10th Pennsylvania Reserves (39th Infantry) Monument - Gettysburg, PA
Posted by: Groundspeak Regular Member Math Teacher
N 39° 47.322 W 077° 14.259
18S E 308398 N 4406700
Pennsylvania monuments are renown for their action-like granite statues of infantrymen in various combatant poses. This statue is unlike the others due to one huge detail, it is made entirely of bronze making it very costly and very unique.
Waymark Code: WME4RY
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 04/03/2012
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member Outspoken1
Views: 6

The 10th Pennsylvania Reserves was also known as the 39th Infantry. During the battle of Gettysburg, the unit served as a member of Fisher’s Brigade in Crawford’s Division of the Fifth Corps, Army of the Potomac, a Fighting 300 Regiment. The unit was commanded by Colonel Adroniram J. Warner (1834-1910). Warner was the head of the Union School in Mercer. He was wounded at Antietam. In his post-war life he was a two term Congressman from Marietta, Ohio. The 10th Pennsylvania Reserves lost 7 officers and 153 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 47 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War.

The monument is located 30 feet from South Confederate Avenue, on the right or south side if traveling east, in a wooded area with an accompanying terrain of about 2.5 (out of 5). This site is the foot of Big Round Top. The monument marks the position taken by the 10th Pennsylvania Reserve at five o’clock on July 2, 1863. The Ninth Massachusetts Infantry Monument and the Fisher's Brigade tablet are a few feet away, further up the hill. The monument is 350 feet away from a four way intersection of S. Confederate Avenue/Sykes Avenue and Warren Avenue/Wright Avenue. The monument faces the south. Parking is tricky around here so exercise caution. Please do not park on the grass, park on the side of the road. I cannot emphasize that enough! I visited this monument on Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 5:10 PM, just before the clocks were set ahead for the Spring. I was at a 598 foot ASL elevation.

The Draw the Sword site helped out by the NPS narrative and the SIRIS site offers the following description: One of two Pennsylvania regimentals cast entirely of bronze (the other belongs to the 56th Pennsylvania). The monument cost $3,000.00. Atop a tall bronze base stands a bronze figure of a Civil War soldier walking with his rifle held in his proper right hand. Inscriptions in raised letters appear on panels around the sides of the bronze base. At the foot of the bronze base is a large stone boulder. Flanking markers are granite, flat topped, one foot square with inscription on the north faces.

The monument was cast in 1889. The monument was dedicated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the dedication address was given on September 2, 1890, delivered by First Lieutenant and Adjutant George W. McCracken. That entire speech can be found HERE. The monument was designed by J. H. Buck, and the contractor was Gorham Manufacturing Company. The monument's dimensions are: Overall: approx. H. 13 ft. 11 in.; Base: W. 4 ft. x D. 4 ft. The monument is made of bronze. There are inscriptions on three sides which read:

(Front):
10th Pennsylvania Reserves
39th Penna. Infantry
3d Brigade 3d Division 5th Corps

July 2d occupied this line
of stone fence and remained from
5 p.m. until close of the battle.

Present at Gettysburg 28 officers 392 men
Killed 2 men
Wounded 3 men
Total 5.

(Right):
Mustered in June 3. to July 3. 1861
Mustered out June 1, 1864
Recruited in
Warren, Crawford, Mercer,
Venango, Lawrence, Clarion, Beaver,
Washington and Somerset Counties
Total enrollment 1150

Killed and died of wounds 7 officers 130 men 137 total
Died of disease etc. 50 men 50 total
Captured and missing 3 officers 140 men 143 total
Total casualties 604.

(Left):
Dranesville - Antietam
Mechanicsville - Fredericksburg
Gaines' Mill - Gettysburg
Glendale - Bristoe Station
Malvern Hill - Mine Run
Gainesville - Wilderness
Groveton - Spotsylvania
2d Bull Run - North Anna
South Mountain - Totopotomoy
Bethesda Church


10th Pennsylvania Reserves (39th Infantry) 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 catalogued as structure number MN088-D

From the Nomination Form:
Marks position taken by 10th Pennsylvania Reserves at 5:00 p.m. July 2 1963, & held until close of Battle. 1 of 110 mns in Park to Pennsylvania command in Gettysburg Campaign. Located W side of Sykes Ave near base of Big Round Top, S of Wright Ave.

Short Physical Description:
Mn & 2 flank markers. Bronze statue of infantryman atop bronze base, 4'square. All 13'11" high. Inscriptions of raised letters on bronze panels on 3 of 4 sides of base. Flank markers, granite, flat topped, 1'x1'x1'. Inscription on N faces.

Long Physical Description:
Monument that has two flanking markers. Monument is a bronze statue of an infantryman atop a bronze base that is four foot square. Overall height is 13.11 foot. An inscription of raised letters on bronze panels is located on three of the four sides of the base. Flanking markers are granite, flat topped, one foot square with inscription on the north faces. Located on the west side of Sykes Avenue near the base of Big Round Top.


My Sources
1. NRHP Nomination Form
2. SIRIS
3. Stone Sentinels
4. Virtual Gettysburg
5. Draw the Sword
6. Historical Marker Database
7. PA Bucktails Site

Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: 10th Pennsylvania Reserve Monument

Figure Type: Human

Artist Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Unknown, sculptor. Gorham Manufacturing Company, founder

Date created or placed or use 'Unknown' if not known: September 2, 1890

Materials used: bronze

Location: Gettysburg National Military Park Intersection of Warren & Sykes Avenues Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325

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