The Gettysburg National Park Commission [The Commission is also referred to as the Gettysburg National Military Park Commission or the Gettysburg Park Commission], established by the United States Department of War, after they took over the administration of the park from the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association (whose funds had expired) on March 3, 1893, and whose stewardship was later transferred to the National Park Service in 1933 (SOURCE), took a pictorial inventory of many of the existing monuments in the eventual historic district (a majority of them seem to have been Pennsylvania monuments being there are over one hundred of them). These pictures were included in their yearly Commission reports. I have found hundreds of these pictures on Virtual Gettysburg, a comprehensive website which pictorially inventories all the monuments and provides minor narratives as well. All the photos look the same as if they were taken by the same camera and in the same approximate time period. Even the angles are all the same, positioning the monument at a slight right angle (standing to the left), revealing a little of the left side of the monument. The entire park looks so young and immature when the photos were taken. After all, the Battle of Gettysburg was thirty-seven years old at the time and war veterans were only in their fifties. I have never been able to find any photo credits (I have a sneaking suspicion some of the photos may have been snapped by members of the Park Commissions and published in their annual November report to the War Department) but I know they are public domain because their copyrights have all expired. This picture represent the efforts of the Commission well into the Commission period. Most of my pictures I use come from a website called Virtual Gettysburg. It seems however, all the pictures of the New York monuments were either borrowed from or shared with a New York monuments website. That site, The New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs can be found HERE. This picture was found on the Virtual Gettysburg site which can be found HERE
Clearly it is evident, through a survey of historical pictures and other archival information (such as the annual Commission reports), much change has occurred at Gettysburg Battlefield. With the passage of legislation affording historical status to this site as well as placing it under the auspices of the National Park Service, its patrons and caretakers had to groom and prepare the area to make it more authentic as well as educational. Today the battlefield has managed to maintain an authentic 1863 feel, but back then, as evident in the many photos, it was a desolate, empty place of brown and green fields broken only by the occasional farmstead, their outbuildings and fields of crops. With the emergence and dedication of hundreds of monuments during the commemoration period and all the other dedications prior to 1900, and the development of farmland, some change has occurred but for the most part, nothing too dramatic. I do not know when this picture was taken. Probably around 1902 as other monuments without documentation were also taken that year so we'll put these pics at 110 years apart. This is one of the few picture tandems where I cannot report any differences. In fact, everything looks exactly the same!
The 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry Monument is located on the north or left side of Pleasanton Avenue if traveling east, due north of the Pennsylvania State Monument, (which is located on the east or right side of Hancock Avenue), near the Hummelbaugh farm (This section being called Hummelbaugh Field) & East of Hancock Avenue. Both monuments being south of Gettysburg. This particular monument is off of the road, and is pushed out onto the grass 48 feet away from the road, The Huey Brigade tablet just south of it near the road. The Park Service mows the lawn to make a path to the monument and mowed huge circles around the monument making it all seem suspiciously like alien crop circles. This is a weirdly positioned monument, something I cannot explain. The bronze tablet is displayed on the side of the monument and faces the southwest. The front of the horse, or the head, points to a northwesterly position. Historically, I do not know why it is positioned this way. This location is a hot-bed of activity and one of the best examples of a hands-on history lesson of the Civil War one could hope to find. All along both sides of the road are these types of tablets, memorials, monuments, sculptures, and all manner of cannons, rifles and guns. Parking is available at enlarged shoulder cutouts on the right side of the road, directly across from the various monuments. Be sure to keep vehicles off the grass or you will be ticketed by park police. I visited this monument on Thursday, July 5, 2012 approximately 6:10 P.M. I was at an elevation of 575 feet, ASL. I used a Canon PowerShot 14.1 Megapixel, SX210 IS digital camera for the photos. The original picture is of the left proper side of the horse, no angles, dead on. That side faces the southwest. I faced the northeast to match up my photo. I was about 12 feet away when I took my picture.
From a previous waymark about this monument:
The 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry was also known as The 89th Regiment. During the battle of Gettysburg, it served as a member of Huey’s Brigade in Gregg’s Division of the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac and was commanded by Captain William A. Corie. They were not present at Gettysburg, instead they were in Maryland guarding the army trains. I cannot explain why this monument is here given this unit was not.
The Draw the Sword site helped out by the NPS narrative and the SIRIS site offers the following description: Equestrian statue of a uniformed Cavalry soldier stands on a cut boulder. Bronze elements include a carbine barrel, sword, spurs and reins. The decision to erect the monument was made during a reunion of the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry on the field in July 1887. The cost was approximately $3,000. The work is sited near the location of General Pleasonton’s headquarters. It is reportedly the first attempt in the United States to produce a granite equestrian
The monument was dedicated on September 1, 1890 by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The monument is composed of Quincy granite with some bronze elements and has the following dimensions: Sculpture: approximately 11 feet 3 inches x 98 inches x 34 inches and the base is approximately 10 feet 7 inches in width and 5 feet in depth. The monument was fabricated by John M. Gessler & Sons. There is one bronze-inscribed tablet on the lower, right side base (if facng the horse) which reads:
8th Penna. Cavalry
2nd Brigade 2nd Division Cavalry Corps
Recruited in Phila., Bucks, Lycoming, & Luzerne Counties
Mustered in Aug. - Oct. 1861 Reenlisted Dec. 31st 1863
Mustered out July 24th 1865.
With the Army of the Potomac from Manassas to Appomattox
Participated in
135 Battles and Skirmishes
This regiment detached with the 2nd Corps, covered the rear of
the army on the march from Virginia. At Frederick rejoined the
Cavalry Corps and with Gregg's Division moved in the advance to
Gettysburg July 1st, moved hastily to Manchester to protect trains
July 4th joined in pursuit of the enemy participating in the
night attack at Monterey Pass and the many other cavalry
engagements until the enemy retreated into Virginia.
The 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry 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 MN25.
From the Nomination Form:
1 of 110 Monuments to Pennsylvania of the GBMA Era (1863 - 1895). Indicates participation in Gettysburg campaign, attached to Pennock Huey's Brigade, but dutied to Manchester, MD guarding Union supply trains. Located N side Pleasonton Avenue.
Short Physical Description:
Mn is granite statue of a mounted calvaryman w/bronze trappings. Set on a 10'7" x 5' rough cut base. Base has bronze inscription tablet. Originally had bronze reins, carbine barrel, sword & scabbard, missing, vandalized in 1906 (starting, continually since then).
Long Physical Description:
N/A
My Sources
1.
NRHP Nomination Form
2.
SIRIS
3.
Stone Sentinels
4.
Virtual Gettysburg
5.
Draw the Sword
6.
Historical Marker Database