Colonel W. C. Oates at Gettysburg - Montgomery, Alabama
Posted by: 
xptwo
N 32° 23.083 W 086° 17.659
16S E 566376 N 3583298
Marker commemorating the action of Confederate Colonel William Oates, later governor of Alabama, at the Battle of Gettysburg. It is located by his grave in Oakwood Cemetery, Montgomery, Alabama.
Waymark Code: WMDA94
Location: Alabama, United States
Date Posted: 12/13/2011
Views: 9
Historical markers can be found in some unusual places. This one is found in Oakwood Cemetery in Montgomery, Alabama, next to the gravesite of former Alabama Governor William Oates. It tells the story of July 2, 1863, when Colonel Oates and his 15th Alabama Regiment made five charges up Little Round Top in the Battle of Gettysburg.
Marker Name: Colonel W. C. Oates, CSA at Gettysburg
Marker Type: Urban
Addtional Information::
The text of the marker reads:
Colonel W. C. Oates, CSA at Gettysburg
July 2, 1863: General Law's Alabama Brigade of Longstreet's Corps arrived on the field, having marched 23 miles in 11 hours. The 15th Alabama Regiment commanded by Oates became the extreme right flank of Lee's Army. It made five charges up Little Round Top against withering fire of the enemy and engaged in fierce hand-to-hand combat with Col. Joshua Chamberlain's 20th Maine Regiment and other Federal troops before being driven off the hill by a final desperate bayonet charge from the high ground against its flank and rear. Oates always attributed his regiment's failure to take its objective on the shortage of water and fatigue from the forced march.
Sponsored by the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce
Erected by the Alabama Historical Association
1994
Date Dedicated / Placed: 1994
Marker Number: Not Listed
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Visit Instructions:
Please post a photo of you OR your GPS at the marker location. Also if you know of any additional links not already mentioned about this bit of Alabama history please include that in your log.