Union Headquarters monuments > 6th Corps

The monument to the 2nd Division of the 6th Corps is south of Gettysburg on the northeast corner of Taneytown Road and Howe Avenue. (Howe & Wright Avenues tour map) The Gettysburg National Military Park Commission erected the monument in 1905. It was one of the first headquarters monuments and varies from the other division monuments in several ways, including the shape of the tablet and its wording.

Attached to the Sixth Corps, Army of the Potomac. The Second Division flag is the corps symbol, a Greek cross, in white on a blue background.

Brigadier General Albion Howe commanded the division at the Battle of Gettysburg. Howe (West Point Class of 1841) was a career Army officer from Maine. Howe’s Division was the last to reach the field at Gettysburg after an epic night and day march. Its two brigades – it had no First Brigade, just a Second and Third – were sent to the opposite ends of the Union line, where they suffered almost no casualties.

Monument to the 2nd Division, 6th Corps of the Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg

From the monument

Army of the Potomac
Sixth Corps,
Second Division 
Headquarters
Brig. General Albion P. Howe
Commanding

2nd Brigade Col. Lewis A. Grant
3rd Brigade Brig. General Thomas H. Neill

July 2. The Division left Manchester Md. at 1 a.m. and reached Gettysburg at 5 p.m. marching 33 miles.2nd Brigade was moved to the left center and finally to the extreme left. 3rd Brigade was placed in position on Power’s Hill.

July 3. 2nd Brigade remained on the extreme left of the line. 3rd Brigade moved to the extreme right to connect with the Union Cavalry. The brigades remained in these positions until the close of the battle.

Union Brigadier General Albion Howe

Location of the monument

The monument to the Second Division of the Sixth Corps is south of Gettysburg on the northeast corner of Taneytown Road and Howe Avenue. (39°47’02.5″N 77°13’47.7″W)