The Poignant Monument to the 86th New York Infantry at Gettysburg

The 86th New York Infantry was organized in late 1861 and saw extensive action in the campaigns in the East all the way through the Confederate surrender. This included fighting in the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1st through the 3rd, 1863.

Battle of Gettysburg by Thomas Kelly

Gen. J. Hobart Ward USA

At Gettysburg, the regiment was in the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Division of the 3rd Corps. Other units in the brigade, which was under the command of Brigadier General J. Hobart Ward, included the 3rd and 4th Maine, 20th Indiana, 99th Pennsylvania, and 124th New York, plus elements of the 1st and 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters. On Day 2 of the fighting (July 2nd), the brigade was deployed about 300 yards west of Little Round Top, with the line extending north and south along Houck’s Ridge through the Rose Woods with the right ending at the Wheatfield. The left of the line extended to Devil’s Den. The 86th New York was roughly in the center of the line, and prepared to battle Major General John Bell Hood’s Division.

The 86th and its fellow regiments were attacked initially by the 1st Texas and 3rd Arkansas regiments of Brigadier General Jerome Robertson’s Brigade. At first, the Federals were successful in repulsing the Confederates, but reinforcements in the form of Brigadier General Henry Benning’s Brigade of Georgia regiments would eventually force Ward to withdraw his brigade from Houck’s Ridge.

The 86ths commander, Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin L. Higgins, describes the action of his regiment in this excerpt from his after action report. Higgins was wounded in the fighting, and Major Jacob H. Lansing assumed command.

Sir: I have the honor to report that at 6 a. m. July 2 my regiment left camp with 268 men for line of battle, and moved with brigade to take position in line, which position was obtained about 7.30 a. m. behind a stone wall, with the Twentieth Indiana on my right and the One hundred and twenty-fourth New York on my left. After remaining inactive until 10 a. m., I was ordered by General Ward to send forward a sufficient body of men, under charge of a commissioned officer,
to demolish all stone walls and fences in our front to the Emmitsburg road. I immediately sent Captain Baker, of Company G, with 35 men on that duty.

At about 11 a. m. Captain Baker returned, and reported his mission accomplished.

About 12 m. I received orders (which I immediately obeyed) to march my regiment to the right by the flank until I cleared the stone wall, then move to the front in line of

Major Jacob H. Lansing 86th New York Infantry

battle, retaining the same position in reference to other regiments of the brigade as when first formed in line of battle. After advancing about half a mile to the middle of a wheat-field, and halting, we were ordered to march the regiment by the left flank, which we did to the summit of the hill
near the extreme left of our line.

The line was formed, the regiment still retaining its relative position with the Twentieth Indiana and the One hundred and twenty fourth New York. My regiment, excepting the left company, was in the woods, in which position it remained inactive until about 4.30 p. m., when the enemy commenced shelling us, and our skirmishers began to be driven in, followed by a large force of the enemy in line of battle. At this time I was ordered to commence firing. We held our position here, keeping up active firing, for about fifteen minutes, when we were ordered to advance. This was done promptly for about 50 yards, when we were ordered to halt and commence firing. In this position my regiment remained actively engaging the enemy for about half an hour, when, being wounded, I was obliged to leave the line, the major succeeding me in command.

The regiment was then ordered to about-face and march to the rear, which was obeyed, and on arriving at our original position was ordered to halt, about-face, and commence firing, all of which was done with alacrity for about ten or fifteen minutes, when we were relieved and ordered to march to the rear. The regiment was not again engaged during the day.

The 86th New York had 11 killed, 51 wounded, and 4 missing or captured in the fighting of July 2nd.

86th New York Infantry Monument Gettysburg NMP

The 86th New York Infantry’s Monument at Gettysburg

There are a variety of designs of monuments at Gettysburg, many of which are in the form of obelisks. At first glance, the 86th New York’s monument looks like an obelisk mounted on a three level base. What makes this monument unique, and poignant, is a bronze tablet on the front that shows the figure of a woman kneeling over the body of a fallen soldier. She is looking skyward with hands folded in prayer. The inscription on the tablet reads “I yield him unto his country and his God”.

The bronze tablet on the front of the 86th NY Monument at Gettysburg NMP

The monument was dedicated in 1888. It is located on Sickles Avenue in Gettysburg National Military Park, in a wooded area north of Devils Den, .

Sources:

Gettysburg: The Second Day by Harry W. Pfanz

Guide to Gettysburg Battlefield Monuments by Tom Huntington

The Maps of Gettysburg: An Atlas of the Gettysburg Campaign, June 3-July 13, 1863 by Bradley M. Gottfried

Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies in the War of the Rebellion, Series I, Volume 27, Part 1