Union Headquarters monuments > Cavalry Corps
The monument to the 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps is south of Gettysburg on South Confederate Avenue. (Bushman Hill & Slyder Farm tour map)
Monument to the 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg
From the monument
Army of the Potomac
Cavalry Corps
Third Division
Brig. General Judson Kilpatrick
First Brigade Brig. Gen. Elon J. Farnsworth
Col. Nathaniel R Richmond
Second Brigade Brig. General George A. Custer
Headquarters Guard,
Co. C 1st Ohio Capt. S. N. Stanford
June 30. The First Brigade was attacked by Stuart’s Confederate Cavalry at Hanover and was repulsed.
July 1. Marched to Berlin to intercept Stuart without success.
July 2. Arrived on the field of Gettysburg at 2 P. M. Moved over the road from Gettysburg to Abbottstown and was attacked at sundown near Hunterstown by Stuart’s Cavalry which was driven from the field after an engagement of two hours.
July 3. Moved to attack the Confederate right and rear. The Second Brigade reported to Gen. Gregg and was engaged on the extreme right. Gen. Farnsworth arrived on the extreme left at 1 P. M. and became engaged with the Confederate skirmishers and was supported by the Reserve Brigade on his left. About 5.30 P. M. the First and Reserve Brigades advanced Gen. Farnsworth with the 1st West Virginia and 18th Pennsylvania through woods and across stone walls occupied by superior forces of Confederate infantry and artillery and was repulsed with heavy loss and Gen. Farnsworth killed.
July 4. Moved to Emmitsburg.
Casualties Killed 4 Officers 49 Men Wounded 19 Officers 162 Men Captured or Missing 1 Officer 120 Men Total 355
Brigadier General Judson Kilpatrick
Brigadier General Hugh Judson Kilpatrick commanded the 3rd Division at the Battle of Gettysburg. Kilpatrick was a recent West Point graduate (West Point Class of 1861) from New Jersey. He was the first United States Army officer to be wounded in the Civil War, being hit in the leg with canister at Big Bethel. Kilpatrick took command of the newly reconstituted 3rd Division three days before the battle.
Kilpatrick was aggressive, energetic, undisciplined and arrogant. He was equally hated by the enemy and his own men, who called him “kill cavalry” for his willingness to use up his command in punishing marches and wasteful attacks such as Farnsworth’s fatal charge on July 3rd. The best summation of Kilpatrick may have come from William Sherman, who said, ” I know that Kilpatrick is a hell of a damned fool, but I want just that sort of man to command my cavalry on this expedition.”
Union Brigadier General Judson Kilpatrick
Location of the monument
The monument is south of Gettysburg on the east side of South Confederate Avenue as the avenue enters the woods after turning east.