66th New York Infantry

The 66th New York was one of the many units sacrificed in the raging cauldron of the Wheatfield. So many units fought on the Federal side in the Wheatfield that there is a virtual sea of granite and stone and bronze in this area.

The 66th’s monument is rather plain and non-descript. The back of the monument, however, features a bronze relief entitled “Peace and Unity.” It depicts a Union and Confederate soldier shaking hands.

The monument was paid for using the state appropriation of $1,500.00. It was dedicated on October 8, 1889. It consists of Maine Hallowell granite and it was sculpted by Byron M. Pickett (1833-1907) of New York City. It is located on Sickles Avenue on the edge of the Wheatfield near the rise in the road that becomes the Loop.

The 66th New York was nicknamed the Governor’s Guard. It was raised in New York City in November 1861. Although a small regiment, it suffered heavily in the Wheatfield as reflected by the fact that it went through three commanders.

The first was Col. Orlando H. Morris (1835-1864), a Columbia-educated lawyer. He was wounded on July 2 and later killed at Cold Harbor.

After Morris, Lt. Col. John S. Hammell (1842-1873), a Philadelphia merchant, took command. After Hammell too fell wounded, Maj. Peter A. Nelson (d. 1899), a Danish born builder from Westchester took command.

66th New York Infantry

2d Corps, 1st Division, 3d Brigade

176; 5 killed, 29 wounded, 10 missing

Monument: Sickles Avenue

8th New Jersey Infantry

The 8th New Jersey Infantry was recruited from the counties of Essex, Hunterdon, and Hudson. It was mustered into Federal service on September 14, 1861.

A small regiment (even by Gettysburg standards), the approximately 150 men of the 8th New Jersey were commanded by Col. John Ramsey (1838-1901) a cigar maker. When Ramsey fell wounded, Capt. John G. Langston (1838-1903) took command.

The 8th’s simple regimental monument is located on De Trobriand Avenue in the Wheatfield. This marks the regiment’s position on July 2. On July 3, the unit was in support of batteries on Cemetery Ridge.

8th New Jersey Infantry

3d Corps, 2d Division, 3d Brigade

Col. John Ramsey (1838-1901)

Engaged: 148; 7 killed, 38 wounded, 2 missing

Monument: De Trobriand Avenue

2nd Pennsylvania Reserves

The main feature of the monument to the 2nd Pennsylvania Reserves is a large granite Maltese Cross that serves as the monument’s capstone. This monument near the Wheatfield marks the regimental position on July 2.

This regiment was also known as the 31st Pennsylvania Infantry. It came from Philadelphia and Lancaster County.

It’s commander was Lt. Col. George A. Woodward (1835-1916), the city attorney for the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1858 to 1859; he was living in Philadelphia at the beginning of the War.

2nd Pennsylvania Reserves

5th Corps, 3rd Division, 1st Brigade

Lt. Col. George A. Woodward (1835-1916)

Engaged: 273; 3 killed, 33 wounded, 1 missing

Monument: Ayres Avenue

64th New York Infantry

The 64th New York was known as the First Cattaraugus Regiment. It was raised at Elmia from the counties of Cattaraugus, Allegany, and Tompkins in December 1861.

At Gettysburg, it’s commander was Col. Daniel G. Bingham (1827-1864), a lawyer from Ellicotville. Bingham was wounded on July 1. Command then fell to Maj. Leman W. Bradley (1820-1912), a cutlery dealer from Hudson.

A small marker in the woods marks the location where Capt. Henry Fuller of the 64th was killed on July 2.

This was one of the many units that fought in the Wheatfield on July 2. This was a relatively small regiment, and the regimental monument is relatively plain and nondescript.  It was dedicated on July 2, 1890.  W.B. Archibald was the sculptor.

64th New York Infantry

2d Corps, 1st Division, 4th Brigade

Engaged: 221; 15 killed, 64 wounded, 19 missing

Monument: Brooke Avenue, the Wheatfield

6th Pennsylvania Reserves

This monument is difficult to access during the summer because of the overgrown (the area is likely filled with ticks) nature of the area (many monuments that are similarly difficult to access at least have paths cut to them; this one, apparently does not). It is a tower of alternating red and white granite located on the J. Weikert Farm off of the Wheatfield Road.

The 6th Pennsylvania Reserves were also known as the 35th Infantry. It was recruited from the counties of Bradford, Columbia, Dauhphin, Franklin, Montour, Snyder, Susquehanna, and Tioga. Their commander at Gettysburg was Lt. Col. Wellington H. Ent (1834-1871). The regiment numbered 380 at Gettysburg. This is the unit that had six Medal of Honor winners at Gettysburg.

6th Pennsylvania Reserves

5th Corps, 3rd Division, 1st Brigade

Lt. Col. Wellington H. Ent (1834-1871)

Engaged: 380; 2 killed, 22 wounded

Monument: Field northeast of the Wheatfield on what is today the J. Weikert Farm

1st New York Artillery Battery D

The 1st New York Artillery Battery D was commanded by Capt. George B. Winslow (1832-1883). He was engaged in the hardware business in Gouverneur prior to the War. The battery was recruited from the counties of Jefferson and St. Lawrence in September 1861. It consisted of 6 Napoleans and 116 men.

The simple monument to Battery D is located in the center of the Wheatfield.

This was the position the battery held on July 2, 1863.

Front view of the Monument.

1st New York Artillery Battery D (Winslow’s)

3rd Corps Artillery Brigade

Engaged: 116 men and 6 Napoleans; 10 wounded, 8 missing

Monument: The Wheatfield

1st Pennsylvania Reserves

The 1st Pennsylvania Reserves were also known as the 30th Infantry. Their simple memorial is located along Ayres Avenue on the edge of the Wheatfield, where the regiment was engaged on July 2 towards the close of the fighting.

The regiment was raised from the counties of Adams, Chester, Cumberland, Delaware, and Lancaster. Company K, specifically, was raised in and around the Gettysburg area.

The regiment was commanded by Col. William C. Talley (1831-1903). Talley was the publisher of a newspaper in Norristown. He sold the newspaper in order to recruit Company F of the 1st Reserves.

1st Pennsylvania Reserves

5th Corps, 3rd Division, 1st Brigade

Col. William C. Talley (1831-1903)

Engaged: 444; 8 killed, 38 wounded

Monument: Ayres Avenue

57th New York Infantry

Located near the Loop at the edge of the Wheatfield is the simple granite shaft dedicated to the 57th New York.  The main features of the monument include a bronze New York seal and a bronze Second Corps trefoil.  A cartridge box and crossed bayonets are also done in bronze sculpture.

The 57th went by many names including the National Guard Rifles, Clinton Rifles, and (most colorfully) Zook’s Voltigeurs.  The regiment came from New York City and the counties of Dutchess and Oneida.  It was raised in November 1861.

The commander at Gettysburg was Lt. Col. Alford B. Chapman (1835-1864), a fancy goods merchant from New York City.  He was killed at the Battle of the Wilderness.

57th New York Infantry

2d Corps, 1st Division, 3rd Brigade

Lt. Col. Alford B. Chapman (1835-1864)

Engaged: 179; 4 killed, 28 wounded, 2 missing

Monument: Sickles Avenue between the Wheatfield and the Loop

140th Pennsylvania Infantry

The 140th Pennsylvania’s monument is located on the Loop near the Wheatfield. The regiment was raised from the counties of Beaver, Greene, Mercer, and Washington. Their commander at Gettysburg was Col. Richard P. Roberts (1820-1863), a lawyer from Beaver. Roberts was killed in action on July 2. Command then fell to Lt. Col. John Fraser (1827-1878), a Scottish born professor at Jefferson College.

This was one of the largest Union regiments to fight in the Wheatfield and as such it took frightful casualties.

This is the first of two monuments located in close proximity, and by far the more interesting visually. A soldier’s drum tops the granite shaft while carved rifles and other soldier’s equipment are featured. The monument sits where the regiment fought on the late afternoon of July 2, 1863.

140th Pennsylvania Infantry

2nd Corps, 1st Division, 3rd Brigade

Col. Richard P. Roberts (1820-1863)

Engaged: 590; 37 killed, 144 wounded, 60 missing

Monument: Sickles Avenue at the Loop above the Wheatfield

148th Pennsylvania Infantry

Raised from the counties of Centre, Clarion, and Jefferson, the 148th Pennsylvania monument is located along Ayres Avenue in the Wheatfield.  The largest regiment in Cross’ brigade, it’s commander was Col. Henry Boyd McKeen (1835-1864), a lumber merchant from Camden, New Jersey.  He was killed at Cold Harbor.  McKeen was from the 81st Pennsylvania, but Cross gave him command of the 148th Pennsylvania on June 30 (for this the men decided that Cross — a strict discplinarian anyway — was a total tyrant).  When McKeen took command of the brigade, Lt. Col. Robert McFarlane (1826-1891), a farmer from Boalsburg, took command of the regiment.

The monument in the Wheatfield marks the regiment’s position when it engaged the enemy on the afternoon of the 2d.  One of the larger monuments in the area, it features ornate columns and a large granite sculpture above the capstone.  The Second Corps badge is also featured prominently.

148th Pennsylvania Infantry

2d Corps, 1st Division, 1st Brigade

Col. Henry Boyd McKeen (1835-1864)

Engaged: 468; 19 killed, 101 wounded, 5 missing

Monument: The Wheatfield