The
1st Ohio Cavalry (Companies A and C) served as a member of the headquarters for Gregg’s Division and Kilpatrick’s Division of the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac. The 1st Ohio Cavalry was organized at Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio August 17-October 30, 1861 and mustered in for a three year enlistment under the command of Colonel Owen P. Ransom. At Gettysburg, the unit was commanded by Captain Noah Jones (1840-1902) and Capt. Samuel N. Stanford (1837-1871). The unit had 85 men engaged at Gettysburg and reported no losses.
The 1st Ohio Cavalry Monument is located on the left or west side of Taneytown Road/Route 134 if traveling north along the road. The Pleasonton Avenue intersection (west turn only) is to the rear or south of this position, also on the same side of the road. Across the road is a private residence and private dirt road entrance. Do not park along this road as there is no room and it is dangerous. Parking is available along Pleasonton Avenue at enlarged shoulder cutouts on the side of the road, directly across from the other 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 in the later part of the afternoon. 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: Tiered marker with apex cap bears a relief of a horse’s head at the top of the monument just beneath crossed swords or sabers the symbol of the Cavalry Corps. Partially enclosed on three sides by a War Department era board fence. The 1st Ohio Cavalry Monument fence is a separate contributing structure for the historic district, classified as structure no. FN10. I guess that fence is original from a hundred or so years ago.
The monument was dedicated on September 14, 1887 by the State of Ohio. The monument is composed entirely of granite and has the following dimensions: Overall, the sculpture is approximately 13 feet 6 inches x 2 feet 10 inches squared and the base is approximately 9 inches x 6 feet squared. The monument was fabricated by M. V. Mitchell & Son. There are inscriptions on all sides which recount the entire history of this unity, all of which read:
(Front):Companies A and C
1st Ohio Cavalry
Headquarters Guard
2d and 3d Divisions
Cavalry Corps
Erected by
The State of Ohio
(Left):Companies A and C
1st Ohio Cavalry
July 1, 2, 3, 1863
during the battle of
Gettysburg these companies
furnished bearers of
dispatches to different
parts of the field.
In the course of the
campaign then several
times vigorously engaged
the enemy.
(Back):Companies A and C
1st Ohio Cavalry
(Right):Companies A and C
1st Ohio Cavalry
were organized for 3 years
autumn of 1861.
Served in the Virginias
until spring of 1864.
Were then sent west to join
the Regiment. Serving with the
Army of the Cumberland.
Reenlisted as veterans in
December 1863.
Participated in many
important battles and in
the capture of the
Confederate president.
Mustered out in
September, 1865.
The 1st Ohio 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 MN273.
From the Nomination Form:
1 of 20 Civil War Ohio Monuments of the GBMA Era (1863 - 1895). Honors Companies A & C, 1st Ohio Cavalry, Cavalry dispatch bearers between field & headquarters. Mn position adjacent Pleasonton's Headquarters. Located W side Taneytown Rd. at junction w/Pleasonton Ave.
Short Physical Description:
Mn w/3 part shaft 6' square base & apex cap. 2nd part shaft excised inscription, 3rd part incised inscription on all 4 sides, bas-relief on front. All 12'2" H.
Long Physical Description:
Monument is a three-part granite shaft with an apex cap and set on a six foot square base. The middle part of the shaft has an excised inscription and the upper part has an incised inscription on four sides with a bas-relief on the front. Overall height is 12.2 foot. Located on the west side of Taneytown Road near the intersection with Pleasonton Avenue. Partially enclosed on three sides by a War Department board fence.
My Sources
1.
NRHP Nomination Form
2.
SIRIS
3.
Stone Sentinels
4.
Virtual Gettysburg
5.
Draw the Sword
6.
Historical Marker Database
7.
Wikipedia