Union monuments at Gettysburg > Connecticut
There are two monuments to the 17th Connecticut Infantry Regiment on the Gettysburg battlefield. Both were dedicated on June 24, 1884 by the survivors of the regiment and the State of Connecticut. There is also a flagpole on Barlow’s Knoll commemorated to the regiment.
The first monument to the 17th Connecticut is north of Gettysburg on Howard Avenue at Barlow’s Knoll. (Howard Avenue East tour map) The second monument is southeast of town on Wainwright Avenue at the foot of East Cemetery Hill. (see below)
The 17th Connecticut Infantry at the Battle of Gettysburg
The 17th Connecticut was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Fowler. He was killed on July 1st, and Major Allen Brady took command. The regiment brought 386 men to Gettysburg, and lost 20 men killed, 81 wounded and 96 missing.
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See Major Brady’s Official Report on the 17th Connecticut at Gettysburg
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The Barlow Knoll monument to the 17th Connecticut
The monument on Barlow’s Knoll is a white granite sarcophagus standing 8′ tall and 7′ wide. A relief of the Coat of Arms of the State of Connecticut is is in the middle of the front, flanked by two raised stone tablets inscribed with the names of those killed or mortally wounded in the battle. Two additional tablets are on either side of the monument, which marks the regiment’s position on the afternoon of July 1st.
Text from the raised stone tablet on the left front
Lieut. Col. Douglas Fowler
Sergt. Samuel Comstock
Priv. Elephalet Mead
” William S. Gregory
Corpl. Henry Burns
Priv. Michael Fox
” William W. Westlake
” Calvin Nobles
From the raised stone tablet on the right front of the monument
Capt. James E. Moore
Sergt. William O’Douchy,
” August E. Bronson,
” Bethel S. Barnum,
Priv. Frank J. Benson,
” Theodore Blackman,
” Smith Delevan,
” Daniel H. Purdy
17th Conn. Vol’s.
From the right side of the monument
Priv. Richard B. Taylor,
” Rufus Warren
” Joseph S. Whitlock,
Corpl. Alvah E. Wilcox,
Priv. William F. Bradley,
” John R. Booth,
” Stephen C. Crofut,
” Wilbur B. Morgan,
” John W. Metcalf
From the left side of the monument
Sergt. Edwin D.Pickett
Priv. John A. Black
” Lawrence Carney,
” Crassius M. Crabbe,
Corpl. James Gordon,
Priv. Francis C. Foote
” James FLynn,
” George H. Gurnsey,
” Francis Nash,
” John Welsh
Rear view of the monument on Barlow’s Knoll
Text from the rear of the Barlow’s Knoll monument
Erected by the survivors of the
17th Regiment Connecticut Volunteers
2nd Brigade 1st Division, 11th Corps
In memory of their gallant comrades who fell here on the 1st day
and on this battlefield on the 2nd and 3rd days of July, 1863
17th Conn. Vol’s.
The Barlow Knoll monument is signed, “W.H. Curtis, Stratford, Conn.”
The commemorative tag on the barlow Knoll flagpole reads:
Erected by the 17th Conn. Vol. Ass’n.
Location of the Barlow’s Knoll monument to the 17th Connecticut at Gettysburg
The Barlow’s Knoll monument to the 17th Connecticut is north of Gettysburg on Howard Avenue at Barlow’s Knoll. It must be reached by car from Carlisle Road, as Howard Avenue is one way from Barlow’s Knoll to Harrisburg Road. (39°50’43.6″N 77°13’34.3″W)
Wainwright Avenue monument to the 17th Connecticut
The second monument to the 17th Connecticut at Gettysburg is southeast of town on Wainwright Avenue at the foot of East Cemetery Hill.
Monument to the 17th Connecticut on Wainwright Avenue
The 17th Connecticut’s Wainwright Avenue monument is a 19′ 8″ tall granite shaft. The Coat of Arms of the State of Connecticut is on the front of the lower portion, with a relief of the crescent moon symbol of the Eleventh Corps and a laurel leaf of victory on the upper shaft and the regimental number on the front of the cap. The monument marks the location where the colors of a Louisiana regiment were captured during the attack on July 2nd.
Text from the front of the Wainwright Avenue monument:
17th Conn. Vol’s
From the right (north (side):
This memorial is erected by the
State of Connecticut
to honor her brave sons.
From the rear of the monument:
After a fierce contest with Early’s Division at Barlow’s Knoll on July 1st, marked by monument there, this regiment formed in the line of battle on East Cemetery Hill and on the evening of July 2nd, took position here and was engaged in repulsing the desperate night assault of Hayes and Hokes Brigades.
Location of the 17th Connecticut monument on Wainwright Avenue
The Wainwright Avenue monument to the 17th Connecticut Infantry is south of Gettysburg on Wainwright Avenue at the foot of East Cemetery Hill. Wainwright Avenue is one way northbound. (39°49’21.5″N 77°13’41.2″W)