Union Headquarters monuments > 5th Corps
The monument to the 1st Division of the 5th Corps is south of Gettysburg on Sickles Avenue. (Sickles Ave. at the Rose Woods tour map)
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Attached to the 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac.
The 1st Division flag is the corps symbol, a Maltese Cross, in red on a white background |
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Brigadier General James Barnes commanded the brigade at the Battle of Gettysburg. Barnes was a graduate of the West Point Class of 1929, a civil engineer and superintendent for a Massachusetts railroad.
Barnes did not do well at Gettysburg. Vincent’s Third Brigade saved Little Round Top, but it had been diverted from Barnes’ control. The two brigades he commanded performed poorly in the Wheatfield and he withdrew them from the fight without orders. Barnes was wounded in the leg at the end of the day and never returned to a field command.
Monument to the 1st Division of the 5th Corps of the Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg
From the monument to the 1st Division, 5th Corps
Army of the Potomac
Fifth Corps
First Division
Brig. General James Barnes
First Brigade Col. Wm. S. Tilton
Second Brigade Col. J. B. Sweitzer
Third Brigade Col. Strong Vincent
Col. Jas. C. Rice
July 2. Crossed Rock Creek in the morning and was massed on Baltimore Pike with the Corps until between 4 and 5 P. M. then moved to the left by command of Gen. Sykes to the support of Third Corps line. The Third Brigade in the advance hastened to take possession of Little Round Top. The First and Second Brigades crossed Plum Run and the Wheatfield to the further edge of the woods beyond near the Rose House. First Brigade was formed on the right of Second. These Brigades were more or less engaged until after sundown when with other troops on the line were compelled to retire to a line extending north from the summit of Little Round Top.
July 3. The Third Brigade was relieved by the First Brigade and joined Second Brigade north of Little Round Top. Remained in these positions until the close of the battle except reconnaissance to the front.
Casualties Killed 14 Officers 153 Men Wounded 55 Officers 539 Men Captured or Missing 1 Officer 142 Men Total 904
Union Brigadier General James Barnes
Location of the monument
The monument is south of Gettysburg on the east side of Sickles Avenue about 325 feet south of Wheatfield Road.