The 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry was also known as The 89th Regiment. During the battle of Gettysburg, it served as a member of Huey’s Brigade in Gregg’s Division of the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac and was commanded by Captain William A. Corie. They were not present at Gettysburg, instead they were in Maryland guarding the army trains. I cannot explain why this monument is here given this unit was not.
The 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry Monument is located on the north or left side of Pleasanton Avenue if traveling east, due north of the Pennsylvania State Monument, (which is located on the east or right side of Hancock Avenue), near the Hummelbaugh farm (This section being called Hummelbaugh Field) & East of Hancock Avenue. Both monuments being south of Gettysburg. This particular monument is off of the road, and is pushed out onto the grass 48 feet away from the road, The Huey Brigade tablet just south of it near the road. The Park Service mows the lawn to make a path to the monument and mowed huge circles around the monument making it all seem suspiciously like alien crop circles. This is a weirdly positioned monument, something I cannot explain. The bronze tablet is displayed on the side of the monument and faces the southwest. The front of the horse, or the head, points to a northwesterly position. Historically, I do not know why it is positioned this way. This location is a hot-bed of activity and one of the best examples of a hands-on history lesson of the Civil War one could hope to find. All along both sides of the road are these types of tablets, memorials, monuments, sculptures, and all manner of cannons, rifles and guns. Parking is available at enlarged shoulder cutouts on the right side of the road, directly across from the various monuments. Be sure to keep vehicles off the grass or you will be ticketed by park police. I visited this monument on Thursday, July 5, 2012 approximately 6:10 P.M. I was at an elevation of 575 feet, ASL. I used a Canon PowerShot 14.1 Megapixel, SX210 IS digital camera for the photos.
The Draw the Sword site helped out by the NPS narrative and the SIRIS site offers the following description: Equestrian statue of a uniformed Cavalry soldier stands on a cut boulder. Bronze elements include a carbine barrel, sword, spurs and reins. The decision to erect the monument was made during a reunion of the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry on the field in July 1887. The cost was approximately $3,000. The work is sited near the location of General Pleasonton’s headquarters. It is reportedly the first attempt in the United States to produce a granite equestrian
The monument was dedicated on September 1, 1890 by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The monument is composed of Quincy granite with some bronze elements and has the following dimensions: Sculpture: approximately 11 feet 3 inches x 98 inches x 34 inches and the base is approximately 10 feet 7 inches in width and 5 feet in depth. The monument was fabricated by John M. Gessler & Sons. There is one bronze-inscribed tablet on the lower, right side base (if facng the horse) which reads:
8th Penna. Cavalry
2nd Brigade 2nd Division Cavalry Corps
Recruited in Phila., Bucks, Lycoming, & Luzerne Counties
Mustered in Aug. - Oct. 1861 Reenlisted Dec. 31st 1863
Mustered out July 24th 1865.
With the Army of the Potomac from Manassas to Appomattox
Participated in
135 Battles and Skirmishes
This regiment detached with the 2nd Corps, covered the rear of
the army on the march from Virginia. At Frederick rejoined the
Cavalry Corps and with Gregg's Division moved in the advance to
Gettysburg July 1st, moved hastily to Manchester to protect trains
July 4th joined in pursuit of the enemy participating in the
night attack at Monterey Pass and the many other cavalry
engagements until the enemy retreated into Virginia.
The 8th Pennsylvania 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 MN25.
From the Nomination Form:
1 of 110 Monuments to Pennsylvania of the GBMA Era (1863 - 1895). Indicates participation in Gettysburg campaign, attached to Pennock Huey's Brigade, but dutied to Manchester, MD guarding Union supply trains. Located N side Pleasonton Avenue.
Short Physical Description:
Mn is granite statue of a mounted calvaryman w/bronze trappings. Set on a 10'7" x 5' rough cut base. Base has bronze inscription tablet. Originally had bronze reins, carbine barrel, sword & scabbard, missing, vandalized in 1906 (starting, continually since then).
Long Physical Description:
N/A
My Sources
1.
NRHP Nomination Form
2.
SIRIS
3.
Stone Sentinels
4.
Virtual Gettysburg
5.
Draw the Sword
6.
Historical Marker Database