Union Headquarters monuments > 12th Corps > 2nd Division


The monument to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 12th Corps is southeast of Gettysburg on Slocum Avenue. (South Culp’s Hill tour map). The monument inscription leaves out the 2nd Division.

HQ-12-2_1351

12th Corps Headquarters flag Attached to the 2nd Division12th Corps, Army of the Potomac. 12th Corps, 2nd Division Headquarters flag

From the monument

Army of the Potomac
Twelfth Corps
Second Brigade
Col. George A. Cobham Jr.
Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Kane
29th 109th 111th Pennsylvania Infantry

July 1. Arrived late in the afternoon and took position in support of a section of Battery K 5th U. S. on the left of the Baltimore Pike.

July 2. In the morning took position on Culp’s Hill connecting with the right of Third Brigade and constructed breastworks. Near sunset moved out on Baltimore Pike and returned at dusk and found the breastworks in possession of Major Gen. Johnson’s Division. Entered the woods in rear of Third Brigade and took position perpendicular to and nearly at right angles with it.

July 3. At 3.30 A. M. the artillery opened fire over the Brigade and Major Gen. Johnson’s Division advanced and attacked in force exposing its line in front and enfilading fires from infantry and to a destructive fire for seven hours with great loss. Brig. Gen. Steuart’s Brigade was immediately in front. No further firing except by skirmishers and sharpshooters.

Casualties Killed 2 Officers 21 Men Wounded 1 Officer 65 Men Captured or Missing 9 Men Total 98

Brigadier General Thomas L. Kane

Brigadier General Thomas L. Kane commanded the brigade. Kane, an attorney and abolitionist from Pennsylvania, had raised the 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment, better known as the 13th Pennsylvania Reserves, or the original “Bucktails.” He was in poor health by the time of the Civil War, and was wounded in the head at the Battle of Dranesville in December of 1861 and badly wounded and captured at the Battle of Harrisonburg in June of 1862. When he was exchanged in September of 1862 he was promoted to brigadier general. Leading his brigade at Chancellorsville his horse dumped him into the Rapidan River, and Kane developed pneumonia.

At the start of the Gettysburg Campaign Kane was recovering in a Baltimore hospital. He rose from his sickbed and made his way to the army, evading capture from Stuart’s cavalry. He arrived on the morning of July 2. Colonel George Cobham of the 111th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment was commanding the brigade as senior colonel.  Kane briefly took over the brigade during the evening of the 2nd and during the fighting on the morning of the 3rd. But he was too ill, and relinquished command to Cobham again on the 3rd. He left the army the next day and was assigned to command a draft depot in Pittsburg, but never recovered his health and resigned in November of 1863.

Location of the monument to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 12th Corps

The monument is southeast of Gettysburg on Culp’s Hill. It is on the right side of Slocum Avenue (Slocum Avenue is one way northbound) just before Slocum and Geary Avenues merge back together. (39°48’59.4″N 77°13’08.9″W)