This beautiful, heroic-sized statue is one of 8 statues of historic Civil War figures featured at the Pennsylvania State Memorial. Birney stands in an especially designed niche on the right or southeast side of the gigantic memorial. Each of the four sides has two statues, on either end flanking the arch. There are two on the front and moving to the right or counterclockwise, this would be in the second position, on the right side of the monument and right of the arch, statue No. 4 (by my count). The subject mater, General Birney, was the commander of the Third Corps during the battle at Gettysburg and of course from Pennsylvania, although not born there.
Major General David Birney (May 29, 1825-October 18, 1864), temporary commander of the Union Army of the Potomac’s Third Corps. Birney was born in Huntsville, Alabama, the son of an abolitionist from Kentucky, James G. Birney. His father published an anti-slavery newspaper, and the Birney family was forced to move to Michigan, and finally to Philadelphia. Birney entered the Union army just after Fort Sumter as lieutenant colonel of the 23rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment, a unit he raised largely at his own expense. He is buried in Woodlands Cemetery in Philadelphia.
The Pennsylvania State Memorial and the Birney statue are located on Hancock Avenue within a triangular area whose borders consist of Pleasonton Avenue, Humphreys Avenue and Hancock Avenue. The huge Pennsylvania monument faces the southwest. 
There is a dedicated parking area to the rear of the memorial which can accommodate nine cars. Additionally, parking is available on the side of the Hancock Avenue (one way only) in white painted spaces. There is also a rest station with bathrooms and a broken water fountain to the right of the parking lot (this is a one way road). This nearby comfort station was completed in 1933 as the first Gettysburg Parkitecture structure. Please be mindful of not parking on the grass or anything green, lest ye be ticketed. I visited this specific statue on July 5, 2012 and again on August 13, 2012, both times in the late afternoon using a Canon PowerShot 14.1 Megapixel, SX210 IS digital camera and a General Electric A1050 10MP Digital Camera with 5X Optical Zoom for the photos.
The statue is eight feet high and of bronze. Physically, it is a standing portrait of Birney, on a foot high, rectangular plinth with his last name deeply incised on the front. Birney is dressed in full military uniform, 16 buttons up and down his uniform/jacket, a belt with buckle and what appears to be an eagle, his proper left hand casually grasping the very tip of his sword's hilt, its point resting in the plinth. His proper right had holds field glasses pressed into his hip. The sword is in the middle of his body. He has on riding boots, creased at the bottom. He appears to be leaning backward to the left (his right) with his proper left leg thrust forward, beyond the plinth (an interesting effect). He gazes slightly to his right, head cocked. He wears a hat, cocked also slightly with his right side down a bit. He has a beard and mustache. Overall, the statue is very real with wrinkles in the clothes, detail everywhere and a sense of realism.
Construction on the memorial began in the summer of 1909. However, at the time of the dedication on Sept. 27, 1910, the eight portrait statues Cottrell (architect W. Liance Cottrell was selected amongst artists who submitted designs) envisioned for the niches on either side of each archway were missing due to the lack of funds. In the year following the dedication, an additional $40,000 as appropriated to create the statues, and the Van Amringe Granite Company as given the contract. The statues were cast at the Gorham Manufacturing Company and were installed in April of 1913 and the entire memorial was rededicated July 4, 1913. The artists specifically responsible for the Hancock statue are Lawrie, Lee Oskar, 1877-1963, sculptor, Cottrell, W. Liance, architect, Harrison Granite Company, fabricator, Gorham Manufacturing Company, founder and Van Amringe Granite Company, fabricator.
From the SIRIS site: In 1907, $150,000 was appropriated to erect a suitable memorial to honor all Pennsylvanians who participated in the battle at Gettysburg. The design submitted by architect W. Liance Cottrell was selected and the Harrison Granite Company was chosen to execute the design. Construction on the memorial began in the summer of 1909. However, at the time of the dedication on Sept. 27, 1910, the eight portrait statues Cottrell envisioned for the niches on either side of each archway were missing due to the lack of funds. In the year following the dedication, an additional $40,000 as appropriated to create the statues, and the Van Amringe Granite Company as given the contract. The statues were cast at the Gorham Manufacturing Company and were installed in April of 1913. The total cost for the memorial was $200,000.
The Pennsylvania State Memorial (and Birney Statue) 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 and statues are identified as structure number MN260.
From the Nomination Form:
1 of 19 Civil War State & National Memorial Monuments of the GBMA Era (1863-1895). Built to commerate Pennsylvania officers & soldiers serving at Gettysburg campaign. Designed by 6 sculptors: Samuel A. Murray, J. Otto Schweizer, W. Clark Noble, Lee O. Lawrie, Cyrus E. Dallin, J. Massey Rhind.
Short Physical Description:
Mn is a 4 sided raised pedestal w/bronze tablets (34"x72") listing PA soldiers. Set on 100' sq. base. Arched passages lead to domed interior. Dome is topped w/bronze winged victory. Double bronze statues located in niches on all 4 sides. 4 oversized reliefs adorn the upper observation deck walls.
Long Physical Description:
Monument is a four-sided raised granite pedestal with bronze tablets listing Pennsylvania soldiers and set on a 100 foot square base. It has arched central passages to the domed interior. The dome is topped with a bronze winged victory. Double bronze statues are located in niches on all four sides. Four oversized granite reliefs adorn the upper observation deck parapet walls. A concrete pathway leads from Hancock Avenue to the monument in a Y shape. Designed by W. Liance Cottrell and sculptured by various American artists, including Samuel Murray, J. Massey Rhind, and J. Otto Schweizer. Located on the east side of Hancock Avenue.
Concrete pathway leads from Hancock Ave. to mn in a Y shape.
My Sources
1.
NRHP Narrative
2.
SIRIS
3.
Stone Sentinels
4.
Virtual Gettysburg
5.
Draw the Sword
6.
Wikipedia
7.
Wikipedia
8.
Dcmemorials