The 114th Pennsylvania Infantry was also known as Collis’ Zouaves. During the battle of Gettysburg, it served as a member of Graham’s Brigade in Birney’s Division of the Third Corps, Army of the Potomac. They were very famous for their colorful americanized zouave dress which consisted of: a dark blue zouave jacket with sky blue cuffs and red trimmings and tombeux, a sky blue sash, madder red trousers, white gaiters, leather jamberies, and a red zouave fez with a yellow tassel that was often worn with a white turban. The unit was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Cavada (1832-1871). He was wounded at Fredericksburg and captured at Gettysburg. (A native of Cuba, he was appointed U.S. Consul and became the Chief General of the Cuban forces against Spain. He was captured and executed in 1871.) Captain Edward R. Bowen then took command. The 114th brought 312 men to the field, losing 9 killed, 86 wounded and 60 missing.
The 114th Pennsylvania Infantry Monument, is located off of Hancock Avenue, on the right or east side of the road if traveling traveling north. The monument is 192 east of Hancock Avenue along a fence line, almost directly to the rear of the
Fitzhugh's Brigade Tablet (MN535) which is along Hancock Avenue.
The Meade Equestrian Monument (MN690) is 149 feet north north west of this position. This position is also exactly 464 northeast of the
High Water Mark Monument (MN230). The monument faces due west. This area is an absolute beehive of activity as this site represents the best of what Gettysburg has to offer, both historically and monumentally.
Parking is plentiful and is available road-side at intermittently enlarged shoulder cut-outs, usually marked with white striping. Be sure to keep vehicles off the grass or you will be ticketed by park police. I visited this monument on Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at approximately 4:33 P.M. I was at an elevation of 614 feet, ASL. I used a Canon PowerShot 14.1 Megapixel, SX210 IS digital camera for the photos.
There are two monument for this infantry regiment. The primary monument is gorgeous and features a beautiful, bronze statue on top and can be found along Emmitsburg Road, in front of the Sherfy House. The address given by Captain A.W. Gavin on November 11, 1888 for the dedication of the original or primary 114th Regiment Infantry monument can be found HERE. The waymark for the primary monument can be found
HERE I do not really consider this an important monument (relative to the 1888 sculpture), rather, I look at this as a position marker or stone. These secondary or positions markers are all over the place and allow visitors to have an idea of where all the various units were during the 3-day battle.
The Draw the Sword site helped out by the NPS narrative and the SIRIS site (and a little by me) offers the following description: Indicates position of 114th Pennsylvania Infantry on the afternoon July 3, 1863 in support of Cowan’s 1st NY Battery. Shaft, rough-cut monolith with bronze tablet set in diamond pattern of the Third Corps. The stone is gray and set upon a base about a 1¼ or so feet high. The monument, a matching gray is about 5 feet 6 inches in height.
According to the narrative the monument was built in 1902 although another source has the dedication date as 1902, 14 years after the primary monument was dedicated in 1888. The monument was dedicated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The monument is composed of granite with a bronze tablet in its dead center on the front and has the following dimensions: The sculpture is approximately 54 x 39 x 19 inches and the base is approximately 10 x 46 x 28 inches. The monument was fabricated by the then famous Frederick & Field. The words Collis Zouaves are in block letter relief on top of the base, facing upwards to the viewer. There main inscription is on the front center, inscribed on a diamond, bronze tablet which reads:
114th
Regiment
Penna. Infantry
Capt. Edward R. Bowen
Commanding
1st Brigade, 1st Division
3d Corps
July 3d 1863
3 p.m.
The 114th Pennsylvania 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 identified as structure number MN275.
From the Nomination Form:
1 of 110 Civil War Monuments to Pennsylvania of the GBMA Era (1863 - 1895). Indicates position of 114th PA Infty afternoon July 3, 1863 in support of Cowan's 1st NY Battery. Located E side Hancock Avenue, South of the old Cyclorama building near a field stone fence.
Short Physical Description:
Mn base 2'4"x4' rough cut stone, finished top w/ excised inscription. Shaft, rough-cut monolith w/ bronze tablet set in diamond pattern. All 5'6" H. Tablet & stone stained, noticeable erosion around NW base edge corrected 1993.
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
7.
Wikipedia