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
Inscription.
Second Massachusetts Infantry. . (Front):
From the hill behind this monument on 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 Briggs, Jr. . Willard Foster . Rufus A. Farker 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
(Front):
From the hill behind this monument on 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
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Briggs, Jr. Willard Foster Rufus A. Farker 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. Marker is near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in Adams County. It is in Cumberland Township. Memorial 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. Marker is in this post office area: Gettysburg PA 17325, United States of America. Touch for directions.
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
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 2,667 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on November 15, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.