Cumberland Township near Gettysburg in Adams County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Myth, Memory, and Honor

— Gettysburg National Military Park —

Photographed by Karl Stelly, March 25, 2021

1. Myth, Memory, and Honor Marker

Inscription. Spangler's Spring, to your left, is a place of myth, memory, and honor. On July 3, from the hill behind the monument's location, the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry attacked Confederates on Culp's Hill, to your left. During a lull in the battle, enemy combatants filled their canteens here. Legend says they called a truce, but there is little evidence to support this. The slaughter here was devastating, a terrible memory veterans could not forget. They believed this to be hallowed ground, a place to honor their fallen comrades. In 1879, the 2nd Massachusetts erected the first permanent regimental monument at Gettysburg. The survivors' inscription reads, in part, "To perpetuate the honored memories of that hour, the survivors of this Regiment have raised this stone. 1879."

(captions)
Veterans of the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry pose for a photograph at the monument's dedication. Soon other Union regiments returned to dedicate monuments memorializing their deeds and their fallen comrades.

1893 Gettysburg Reunion Medal. Ribbons and medals were often worn by veterans who returned to the battlefield.

Erected 2021 by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is July 3, 1863.

Location.

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39° 48.868′ N, 77° 13.015′ W. Marker 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 right when traveling west on Colgrove Avenue. Located at Auto Tour Stop 13: Spangler's Spring. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gettysburg PA 17325, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker 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: The Fight at Spangler's Spring (here, next to this marker); 107th New York Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker); 1st Maryland Regiment (within shouting distance of this marker); Indiana (within shouting distance of this marker); 27th Indiana Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker); 46th Pennsylvania Infantry (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); 145th New York Infantry (about 400 feet away); Smith's Brigade (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gettysburg.

Other markers no longer nearby. Slaughter at Spangler's Spring (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Spangler's Spring (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Gettysburg National Military Park. National Park Service (Submitted on April 23, 2022.)

Veterans of the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Karl Stelly, March 25, 2021

2. Veterans of the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry

From the marker

1893 Gettysburg Reunion Medal image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Karl Stelly, March 25, 2021

3. 1893 Gettysburg Reunion Medal

From the marker

Photographed by Karl Stelly, March 25, 2021

4. Myth, Memory, and Honor Marker

The monument to the 107th New York Infantry can be seen on the hill behind the marker.

Photographed by Karl Stelly, March 25, 2021

5. Myth, Memory, and Honor Marker

View from a slightly different angle than Photo Number 4

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 23, 2022, by Karl Stelly of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 2,319 times since then and 127 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 23, 2022, by Karl Stelly of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.