Union Headquarters monuments > 5th Corps > 2nd Division
The monument to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Corps is south of Gettysburg in the loop of Ayers Avenue on Houck’s Ridge. ( Ayers Avenue – Loop tour map)
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On the afternoon of July 2nd Burbank’s regulars moved west from Little Round Top across Plum Run and into the Wheatfield as Caldwell’s Second Corps Division was being pushed out.
They came under heavy attack from Wofford’s Georgia Brigade and were forced to pull back. The brigade suffered 50% casualties, but its disciplined, fighting withdrawal back to Little Round Top took the momentum out of Woffords attack and earned admiration from onlookers on Little Round Top.
Monument to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division of the 5th Corps of the Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg
From the monument
Army of the Potomac
Fifth Corps Second Division
Second Brigade
Col. Sidney Burbank
2d (6 Cos.) 7th (4 Cos.) 10th (3 Cos.)
11th (6 Cos.) 17th (7 Cos.) U. S. Infantry
July 2. Arrived in the morning and formed on the right of Twelfth Corps afterwards crossed Rock Creek and remained near the Baltimore Pike until late in the day then moved with the Division to the north slope of Little Round Top and soon advanced across Plum Run Valley supported by First Brigade and formed line on the hill beyond facing the Wheatfield through which First Division Second Corps was forcing the Confederate forces perpendicular to the line of the Brigade. Later advanced on the left of First Division Second Corps and the First Brigade in support when the Union forces on the right and front having been forced back by superior numbers the two Brigades retired in good order but with great loss under a heavy musketry fire on its front and flank to Little Round Top and in the evening to the woods on the other side in reserve.
July 3. Remained in the same position until the close of the battle.
Casualties Killed 7 Officers 71 Men Wounded 32 Officers 310 Men Captured or Missing 27 Men
Total 447 out of a strength of 900 muskets
Colonel Sidney Burbank
Colonel Sidney Burbank commanded the brigad at the Battle of Gettysburg. Burbank (West Point Class of 1829) was a career army officer from Massachusetts. He was colonel of the 2nd United States Infantry Regiment, commanding the brigade as senior officer.
Colonel (later Brigadier General) Sidney Burbank
Looking northwest past the monument toward
the monument to the Seventh United States Infantry Regiment.
Looking east past the monument towards the monument to the 13th Pennsylvania Reserves. The Hill in the distance on the right is the north slope of Little Round Top.
Location of the monument to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Corps at Gettysburg
The monument is south of Gettysburg on Houck’s Ridge. It is inside the loop of Ayers Avenue on the right (north) side just after it reenters the woods. Ayers Avenue is one way.