Three guidebooks to the Gettysburg battlefield monuments from Steve Hawks, the author of Stone Sentinels website
The Battle of Gettysburg was the largest and deadliest of the American Civil War. Today the battlefield is an incredible outdoor classroom with over a thousand monuments to the men who fought there. These stories set in stone, bronze and iron help visitors explore and understand one of the great turning points in history.
First Corps
Gettysburg Monuments of the Army of the Potomac
John Reynold’s First Corps was the first Union infantry on the field at Gettysburg. It relieved Buford’s Cavalry on McPherson’s Ridge and fought until the closing shots of Pickett’s Charge, losing half its men and its commander. Its monuments tell the stories of the Iron Brigade, the Pennsylvania Bucktails, the School Teacher’s Regiment and Sallie. Of men who took some of the heaviest casualties of the war but continued the fight, holding the vital high ground south of Gettysburg.
This book features all 97 monuments to the regiments, batteries, headquarters and leaders of the First Corps at Gettysburg. Each monument has one or more black and white photographs, complete text from the monument and GPS coordinates. Eight maps show the locations of the monuments and markers on the battlefield.
A Guide to the Corps, Division and Brigade Monuments of the Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg
The headquarters monuments provide the background to the Gettysburg story. This book showcases all 110 Union brigade, division, corps and army headquarters monuments on the Gettysburg battlefield, each with a photograph, complete text from the monument, map location and GPS information. Also included is an index of the 223 officers (and one sergeant) named on the monuments and a second index of all subordinate regiments and batteries.
Each monument names its unit’s commanders and subordinate units, gives a timeline of activities in the battle, and lists casualties. Their wording is in the dispassionate and often awkward voice of an official report, but does not conceal the underlying triumphs and tragedies that together make up the story of this largest and deadliest of all Civil War battles.
A Guide to the Corps, Division and Brigade Monuments of the Army of Northern Virginia at Gettysburg
The headquarters monuments provide the background to the Gettysburg story. This book showcases all 94 Confederate brigade, division, corps and army headquarters monuments and position markers on the Gettysburg battlefield. Each has a photograph, complete text from the monument, map location and GPS information. Also included is an index of the commanding officers named on the monuments and a second index of subordinate regiments and batteries.
Each monument names its unit’s commanders and subordinate units, gives a timeline of activities in the battle, and lists casualties. Their wording is in the dispassionate and often awkward voice of an official report, but does not conceal the underlying triumphs and tragedies that make up the story of this largest and deadliest of all Civil War battles.
