The 7th Michigan Infantry served as a member of Hall’s Brigade in Gibbon’s Division of the Second Corps, Army of the Potomac, a Fighting 300 Regiment. The 7th Michigan Infantry was organized at Monroe, Michigan and mustered into Federal service for a three year enlistment on August 22, 1861. All totaled, the regiment suffered 11 officers and 197 enlisted men who were killed in action or motally wounded and 3 officers and 186 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 397 fatalities.
The unit was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Amos Steele (1834-July 3, 1863). Born in New York, he worked as a farm and militia officer in Mason, Michigan before the outbreak of the Civil War. After the conflict started, he was commissioned a Lieutenant in Company B, 7th Michigan Volunteer Infantry on October 31, 1862 and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was killed while in command of his regiment during the repulse of Pickett's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 3, 1863. He fell near where the 7th Michigan Monument stands today south of the Copse of Trees on Cemetery Ridge. Under Steele's command @ Gettysburg, 165 men were engaged at Gettysburg and among them, 21 were killed, and 44 were wounded.
The 7th Michigan Infantry flank monuments are located on the left or west side of
Hancock Avenue (RD310) if traveling north along the road at an area called The Angle. This monument is the eighth sculpture in a string of monuments that extend north across the green field to the
United States Regulars Monument (MN235), which is 241 feet southeast of this position, and beyond. All totaled, there are about 1080 feet of green fields with a line of monumentation spread across it representing the line of union regiments who defended Cemetery Ridge at The Angle against Longstreet's assault also referred to as Pickett's Charge on July 3, 1863, the final day of the Great Battle. The 20th Massachusetts Infantry Monument is 127 feet south or left (if facing the east) of this monument. The
15th Massachusetts Infantry Monument (MN203-B) is the next sculpture south. Next is the
1st Minnesota Infantry Monument (MN239) and the
82nd New York Infantry Monument (MN239) follows that. Finally, the
20th New York State Militia (80th Regiment) Marker (MN798) finishes off the string of monumentation and is at the southern most point.
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 these monuments on Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at approximately 4:15 P.M. I was at an elevation of 581 feet, ASL. I used a Canon PowerShot 14.1 Megapixel, SX210 IS digital camera for the photos.
The
7th Michigan Infantry Monument (MN233-B) has two flanking markers. The posted coordinates for the waymark are for the left flank marker which is approximately 61 feet from the primary monument north of its position. The coordinates for the right flank which is approximately 63 feet north of the primary monument are N 39° 48.718 W 77° 14.173. The monuments were all dedicated on June 12, 1888 by the State of Michigan. The flank markers are composed of granite, smooth all around and are about a foot squared and about a foot and a half high. The top of the monument ends at a four way peak. The left flank marker is an inch or so to the right or north of the 20th Massachusetts Infantry right flank monument. The right flank marker is an inch or so the the south or left of the 58th New York Infantry left flank marker. The inscriptions are on the front faces which simply read: L.F. 7th MICH. INFTY and R.F. 7th MICH. INFTY. Additional details from the nomination form concerning the flank monuments may be found from the NRHP narrative and are shown in red.
The 7th Michigan Infantry Regiment and its flanking monuments are a contributing features 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 flank markers are identified as structures number MN233-B.
From the Nomination Form:
1 of 9 Michigan monuments. Indicates position held July 2 & 3 1863. Repulsed attacks by Wright (July 2) & Longstreet (July 3). Located E of Hancock, S of Copse of Trees. LF&RF markers located N-S of Mn.
Short Physical Description:
Mn & 2 flank markers. 2 part stepped base 5'2" sq, rough cut w/tooled edge. 2 part tapered shaft. 1st part w/incised lettering around bronze state medallion, 2nd part excised detailing w/incised letters. Cross gable peak. All 8'H. LF&RF 1'sq x 1.5'H
Long Physical Description:
Monument that has two flanking markers. Monument is a two-part tapered granite shaft with a cross gable top and set on a two-part rough cut, tooled edge, 5.2 foot square stepped base. The lower part of the shaft has incised lettering around a bronze state medallion and the upper part has excised detailing with incised letters. Overall height is eight feet. Flanking markers are one foot square. Located east of Hancock Avenue south of the Copse of Trees.
My Sources
1.
NRHP Nomination Form
2.
SIRIS
3.
Stone Sentinels
4.
Virtual Gettysburg
5.
Draw the Sword
6.
Historical Marker Database
7.
Wikipedia
8.
Find a Grave