Union Monuments at Gettysburg > Massachusetts
The monument to the 15th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment is south of Gettysburg on Hancock Avenue near the Copse of Trees. (Hancock Avenue Part 3 tour map) It was dedicated on June 2nd, 1886 by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The 15th Massachusetts is also honored by a monument at Antietam.
The 15th Massachusetts at Gettysburg
The regiment was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Colonel George H. Ward. He was mortally wounded on July 2 and Lieutenant Colonel George C. Joslin then took command. A monument to Colonel Ward is in the field northeast of the Codori farmhouse. It is about 250 yards to the west of the regimental monument and marks where Colonel Ward fell on the afternoon of July 2nd.
The regiment brought 304 men to the field, losing 23 killed, 97 wounded and 28 missing.
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Text from the front of the monument:
15th Mass.
From the rear:
15th Regt. Mass. Vols.
1st Brig. 2nd Div. 2nd Corps.
July 3. 1863.
Position Marker for the 15th Massachusetts
Marker for the 15th Massachusetts at the Copse of Trees
An iron marker placed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts just south of the Copse of Trees shows the final position of the regiment after it moved north to counterattack Pickett’s Charge on July 3rd.
Text from the marker:
Fifteenth Massachusetts Volunteers.
The position of this regiment in line of battle
is marked by its monument
235 yards due south.
It charged up to this point and attacked Pickett’s
Division in flank as his troops were coming
over the stonewall.
Location of the monument
The monument to the 15th Massachusetts Infantry is on the west side of Hancock Avenue about 60 yards southwest of the U.S. Army Regulars monument. (39°48’38.7″N 77°14’10.0″W)