59th New York Infantry Monument - Antietam National Battlefield Historic District - Sharpsburg, MD - NRHP Historic Districts - Contributing Buildings on Waymarking.com

The 59th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment was a regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. As part of the Second Corps of the Army of the Potomac, it played a significant role in battles such as Antietam and Gettysburg. The 59th has another monument at Gettysburg on Hancock Road, but that has yet to be waymarked. The 59th fought its first severe action at the Battle of Antietam, where it was part of the ill-fated advance of Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick’s division into the West Woods. In the chaos of that battle, part of the regiment purportedly fired into the rear of the 15th Massachusetts ahead of them. The 59th escaped the maelstrom after losing 224 men killed, wounded, and missing, including the loss of 8 officers. (Out of 300 men and 21 officers who went into battle). A monument at Antietam marks the spot where Lieutenant Colonel John L. Stetson fell mortally wounded.

The 59th New York Infantry Monument is across the street from Dunker Church, at the intersection of Dunker Church Road / Old Hagerstown Pike and Smoketown Road, on the right when traveling north on Dunker Church Road / Old Hagerstown Pike. The monument was dedicated in 1920 according to several sites, but I think it was sculpted/fabricated in 1919. On the sides of the monument are incised the years 1862 and 1919. 1862 of course was the year of the battle and I imagine the later is the year the sculpture was fabricated. The monument has a center and two sides or wings. The monument is made of granite and is about 4 feet in heigh and about 10 feet across. There is an incised image of an eagle I think with its wings spread on the top, front center. When I first saw this sculpture, it reminded me of an alter. For some reason, this has no SIRIS listing as a couple of other monuments located here. As a result, I was unable to find out who the sculptor was. I did notice the trefoil symbol of the Second Corps was with the inscription. The inscription on the front, center reads:

3d Brig. - 2d Div. - 2d Corps
————
John Lemuel Stetson
of Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Lieutenant Colonel
————
"Men Rally on Your Colors"
Out of 300 men and 21 officers who went into battle
nearby, there fell 224, including Lieut. Col. Stetson and
8 officers - a loss in officers exceeded only twice in the war.
————
In memory of his brother, by Francis Lynde Stetson

From 1890s to 1960s veterans’ organizations erected monuments to commemorate the people and actions associated the Battle of Antietam (16-18 September 1862). The 59th NY Infantry Monument contributes to the National Register District under Criteria A with the period of significance 1800-1899. The marker is classified as contributing structure number 034.

From the nomination form:

The 59th New York Infantry Monument (1920) is significant under Criterion A because of its association with the commemoration of the Battle of Antietam. The monuments and markers at Antietam represent a wide sampling of late 19th and early 20th century military memorialization from the period when such monumentation was in its heyday.

This monument honors the 59th New York Infantry and Lieutenant Colonel John Stetson, who was killed during the battle on 17 September 1862. Stetson and his regiment were leaving the field in obedience to the orders of General Sumner. Stetson was shot through the body and his remains were left in enemy hands until 19 September 1862. His last words were “Rally in your colors.” The unit suffered 224 casualties total. The monument was designed by A.S. Bell, and financed by Francis Lynde Stetson, the brother of Colonel John Stetson.

The 59th New York Infantry Monument was dedicated on 17 September 1920 and listed on the National Register on October 15, 1966, with a confirmation National Register form updated and approved by the Keeper on February 10, 1982.

Short Physical Description

The 59th NY Inf Monument is located NE of the intersection of Smoketown Rd. and Old Hagerstown Pike. It is a 4’ high, 3-sided granite exedra (curved bench). The center panel is inscribed with text, and the dates 1862 and 1918 are inscribed at the ends. The architect’s name is visible on the base.

The 59th New York Infantry Monument is located to the northeast of the intersection of Smoketown Road and Hagerstown Pike. It is a 4’ high, 3-sided granite exedra (curved bench with a high back).

Long Physical Description

The center panel is inscribed with the text: “59TH NEW YORK INFANTRY/ 3D BRIG. - 2D DIV. - 2D CORPS/JOHN LEMUEL STETSON/ OF PLATTSBURGH, N.Y./ LIEUTENANT COLONEL/ "MEN RALLY ON YOUR COLORS"/ OUT OF 300 MEN AND 21 OFFICERS WHO WENT INTO BATTLE/ NEARBY, THERE FELL 224, INCLUDING LIEUT. COL. STETSON AND/ 8 OFFICERS - A LOSS IN OFFICERS EXCEEDED ONLY TWICE IN THE WAR./ IN MEMORY OF HIS BROTHER, BY FRANCIS LYNDE STETSON”

Two seats curve out from the two end panels. “A.S. BELL-ARCHITECT,” is carved into the lower right hand corner of the southwest elevation of the monument. The monument is discolored with water damage and has open joints.