Coster Ave Mural - Gettysburg, PA - Murals on Waymarking.com

The Coster ave Mural depicts the fight between the Union brigade of Col Charles R Coster and the Confederat brigades of Brig Gen Harry T Hays and Col Isaac E Avery on the afternoon of July 1, 1863. Coster's three small regiments (the 134th New York, 154th New York, and the 27th Pennsylvania) were rushed to this position from Cemetery Hill to cover the retreat of the Eleventh Corps. They took position behind fences in John Kuhn's brickyard, and were immediately attacked by Hays's (the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th Louisiana) and Avery's (the 6th, 21st and 57th North Carolina) regiments. Outnumbered approximately three to one and out flanked on both ends of their line (see map at right [missing]). Coster's men were driven from the brickyard with great loss, after a brave but brief struggle. One of Avery's regimental commanders reported attacking the brickyard fence with the enemy stubbornly holding their position until we climbed over into their midst. It is this climactic moment of the battle that the mural depicts.

The Coster Ave Mural was conceived, researched, designed and funded by author and artist Mark H Dunkelman (Pictured top left), historian of the 154th New York. The final mural was painted by Rhode Island artist Johan Bjurman (top right), who also supervised its construction and installation, and Dunkelman. The mural was dedicated on July 1, 1988, the 125th Anniversary of the Battle it portrays, in honor of the memory of the men of Coster, Hays and Avery.

After more than a decade of exposure to the elements, the mural was in need of a restoration. Financing for the work was generously provided by the 'Bearss Brigade' and other friends of the painting. The Bearss Brigade consists of friends and followers of Edwin C Bearss (pictured at bottom), Chief Historian Emeritus of the National Park Service, widely published author and the most legendary battlefield guide in the United states. Each year the Bearss Brigade makes a substantial contribution to the Civil War Preservation effort of Ed's choice, and in 2001 he picked the Coster Avenue Mural as the beneficiary of their generosity. The restoration work was done by John Bjurman and Mark Dunkleman that autumn. Many thanks to Ed Bearss and his followers (and other friends) for enabling the restoration of the mural.

City: Gettysburg, PA Location Name: Coster Ave Media: Paint on plaster Artist: Not listed Date: Not listed Relevant Web Site: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   04/18/2015 ChapterhouseInc visited it