High Water Mark of the Rebellion Monument - Gettysburg, PA - American Civil War Monuments and Memorials on Waymarking.com

This Monument is located on Hancock Ave., on the left when traveling north & is located south of Gettysburg @ the eastern edge of the "Copse of Trees" on Cemetery Ridge. There are scores of interesting & beautiful monuments which surround this one of a kind monument. Parking is available everywhere as this is a one way road only, leading back to the Cyclorama parking lot. I visited this monument on Thursday, August 7, 2012 @ 4:50 P.M. & @ an elevation of 617 feet, ASL., using a Canon PowerShot 14.1 Megapixel, SX210 IS digital camera for the photos.

The Copse of Trees was the focal point of Pickett's Charge on July 3rd, 1863 and is located inside The Angle, an area w/in a stone fence that zigzags south, then west, the south again near the trees. Union troops under Brig. Gen. John Gibbon defended the stone wall. Rebel troops led by Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead temporarily broke through their lines and crossed the wall just west of the Copse of Trees in what has come to be regarded as the high point of Conf. military acheivement in the war. It is commemorated by this, the High Water Mark monument @ the base of the trees. The grove today is surrounded by an iron fence, and is probably much smaller than the original wooded area.

From the AGS:
The HIGH WATER MARK and the 'BLOODY ANGLE', Hancock Ave. S. of Meade Ave., mark the area where Pickett's charge was repulsed on the afternoon of July 3. In front of a little copse of trees, some of which stood in 1863, stands a large open bronze roster book mounted on a pedestal of gray granite. Near these trees occurred fierce hand-to-hand fighting between Union forces and what remained of the 18,000 Confederates after severe artillery and musket fire had decimated their ranks. Of the 15 field officers and four generals who took part in the charge, only Pickett ("I am going to move forward, sir") and one lieutenant colonel escaped unhurt. Of 4,800 men in Pickett's division, not more than 1,000 survived.. --- Pennsylvania: A Guide to the Keystone State, 1940; page 232

The Carroll Herald (Iowa) in a May 19, 1909 article, almost 17 years after the dedication, reported on the monument. Besides a complete physical description of the monument, their original narrative is noteworthy & reads: Among the largest and most beautiful of the many monuments at Gettysburg is that which designates the location of the Bloody Angle fight or what perhaps is better known as the "high water mark of the rebellion", where three divisions of the Second army corps heroically repulsed the terrific assault made upon the center of the federal lines by the forces of the Confederate Army under the command of one of its brightest leaders, Longstreet.

This tablet possesses equal interest to the veterans of both armies, commemorating, as it does the presence and valor of each. General Hancock was wounded near this spot, and there is a monument now standing to the Confederate General Armistead, who led his command furthest into the Union lines.

The Draw the Sword site helped out by the NPS narrative, the SIRIS site & the HMSB (all cited below), offer the following description: An oversized open book is propped up on a pyramid of cannon balls. The work stands on a tapered square base, a tiered square base and a small, low-stepped plaza and is flanked by a cannons and small pyramidal stacks of cannon balls. The inscription on the pages of the open book lists the divisions and brigades from both the Union and Confederate armies who participated in Longstreet’s assault. It was designed by John B. Bachelder, historian, park superintendent and later supervisor of tablets and inscriptions for the GBMA. The piece marks the site where a decisive battle was fought. Two cannons with a stack of cannonballs piled next to them are also part of the memorial. The $6,500.00 cost was borne by the 14 states listed on a plaque on the monument. The monument consists of Fox Island and Quincy granite and standard bronze. The monument is flanked by two 12-pounder Napoleons, each with a stand of cannon balls. Two 24-pounder flank howitzers are buried muzzle down in front of the monument, near the steps.

The monument was erected on June 2, 1892 by the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association (GBMA). The monument is composed of: Sculpture: bronze; Base: Fox Island and Quincy granite; Water table: Gettysburg granite; Walkway: granolithic concrete. The granite monument's dimensions are approximately: Sculpture: approx. H. 4 ft. x W. 4 ft. 6 in.; Base: approx. 9 ft. x 11 ft. 4 in. x 11 ft. (1,272 lbs.). The aforementioned Carroll Herald has the plinth @ 6' 4" x 8' 4" @ the bottom, 5' x 7' @ the top, with a rise of 2', rests upon a granite base 8' 4" wide & 10' long, w/ a rise of 15'. The book is 5 x 6' in size. The monument was designed by John B. Bachelder, historian, park superintendent & later supervisor of tablets & inscriptions for the GBMA. After Bachelder's monument proposal was denied by the GBMA 2 years in a row, it was approved in the 3rd year. SOURCE The monument was manufactured @ the Henry-Bonnard Bronze Comp. The inscriptions read:

(Viewer's Left Side Page):High Water Mark
of the Rebellion
This Copse of Trees was the Landmark
toward which Longstreet's assault was directed
July 3, 1863.
The Assaulting Column
was comprised of
Kemper's, Garnett's, and Armistead's Brigades of
Pickett's Division,
Archer's, Davis', Pettigrew's & Brockenbrough's Brigades
of Heth's Division
and Scales' and Lane's Brigades
of Pender's Division.
Supported on the right by
Wilcox' and Perry's Brigades of
Anderson's Division;
on the left by Thomas' and McGowan's Brigades of
Pender's Division;
and in the rear by Wright's, Posey's & Mahone's Brigades of
Anderson's Division,
and assisted by the following artillery:
Cabell's Battalion
consisting of
Manly's, Fraser's, McCarthy's and Carlton's Batteries
Alexander's Battalion,
Woolfolk's, Jordan's, Gilbert's, Moody's, Parker's & Taylor's Batteries
Eshleman's Battalion,
Squire's, Richardson's, Miller's, & Norcom's Batteries,
Dearing's Battalion,
Stribling's, Caskie's, Macon's, & Blount's Batteries,
Cutts' Battalion,
Ross's, Patterson's and Wingfield's Batteries,
Pegram's Battalion,
McGraw's, Zimmerman's, Brander's, Marye's & Crenshaw Battery,
McIntosh's Battalion,
Rice's, Hurt's, Wallace's & Johnson's Batteries
Carter's Battalion,
Reese's, Carter's, Page's, and Fry's Batteries,
Brown's Battalion,
Watson's, Smith's, Cunningham's & Griffin's Batteries.
(Viewer's Right Side Page):Repulse of
Longstreet's Assault.
Longstreet's Assault
was repulsed by
Webb's, Hall's, & Harlow's Brigades of
Gibbon's Division Second Army Corps;
Smyth's & Willard's Brigades and
portions of Carroll's Brigade of
Hays' Division Second Army Corps;
and the first Massachusetts Sharp-shooters
(Unattached)
Portions of Rowley's and Stannard's Brigades of
Doubleday's Division First Army Corps;
Hazard's Second Corps Artillery Brigade,
consisting of
Woodruff's, Arnold's, Cushing's, Brown's, and Rorty's Batteries
assisted on the right by
Hill's, Edgell's, Eakin's, Bancroft's, Dilger's & Taft's Batteries
On Cemetery Hill;
and on the left by by
Cowan's, Fitzhugh's, Parsons', Wheeler's, Thomas's,
Daniels' & Sterling's Batteries and
McGilvery's Artillery Brigade,
Consisting of
Thompson's, Phillips', Hart's, Cooper's, Dow's, & Ames'
Batteries,
And by Hazlett's Battery on Little Round Top,
and supported by
Doubleday's Division of the First Army Corps
which was in position
on the immediate left of the troops assaulted.
The Third Army Corps
moved up to within supporting distance on the left, and
Robinson's Division of the First Army Corps
moved into position to support the right.
(Lower Front Plaque):Commands Honored.
in recognition of the patriotism and gallantry displayed
by their respective troops who met or assisted to repulse
Longstreet's Assault
the following states have contributed to erect this tablet
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York,
New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan and Minnesota.
(Left Side): Infantry Commands which met Longstreet's Assault.
Second Corps. (Hancock's), Second Division (Gibbon's).
The First Brigade, Harrow's, was composed of the 19th Maine, 15th Massachusetts, 1st Minnesota, and 82d New York Regiments.
Second Brigade, Webb's, 69th, 71st, 72d and 106th Pennsylvania.
Third Brigade, Hall's, 19th and 20th Massachusetts, 42d and 59th New York and 7th Michigan.
United States Sharpshooters.
First Regiment, Companies A,B,D,H New York; C,I,K (detached) Mich.; E, N.H.; F, Vt.; G, Wis.
Second Regiment, Companies A, Minn.; B, Mich.; C, Penn.; D, Maine; E,H, Vt.; F,G, N.H.
First Co. Mass. Sharpshooters - Second Co. Minn. Sharpshooters.
Third Division, Hays' First Brigade, Carroll's 8th Ohio.
Second Brigade, Smyth's 14th Connecticut, 1st Delaware, 12th New Jersey, 108th New York, and 10th New York Battalion.
Third Brigade, Willard's, 39th 111th, 125th, and 126th New York.
First Army Corps, Newton's, Third Division, Doubleday's
First Brigade, Rowley's, 80th New York and the 151st Pennsylvania. Third Brigade, Stannard's 13th, 14th, and 16th Vermont.
Assisted by the artillery, the 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry and Co's. D and K, 6th New York Cavalry
(Right Side):Infantry Commands in Longstreet's Charging Column.
Pickett's Division.
Kember's Va. Brigade. - 1st, 3rd, 7th, 11th, & 24th Regiments.
Garnett's Va. Brigade. - 8th, 18th, 19th, 28th, & 56th Regiments.
Armistead's Ba. Brigade.
9th, 14th, 38th, 53rd & 57th Regiments.
Heth's Division.
Archer's Tenn. Brigade. - 13th Ala., 5th Ala. Batt., 1st, 7th & 14th Tenn. Regiments.
Davis's Miss. Brigade. - 2d, 11th, 42d, Miss. & 55th N.C. Regiments.
Pettigrew's N.C. Brigade. - 11th, 26th, 44th, 47th & 52nd Regiments.
Brockenbrough's Va. Brigade. - 40th, 47th, 55th Regiments. 22d Battalion.
Pender's Division.
Lane's North Carolina Brigade. - 7th, 18th, 28th, 33d & 37th Regiments.
Sacles' North Carolina Brigade. - 13th, 16th, 22nd, 34th & 38th Regiments.
(Back):Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association
Organized April 30, 1864
Directors 1895
Governor Daniel H. Hastings, President
Colonel Charles H. Buehler, Vice President
Calvin Hamilton, Secretary
J. Lawrence Schick, Treasurer
John B. Bachelder - Brevet Major Gen. George S. Greene - Captain H.W. McKnight - John M. Vanderslice
Colonel George C. Briggs - First Lieut. C.E. Goldsborough - Major Gen. Daniel E. Sickles - Brevet Brig. Gen. Lewis Wagner
Brevet Major Gen. Joseph B. Carr - Brevet Major Chill W. Hazard - Major Gen. Henry W. Slocum - Brevet Major Gen. Alex S. Webb
Major Gen. S.W. Crawford - Jacob A. Kitzmiller - Captain Frank D. Sloat - Brevet Lieut. Col. Charles Young
Brigadier Gen. Lucius W. Fairchild - John C. Linehan - Samuel McC. Swope - Brevet Lieut. Col. John P. Nicholson
Brevet Major Gen. D. McM. Gregg - Captain Edward McPherson - Colonel Wheelock C. Veazey

The High Water Mark of the Rebellion 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 monument is identified as structure number MN230.

From the Nomination Form:
1 of 6 National monuments, second oldest. Commerates both Union and Confederate forces that fought at Gettysburg. Represents the turning point of the rebellion. Located at the Copse of Trees West of North Hancock.

Short Physical Description:
Combined w/Mn 389. Mn base 11'4"sq, rough hewn. Shaft of polished granite topped w/oversized open bronze book. Tablets 4 sides with rear tablet added 1895 (MN389) listing directors of GBMA. All 9'H.

Long Physical Description:
Monument is a polished granite shaft topped with an oversized open bronze book & set on a 11.4 foot square rough hewn base. Tablets are on all four sides, with the rear tablet added in 1895 that lists the directors of the GBMA. Overall height is 9 feet. Granolithic concrete sidewalks with granite curbing surround the monument. Two bronze Napoleon cannon on cast iron carriages, with stacked bronze ammunition, complete the monument grouping. Located at the Copse of Trees west of Hancock Avenue.

Granolithic concrete sidewalks w/ granite curbing surround monument. 2 bronze Napoleon cannon on cast-iron carriages w/stacked bronze ammo complete monument grouping.

To log a visit, a waymarker must visit the monument or memorial in person and post a photo. Personal observations and comments will be appreciated.