3rd West Virginia Cavalry Monument - Gettysburg, PA
N 39° 50.616 W 077° 14.875
18S E 307672 N 4412816
The monument marks the position held by regiment on left of Col. Thomas Devin's Brigade line on a.m. of July 1, 1863. One of four monuments honoring services of West Virginia soldiers at Gettysburg. Located on Buford Ave on First Day Battlefield.
Waymark Code: WMBV95
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 06/22/2011
Views: 3
Erected on September 28, 1898 by the State of West Virginia, this monument is a rough hewn granite stelae that is 4×1.8 foot at the bottom and 7.6 feet tall. It rests on a 5.6×3 foot base. Inscription on the west. It indicates the position held by the 3rd West Virginia Cavalry on the morning of July 1, 1863 on the left of Col. Thomas Devin’s Brigade line.
Two companies of the regiment, A and C, were at Gettysburg, bringing 59 men to the field and losing four missing. They were commanded by Captain Seymour B. Conger. The 3rd was part of Cavalry Corps - 1st Division - 2nd Brigade.
The overall height of this obelisk is 16.9 foot and stands on a pedestal and tiered base. There are reliefs on each face of the pedestal representative of the cavalry insignia. These include a bugle, a wreath and the Cavalry crossed sword insignia. Monument indicates the 2nd position of the 3rd Indiana Cavalry on the right of Gamble’s Brigade, a position held by the regiment until they were relieved by Union I Corps. A portion of this regiment took up muskets and joined the 6th Wisconsin on the firing line. It was moved a few feet in 1960 when the bridge was installed. Basically it looks like a regular rectangular monument with a curved top and the inscription is on an inset portion found in the center, with crossed sabers relieved at the top. The text of the marker reads:
Erected by the state of
West Virginia
to commemorate the
valor and fidelity
of the
Third West Virginia Cavalry
The 3rd West Virginia 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 MN002.
From the nomination form:
Short Physical Description:
Rough hewn stelae, 4'x1'8", on base, 5'6"x3' base, all 7'6" high. Polished, recessed panel on both faces of stelae. Inscription on N face.
Long Physical Description
A rough hewn granite stelae that is 4x1.8 foot at the bottom and 7.6 feet tall. It rests on a 5.6x3 foot base. Inscription on the west. Located on Buford Avenue on the First Day Battlefield.
My Sources
1.
Draw the Sword
2.
SIRIS
3.
Virtual Gettysburg
4.
Historical Marker Database
5.
Stone Sentinels
6.
NRHP Narrative