Union Headquarters monuments > 6th Corps > 1st Division


The monument to the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Corps of the Army of the Potomac is south of Gettysburg on Howe Avenue, on the southern end of the battlefield. (Howe & Wright Avenues tour map)

6th Corps Headquarters Flag 6C-1D

Like most of the Sixth Corps, the brigade arrived late in the day on July 2nd and was in reserve for the rest of the battle, taking minor casualties from artillery fire.

monument to the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Corps of the Army of the PotomacFrom the monument:

Army of the Potomac
Sixth Corps First Division

Third Brigade

Brig. Gen. David A. Russell
6th Maine 49th (4Cos.) 119th Pennsylvania
5th Wisconsin Infantry

July 2. Arrived about 4 P. M. from Manchester Md. and moved to the east slope of the northern side of Little Round Top. Arriving at dark and held in reserve until morning.

July 3. Moved to the extreme left and on the east slope of Round Top and remained until late in the afternoon then went into position on the left centre in support of Fifth Corps. Not engaged.

Casualties Wounded 2 Men

Brigadier General David A. Russell

Brigadier General David A. Russell commanded the brigade at the Battle of Gettysburg. Russell (West Point Class of 1845) was a career Army officer from New York. He served with the infantry in the Mexican War and in the Pacific Northwest. In February of 1862 Russell was commissioned colonel of the 7th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He led the regiment through the Peninsula Campaign and the Battles of Antietam and Fredericksburg. He was promoted to brigadier general in December of 1862 and led his brigade in the successful assault on Marye’s Heights in May of 1863 and the Battle of Salem Church during the Chancellorsville Campaign.

After Gettysburg Russell led the brigade through the Overland Campaign and with Sheridan’s Army of the Shenandoah. He was killed by an artillery shell fragment in the Third Battle of Winchester.

Brigadier General David A. Russell

Union Brigadier General David A. Russell

Location of the monument to the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Corps

The monument is south of Gettysburg on the north side of Howe Avenue. It is about 590 feet east of the intersection with Taneytown Road.