right side:) MUSTERED IN/AT MILWAUKEE/SEPT. 17, 1862/MUSTERED OUT/JUNE 28, 1865/KILLED IN ACTION 128/DIED OF WOUNDS 56/DIED OF DISEASE 63

When was this photograph taken? June 6, 2010.

Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, East Howard Avenue, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. Located on the south side of East Howard Avenue.

Is this monument located along the NPS Auto Tour route? This monument is on the extended tour route that includes Barlow’s Knoll.

Has this monument been moved or changed? This monument has not been moved or materially altered.

Monument Details, Alternative Views, and Contextual Views

At Gettysburg

The 26th Wisconsin Infantry served as a member of Kryzanowski’s Brigade in Schurz’s Division of the Elventh Corps, Army of the Potomac. A Fighting 300 Regiment.

Commander: Lt. Col. Hans Bobel (1829-1870). Printer from Milwaukee. Wounded on July 1.

Number Engaged: 516

Casualties: 26 killed, 129 wounded, 62 missing.

Officers Killed at Gettysburg:

• Captain William Smith, Company I, of Milwaukee, killed on July 1
• 1st Lieutenant Martin Young, Company K, of Milwaukee, killed on July 1, buried in National Cemetery at D-1

Soldiers Buried in the Wisconsin Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:

• Pvt. Joseph Balmes, Company C, B-19
• Pvt. Franz Benda, Company F, C-19
• Sgt. Charles Bruckert, Company I, A-16
• Cpl. John Kraus, Company A, C-16
• Pvt. Peter Krenscher, Company C, B-17
• Pvt. Peter Kuhn, Company G, B-18
• Pvt. Mathias Schwister, Company E, B-20
• Pvt. Christian Stier, Company F, A-17

After Action Report: After Action Report of Col. William H. Jacobs (will open a pop up window).

General Information

Raised: Milwaukee, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, and Washington counties.

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

Organized at Milwaukee, Wis., and mustered in September 17, 1862. Left State for Washington, D. C., October 6, 1862. Attached to 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 11th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to October, 1863, and Army of the Cumberland, to April, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 20th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to June, 1865.

SERVICE.–Moved from Washington, D.C., to Fairfax Court House, Va., October 15, 1862. Movement to Gainesville November 2-9, and duty there until November 18. Moved to Centreville November 18, thence to Falmouth, Va., December 9-14. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 15 (Reserve). At Stafford Court House until January 20, 1863. “Mud March” January 20-24. At Stafford Court House until April 27. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3. Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Va., July 5-24. At Warrenton Junction until September 17. Moved to Rappahannock Station September 17, and to Bridgeport, Ala., September 24-October 3. Duty there until October 27. Reopening Tennessee River October 27-29. Battle of Wauhatchie October 28-29. Duty in Lookout Valley until November 22. Chattanooga – Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Orchard Knob November 23. Tunnel Hill November 24-25. Mission Ridge November 25. March to relief of Knoxville, Tenn., November 27-December 8. Duty in Lookout Valley until January 25, 1864, and at Whiteside, Ala., until April 23. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May 1 to September 8. Demonstration on Rocky Faced Ridge May 8-11. Buzzard’s Roost Gap May 8-9. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Cassville May 19. New Hope Church May 25. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Pine Hill June 11-14. Lost Mountain June 15-17. Gilgal or Golgotha Church June 15. Muddy Creek June 17. Noyes Creek June 19. Kolb’s Farm June 22. Assault on Kenesaw June 27. Ruff’s Station July 4. Chattahoochie River July 5-17. Peach Tree Creek July 19-20. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Operations at Chattahoochie River Bridge August 26-September 2. Occupation of Atlanta September 2-November 15. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Siege of Savannah December 10-21. Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865. Lawtonville, S.C., February 2. Reconnaissance on Goldsboro Road March 14. Taylor’s Hole Creek, Averysboro, N. C., March 16. Battle of Bentonville March 19-21. Mill Creek March 22. Occupation of Goldsboro March 24. Advance on Raleigh April 10-14. Occupation of Raleigh April 14. Bennett’s House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. March to Washington, D.C., via Richmond, Va., April 29-May 17. Grand Review May 24. Mustered out June 17, 1865. Regiment lost during service 12 Officers and 176 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 77 Enlisted men by disease. Total 265.

About the Main Monument

When was it dedicated? 1888.

What is it made out of? Sculpture: Quincy granite with bronze elements; Base: granite.

What size is it? Overall: approx. 12 ft. x 6 ft. 9 in. x 6 ft. 9 in.

Who made it? Frederick & Field, fabricator.

What does it depict? Vertical marker with a polished face and topped with a kepi, stands on a tiered, rough-hewn base. A round State Seal tondo appears on the upper front and the insignia of the 11th Corps, a crescent, is attached to the plinth. Monument that has two flanking markers. Monument is a smooth cut granite shaft with a carved apex and set on a 6.9 foot smooth cut, two-part base. The shaft has a bronze state seal and crescent on the east side and excised inscriptions on all four sides. Overall height is twelve foot. Flanking markers are flat topped, one foot square.

What does it honor? It indicates the position held by the 68th New York Infantry on the evening of July 2, 1863. The crescent was stolen in 1981 or 1982, but was later replaced.

How is it inscribed? 68TH/NEW YORK/INFANTRY./1ST BRIGADE./1ST DIVISION./11TH CORPS.

When was this photograph taken? May 4, 2010.

Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Wainwright Avenue, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. Located at the base of East Cemetery Hill on the west side of Wainwright Avenue.

Is this monument located along the NPS Auto Tour route? No.

Has this monument been moved or changed? This monument has not been moved or materially altered.

Monument Details, Alternative Views, and Contextual Views

At Gettysburg

The 68th New York Infantry was also known as Cameron Rifles. During the battle of Gettysburg, it served as a member of Von Gilsa’s Brigade in Barlow’s Division of the Eleventh Corps, Army of the Potomac.

Commander: Col. Gotthilf von Bourry D’Ivernois (1822-?). Served in Austrian Army. Cashiered for drunkenness on duty in October 1863.

Number Engaged: 264

Casualties: 8 killed, 63 wounded, 67 missing

General Information

Raised: New York City

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

Organized at New York City August 1-20, 1861. Left State for Washington, D.C., August 24, 1861. Attached to Blenker’s Brigade, Division of the Potomac, to October, 1861. Blenker’s Brigade, Hooker’s Division, Army of the Potomac, to November, 1861. Steinwehr’s 2nd Brigade, Blenker’s Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. 2nd Brigade, Blenker’s 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to April, 1862. 2nd Brigade, Blenker’s Division, Mountain Department, to June, 1862. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Corps, Pope’s Army of Virginia, to July, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of Virginia, to September, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 11th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to October, 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 11th Army Corps, to May, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 11th Army Corps, to July, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 11th Army Corps, to October, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 11th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to April, 1864. Unattached, 4th Division, 20th Army Corps, to July, 1864. 3rd Brigade, Defenses of Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad, to December, 1864. Unattached, District of the Etowah, to March, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Separate Division, District of the Etowah, to July, 1865. District of Allatoona, Ga., to November, 1865. District of Savannah, Ga., to November, 1865.

SERVICE.–Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D. C., until April, 1862. Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10-15. Movement to Winchester, Va., April 5-18. Operations in the Shenandoah Valley until June. Battle of Cross Keys June 8. Duty at Sperryville July 7 to August 8. Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Battles of Groveton August 29; Bull Run August 30. Duty in the Defenses of Washington until November 1. Movement to Centreville November 1-18. Advance to Fredericksburg, Va., December 9-16. At Stafford Court House until April 27, 1863. “Mud March” January 20-24. 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. Guard duty along Orange & Alexandria Railroad until September. Movement to Bridgeport, Ala., September 24-October 3. Operations in Lookout Valley, Tenn., October 19-26. Reopening Tennessee River October 26-29. Battle of Wauhatchie, Tenn., October 28-29. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Orchard Knob November 23. Tunnel Hill November 24-25. Mission Ridge November 25. March to relief of Knoxville, Tenn., November 28-December 17. Assigned to Railroad Guard and garrison duty in the District of Nashville, Tenn., Dept. of the Cumberland, until July, 1865. Elrod’s Tan Yard January 27, 1865 (Detachment). Skirmish at Ladd’s House, Hog Jaw Valley, February 3-4 (Detachment). Skirmish at Johnson’s Crook.February 10. Duty in District of Allatoona, Ga., until November, 1865, and at Savannah, Ga., November, 1865. Mustered out November 30, 1865. Regiment lost during service 5 Officers and 38 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 74 Enlisted men by disease. Total 118.