Union monuments at Gettysburg > New York > Cavalry
The monument to the 2nd New York Cavalry Regiment is south of Gettysburg on Pleasonton Avenue. (Pleasonton Avenue tour map) It was dedicated in 1892 by the State of New York. Pleasonton Avenue has several monuments to units that were not at Gettysburg but played important roles in the campaign.
The regiment was commanded during the Gettysburg campaign by Lieutenant Colonel Otto Harhaus. It numbered 264 men, and was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division of the Cavalry Corps. The regiment did not begin its organization as a New York regiment, and consisted of large numbers of men recruited from Connecticut, Indiana, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
The 2nd New York Cavalry was not on the field at Gettysburg, although it was active in cavalry duties throughout the Gettysburg Campaign.
Text from the front of the monument (top right):
2nd N.Y. Cavalry
2nd Brig.
2nd. Div.
Cavalry Corps
Bronze tablet from the monument
From the tablet on rear of the monument:
This Regiment was engaged in the battles and skirmishes of the Cavalry Corps until the Brigade reached Hanover Junction, June 30, 1863, when it was moved hastily to Manchester, to guard trains against rumored movements of the enemy, and picketed the surrounding country. July 4th Joined 3rd Division in pursuit of the enemy and participated in the Cavalry engagements until the enemy retreated into Virginia.
Location of the monument
The monument to the 2nd New York Cavalry is south of Gettysburg about 70 yards north of the intersection of Pleasonton and Humphreys Avenues.