Union monuments at Gettysburg > Pennsylvania > Infantry
There are two monuments to the 121st Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment on the Gettysburg battlefield. The first monument was erected by the survivors of the regiment in 1886 on Seminary Ridge. When state funding became available in 1888 this monument was relocated to Cemetery Ridge. (Hancock Avenue Part 3 tour map) A new and larger monument was then erected by the State of Pennsylvania on Seminary Ridge. (South Reynolds Avenue tour map)
Original monument to the 121st Pennsylvania along Hancock Avenue on Cemetery Ridge
The 121st Pennsylvania at Gettysburg
The regiment was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Major Alexander Biddle while his cousin, Colonel Chapman Biddle, held temporary brigade command. Colonel Biddle resumed command of the regiment during the battle despite being slightly wounded on July 1. The 121st brought 265 men to the field and lost 179 casualties.
 |
See Major Biddle’s Official Reports on the 121st Pennsylvania in the Gettysburg Campaign
|
 |
Attached to the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Corps, Army of the Potomac |  |
Original monument to the 121st Pennsylvania Infantry
This was the monument erected by the survivors of the regiment in 1886 on Seminary Ridge. It was relocated to Cemetery Ridge in 1888.
Text from the front of the monument on Cemetery Ridge:
Col. Chapman Biddle
Brigade Commander
July 1st 1863
P.V. 121 Reg’t
Maj. Alexander Biddle
Commanding Regiment
1st Brigade 3rd Division First Corps
Text from the left side of the monument:
Extreme left
of Union line 1st Day
facing west.
Occupied Cemetery Ridge
July 2nd and 3rd.
Erected by the survivors of this
regiment in memory of their
fallen comrades.
Text from the right side of the monument:
Whole number engaged
7 officers 258 enlisted men
Casualties
Killed
12 enlisted men
Wounded
5 officers 101 enlisted men
Captured and missing
1 officer 60 enlisted men
Total 179.
Text from the rear of the monument:
Called into service by President Lincoln
September 1st 1862; Participated in all
the engagements of the Army of the
Potomac, commencing with the Battle
of Fredericksburg. Mustered out June
2nd 1865.
Location of the monument to the 121st Pennsylvania on Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg
The Cemetery Ridge monument to the 121st Pennsylvania is south of Gettysburg on the east side of Hancock Avenue 0.3 mile north of Fairfield Road and 45 yards southeast of the United States Regulars monument. Hancock Avenue is one way northbound. (39°48’39.2″N 77°14’07.6″W)
Monument to the 121st Pennsylvania on Seminary Ridge
This monument took the place of the original monument on Seminary ridge in 1888.
Text from the front of the monument on Seminary Ridge:
121st Penna. Infantry
July 1st 1863
Occupied this position the extreme left of
the Union line. July 2nd & 3rd on Cemetery Ridge.
Present at Gettysburg 11 officers 286 men.
Killed and died of wounds 20 men
Wounded 5 officers 33 men
Captured and missing 1 officer 60 men
1st Brig. 3rd Div. 1s Corps
Text from the left side of the monument:
From
Fredericksburg
to
Appomattox
Text from the right side of the monument:
Recruited in Philadelphia
and Venango Counties.
Mustered in Sept. 1st 1861.
Mustered out June 2d 1865
Location of the Seminary Ridge monument to the 121st Pennsylvania Infantry at Gettysburg
The Seminary Ridge monument to the 121st Pennsylvania is west of Gettysburg on the east side of Reynolds Avenue 0.25 mile north of Fairfield Road and 0.2 mile south of Meredith Avenue. Reynolds Avenue is one way northbound from Fairfield Road. (39°49’49.6″N 77°15’05.9″W)