American Civil War Monuments

Irish Brigade Monument

Sickle’s Avenue

Gettysburg National Military Park

                     

Text and Photo courtesy of  LCWRT Member Charlie Moore   

     The Irish Brigade, originally organized by Thomas Francis Meagher, was led at Gettysburg by Colonel Patrick Kelly.  The brigade was made up of 5 regiments: the 28^th Massachusetts, 63^rd New York, 69^th New York, 88^th New York, and the 116^th Pennsylvania. The brigade had been shattered at both Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville and arrived on the battlefield at Gettysburg with only 532 men in the entire brigade. 224 of these men were in the 28^th Massachusetts. The other four regiments averaged only 75 men each.

      On the afternoon of July 2, 1863, the Irish Brigade and 3 other brigades of Brigadier General John C. Caldwell’s Division of Major General Winfield Scott Hancock's 2^nd Corps charged across the Wheat Field and momentarily pushed out the Confederate troops who had taken possession of it.  Caldwell’s Division was shortly forced to retreat after being hit by heavy Confederate reinforcements.  The Irish Brigade suffered 221 casualties during their brief encounter at the Wheat Field, or 40.5%.  The monument was dedicated on July 2, 1888, the 25^th anniversary of the battle. At the base lies a life size Irish Wolfhound in bronze, representing faith and devotion.