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. This picture was probably taken from a 1902 Commission report or a date very close to that, making the tandem about 110 years old. Due to the cropped nature of the 1900s photo, I cannot ascertain any differences in the two photos. Everything appears to be the same.
The 6th Ohio Cavalry Monument is located on the left or north side of Pleasonton Avenue, at the intersection of Taneytown Road/Route 134 (which is a few feet east of this position) and Pleasonton Avenue. The Roller and Storage Building is caddy corner, across the street. That building is listed as contributing structure number 131. If facing the monument, the Battery B & L, 2nd U.S. Regulars Artillery monument is just to the left of this position. The front of the monument faces the east so one would need to face due west to read the brief inscription on the front. The sides are thick enough to have their own inscriptions. 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 in the later part of the afternoon. I was at an elevation of 575 feet, ASL. I used a Canon PowerShot 14.1 Megapixel, SX210 IS digital camera for the photos. As already stated, the monument faces east. I faced the northwest to match up my photo, placing the monument at a slight angle, revealing part of the left side. I was about 10 feet away when I took my picture.
From a previous waymark about this monument:
The 6th Ohio Cavalry served as a member of Huey’s Brigade in Gregg’s Division of the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac. The unit was commanded by Major William Stedman. Although the unit was not present at the battlefield, they helped guard the army trains while at Westminster. The sixth served primarily in the Eastern Theater in several major campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, and was particularly active during the Gettysburg Campaign of 1863, but again, off site.
The Draw the Sword site helped out by the NPS narrative and the SIRIS site offers the following description: Relief of a uniformed cavalryman on a running horse appears on the face of a square marker with a pointed top and low rough-hewn base. The figure is holding the reins in his proper left hand and holds a sword over his head in his proper right hand. A relief of crossed sabers in a circle appears at the top of the monument, front and back. It was erected by the State of Ohio.
The monument was dedicated on September 14, 1887 by the State of Ohio. The monument is composed entirely of Hallowell granite and has the following dimensions: Overall: The sculpture is approximately 9 feet x 6 feet 6 inches x 2 feet and the base is approximately 1 foot in height x 3 feet 7 inches in width. The monument was fabricated by the Frederick & Field Company. This company produced more monuments across the battlefield than any other company (by my count). There are lengthy inscriptions on all sides which recount the entire history of this unity, all of which read:
(Front):Sixth Ohio Cavalry
2 Brigade 2 Division Cavalry Corps
Erected by the State of Ohio
(Left):The Sixth Ohio Cavalryserved during the Gettysburg Campaign with Huey's Brigade, taking part in several severe engagements. During the battle of Gettysburg it was on detached service with the Brigade at Manchester, Md.
(Back):Sixth Ohio Cavalry
Organized at Warren, Ohio.
Dec. 14. 1861.
Served with the National Armies
in Virginia under
Bayard, Buford, Pleasanton,
Kilpatrick, Gregg, Smith,
Crook and Sheridan.
Its Veteran Companies reenlisted
January 1864.
Mustered out Aug 7. 1865.
(Right):Principal Engagements:
Cross Keys
Groveton
Kelly's Ford, 1863
Stoneman's Raid, 1863
Aldie
Upperville
Gettysburg Campaign
Mine Run
Auburn
Bristoe Station
Wilderness
Sheridan's Raids, 1864
Cold Harbor
Malvern Hill, 1864
Mitchell's Shop
Hawes Shop
Bodton Plank Road
Dinwiddie C.H.
Sailor's Creek
Appomattox C.H.
The 6th Ohio 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 MN272.
From the Nomination Form:
1of 20 Civil War monuments to Ohio of the GBMA Era (1863 - 1895). Honoring 6th Ohio Cavalry attached to Huey's Cavalry Brigade, but stationed at Manchester, MD during 3 day battle. Located W side of Taneytown Rd. at intersection w/ Pleasonton Ave.
Short Physical Description:
MN base, 8'x3'6", rough-cut stone w/ excised inscription front. 2 part shaft, 1st part w/ excised inscription. 2nd part w/ incised inscription on 3 sides, pronounced, intricate bas-relief on front. All 8' high.
Long Physical Description:
Monument is a two-part granite shaft set on a 8x3.6 foot rough cut stone base that has an excised inscription on the front. The lower part of the shaft has an excised inscription and the upper part has an incised inscription on three sides and an intricate bas-relief on the front. Overall height is eight feet. Located on the west side of Taneytown Road at the intersection with Pleasonton Avenue.
My Sources
1.
NRHP Nomination Form
2.
SIRIS
3.
Stone Sentinels
4.
Virtual Gettysburg
5.
Draw the Sword
6.
Historical Marker Database
7.
Wikipedia