Cumberland Township near Gettysburg in Adams County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Second Massachusetts Infantry
Photographed by Craig Swain, September 17, 2008
1. Front Plaque of the Second Massachusetts Infantry Monument
(Front):
the morning of July third 1863 the
Second Massachusetts Infantry
made an assault upon the Confederate
troops in the works at the base of Culp's
Hill opposite. The regiment carried to
the charge 22 officers and 294 enlisted
men. It lost 4 officers and 41 enlisted
men killed and mortally wounded and 6
officers and 84 enlisted men wounded.
To perpetuate the honored memories of
that hour the survivors of the Regiment
have raised this stone. 1879.
(Back):
Lieut. Col. Charles R. Mudge Captain Thomas R. Robeson
Captain Thomas B. Fox Lieut. Henry V.D. Stone
Color Bearers - Leavitt C. Durgin Rupert J Sadler Steven Cody
First Sergeant Alonzo J. Babcock - Sergeant William H. Blunt
Corporals
Charles Burdett Jeremiah S. Hall Ruel Whittier
Theodore S. Butters Patrick Heoy Gordon S. Wilson
Privates
Samuel T. Alton James T. Edmunds Charles Kiernan
George M. Bailey William H. Ela William Marshall
Henry C. Ball John E. Farrington Frederick Maynard
Wallace Bascom Silas R. Foster Andrew Nelson
John
this page online
David B. Brown Joseph Furber Philo H. Peck
William T. Bullard Fritz Goetz Sideny S. Prouty
James A. Chage Daniel A. Hatch Richard Seavers
Peter Conlan John J. Jewett Charles Trayner
John Derr John Joy David L. Wade
Erected 1879 by State of Massachusetts.
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is July 3, 1863.
Location. 39° 48.809′ N, 77° 12.972′ W. Memorial is near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in Adams County. It is in Cumberland Township. It is at the intersection of Colgrove Avenue and East Confederate Avenue, on the left when traveling west on Colgrove Avenue. Located next to Spangler's Meadow at stop 13 (Spangler's Spring) on the driving tour of Gettysburg National Military Park. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Gettysburg PA 17325, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in South-Central Pennsylvania. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 27th Indiana Infantry (a few steps from this marker); Indiana (within shouting distance of this marker); Third Brigade (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named 27th Indiana Infantry
Photographed by Craig Swain, September 17, 2008
2. Back Plaque
Another marker is no longer nearby. Slaughter at Spangler's Spring (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Photographed by Craig Swain, September 17, 2008
3. Second Massachusetts Infantry Monument
Photographed by Craig Swain, September 17, 2008
4. 2nd Massachusetts Initial Position
Looking up through the turns of Colgrove Avenue, just south of the Brigade tablet. The regiment was initially in line across the ridge spur, with the 27th Indiana behind them. Upon receiving the order to advance, Lt. Col. Charles Mudge, commanding the 2nd Massachusetts, said, "Well, it is murder but it's the order."
Photographed by Craig Swain, September 17, 2008
5. Spangler's Spring
The attack of the 2nd Massachusetts proceeded down the slope and into a stand of woods and boulders around Spangler's Spring. A small stream in the foreground flows from Spangler's Spring in the distant right.
Photographed by Craig Swain, September 17, 2008
6. Furthest Advance of the Regiment
Looking at Spangler's Spring (on the left near the road) from the south. The 2nd Massachusetts reached the boulders on the far side of Slocum Avenue (far center of the photo) before being driven back.
Photographed by Craig Swain, September 17, 2008
7. The Regiment Falls back
After the 27th Indiana on their right was repulsed, the 2nd Massachusetts faced flanking fires. Lt. Col. Charles Morse took command in place of Lt. Col. Charles Mudge, who had been killed. In this impossible situation, Morse ordered the regiment to fall back to the south. The regiment reformed along a stone wall and defended against Confederate counterattacks. This stone wall extending west of the monument location is roughly the same location where the regiment reformed.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 15, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,879 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on November 15, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
