Long Description:
The 3rd Michigan Infantry served as a member of De Trobriand’s Brigade in Birney’s Division of the Third Corps, Army of the Potomac, a Fighting 300 Regiment. The unit was commanded by Colonel Byron R. Pierce. Byron Root Pierce was born 20 Sep 1829 and died 10 Jul 1924 and before the war, he was a dentist from Grand Rapids. He is buried in Fulton Street Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was a Civil War Union Brigadier General and originally the commander of the 3rd Michigan Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded five times during the war, one time in the battle of Gettysburg where he lost his left leg (July 2). After his injury, his brother, Lieutenant Colonel Edwin S. Pierce, took over command of the regiment. His unit has 286 men engaged at Gettysburg with 7 killed, 31 wounded and 7 who went missing.
The 3rd Michigan Infantry Monument just off of Route 15, part of the newly adopted Pennsylvania Byway system, at the southeast corner of the Peach Orchard. Traveling south down Rt. 15, make a left on Birney Avenue. The monument is just off to the left or northeast side of the road, directly to the right of the 3rd Maine Infantry Monument (MN175-D). The monument is 373 feet from the Emmitsburg Road (Business U.S. 15) intersection (actually a "T"). Parking is available at small, cutout shoulders along the road, some wide, some narrow. Be sure to stay off the grass or you will be tickete by park police. I visited this monument on Thursday, July 5, 2012 at 11:29 AM. I was at an elevation of 593 feet, ASL. I used my Canon PowerShot 14.1 Megapixel, SX210 IS digital camera for my photos.
The Draw the Sword site helped out by the NPS narrative and the SIRIS site offers the following description: Granite monument with relief of two soldiers on front. Both soldiers are dressed in uniform. One is kneeling, holding a rifle with both hands. The other stands behind him in a wooded scene. Above them, at the top of the monument, is a bronze Michigan shield. Monument is a granite shaft set on a rough hewn base. Inscription panels appear on the south and north sides of the base. The shaft contains a sculpted relief of two infantrymen in action on the south face and a bronze state seal shield attached to the top of the cap. Overall height is 11.10 foot. Flanking markers are apex topped with inscriptions on the faces, one foot square.
The monument was erected on June 12, 1889 by the State of Michigan. The monument is of granite with some bronze adornments. Overall, the monument's dimensions are 11 feet 10 inches x 6 feet x 4 feet 7 inches. The monument was fabricated by the Mitchell Granite Company. There are inscriptions on the front and back sides which reads:
(Front):Erected by the State of Michigan
To her martyrs & Heroes
who fought in defense of
liberty and union
3rd Michigan Inftry 3rd Brig. 1st Div. 3rd Corps.
Mustered in
at
Grand Rapids
Mich.
June 10th 1861.
Army Potomac
First Bull Run
to
Appomattox
(Back):July 2nd 1863.This regiment, deployed as skirmishers 150 yards in advance of this position, held the line extending from the Peach Orchard east to the woods, was the right of de Trobriand's Brigade, and connected with the left of Graham's.
Went into action with 19 officers, 267 men. - Total 286
Casualties.
7 men killed, 3 officers and 28 men wounded, 7 men missing - Total 45.
The 3rd Michigan Infantry Monument is a contributing feature to the Gettysburg National Military Park Historic District which is nationally significant under NR Criteria A, B, C & D. Areas of Significance: Military, Politics/Government, Landscape Architecture, Conservation, Archeology-Historic. Period of Significance: 1863-1938. The original National Register Nomination was approved by the Keeper March 19, 1975. An update to this nomination was approved by the Keeper on January 23, 2004. The monument is identified as structure number MN174-B.
From the Nomination Form:
1 of 9 mns in Park honoring Michigan soldiers in Gettsyburg Campaign. Marks position held by 3 Michigan on July 2, 1863. Located on SE corner of Sherfy Peach Orchard near Birney Ave.
Short Physical Description:
Overall 6'x4'7, 11'10" high. Rough-hewn base w/ inscription panels on S & N sides. Granite shaft w/sculpted relief of 2 infantrymen in action on S face & bronze state seal shield attached to top of cap. 2 Flank markers, 1'x1'x1', apex tops w/ inscriptions on faces.
Long Physical Description:
Monument that has two flanking markers. Monument is a granite shaft set on a rough hewn base. Inscription panels appear on the south and north sides of the base. The shaft contains a sculpted relief of two infantrymen in action on the south face and a bronze state seal shield attached to the top of the cap. Overall height is 11.10 foot. Designed and sculpted by Lorado Taft. Flanking markers are apex topped with inscriptions on the faces, one foot square. Located at the southeast corner of the Peach Orchard at Birney Avenue.
My Sources
1.
NRHP Nomination Form
2.
SIRIS
3.
Stone Sentinels
4.
Virtual Gettysburg
5.
Draw the Sword
6.
Historical Marker Database
7.
Kent County Michigan GenWeb Project
