Union Headquarters monuments > 1st Corps > 1st Division


“The Iron Brigade”

1st Corps Headquarters Flag
1C-1D

The monument to the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Corps, Army of the Potomac is west of Gettysburg on Meredith Avenue. (Stone & Meredith Avenues tour map)

The brigade was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Brigadier General Solomon Meredith, a farmer, lawman and state representative from Indiana. “Long Sol” at 6′ 7″ was the tallest general at Gettysburg, beating out John Geary by one inch.

On July 1st Meredith was hit by shrapnel and disabled when his wounded horse fell on him. Colonel William Robinson of the 7th Wisconsin took over the brigade.

Monument to the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Corps of the Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg

Looking east into Herbst Woods. The flank marker to the 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry is in the background

From the monument

Army of the Potomac
First Corps First Division
First Brigade
Brig. Gen. Solomon Meredith
Col. William W. Robinson
19th Indiana 24th Michigan
2d 6th 7th Wisconsin Infantry

July 1. Arrived at 10 A. M. went into position and charged Brig. Gen. Archer’s Brigade in Reynolds’s Woods forced the Confederate line across Willoughby Run capturing Brig. Gen. Archer and many prisoners. The 19th Indiana 24th Michigan and the 2d and 7th Wisconsin retired and formed line in Reynolds Woods the 6th Wisconsin having come to the support of Second Brigade against Brig. Gen. Davis’s Brigade Major Gen. Heth’s Division. At 4 P. M. being outflanked and hard pressed the Brigade retired under a heavy fire of infantry and artillery to Seminary Ridge and thence to Cemetery Hill and to the north slope of Culps Hill and intrenched.

July 2. Repulsed without loss a sharp attack at night. About sunset the 6th Wisconsin went to the support of Third Brigade Second Division Twelfth Corps and assisted in repelling attacks during the night.

July 3. Repulsed a sharp attack in the morning without loss.

Casualties Killed 13 Officers 158 Men Wounded 54 Officers 666 Men Captured or Missing 13 Officers 249 Men Total 1153

Brigadier General Solomon Meredith

Brigadier General Solomon Meredith

Location of the monument to the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Corps at Gettysburg

The monument is northwest of Gettysburg on the east side of Meredith Avenue. It is 400 yards south of Chambersburg Road. (39°50’06.9″N 77°15’15.8″W)