Union Headquarters monuments > 2nd Corps > 2nd Division


The monument to the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Corps of the Army of the Potomac is south of Gettysburg on Hancock Avenue. (Hancock Avenue Part 3 tour map)

2nd Corps Headquarters Flag 2nd Corps 2nd Division flag

Colonel Norman Hall commanded the 3rd Brigade at the Battle of Gettysburg. Hall was born in New York and his family moved to Monroe County, Michigan. He was appointed to West Point (Class of 1859) by then Secretary of War Jefferson Davis. After graduation he joined the artillery, and was at Fort Sumter at the start of the war. He ran through the fires to rescue the fort’s flag when it was shot to the ground, burning off his eyebrows in the process.

After commanding Hooker’s divisional artillery in the Peninsula Campaign Hall was appointed colonel of the 7th Michigan Infantry in July of 1862. He led it at Second Bull Run and Antietam, where he took command of the brigade as senior colonel. His actions at Gettysburg added a third citation for gallantry to his record, but his health collapsed shortly afterwards. He was forced to quit field command, mustered out of the Volunteers in 1864, and died in 1867. He is buried at West Point.

Monument to the 2nd Corps, 2nd Division, 3rd Brigade of the Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg

Monument to the 2nd Corps, 2nd Division, 3rd Brigade of the Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg

From the monument

Army of the Potomac
Second Corps Second Division
Third Brigade
Col. Norman J. Hall
19th 20th Massachusetts 7th Michigan
42d 59th (4 Cos.) New York Infantry

July 2. Took position on the line at the left of Second Brigade and of the copse of trees. The 19th Mass. and 42d New York were late in the day advanced to support Second Division Third Corps but retired on Second Division being forced back. The Brigade was attacked by Brig. Gen. Wright’s Brigade which overrun Battery A 1st Rhode Island then in advance but was repulsed with heavy loss and forced beyond the Emmitsburg Road.

July 3. Remained in position. At 3 P. M. Longstreet’s assault was made after a cannonade of two hours. The Brigade and the Second Brigade received the charge of Major Gen. Pickett’s Division which was repulsed with great loss in killed wounded prisoners and flags. In this engagement the First Brigade and the other troops were rushed to support of the two Brigades engaged and contributed to the victory. The Brigade remained in its position until the close of the battle.

Casualties Killed 6 Officers 75 Men Wounded 29 Officers 253 Men Captured or Missing 14 Men Total 377

Location of the monument to the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Corps

The monument is south of Gettysburg on the east side of Hancock Avenue. It is about 75 yards south of the Copse of Trees. (39°48’42.5″N 77°14’07.5″W)