Union Monuments at Gettysburg > Massachusetts
The monument to the 18th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment is south of Gettysburg inside the Loop of Sickles Avenue. (Sickles Ave. at the Rose Woods tour map)
About the monument to the 18th Massachusetts
The granite monument stands nine feet tall. The Maltese Cross symbol of the Fifth Corps is in relief on the four small angles between the main sides. Four stacked muskets are incised on the rear of the monument. It was dedicated by the State of Massachusetts on October 8, 1885.
The 18th Massachusetts at Gettysburg
The 18th Massachusetts was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Colonel Joseph Hays of Boston. It brought only 118 men to the field. The regiment fought against Longstreet’s attack on July 2 on the stony hill near the Rose Farm. They were then withdrawn north across the Wheatfield Road to Trostle’s Woods by their brigade commander, Colonel William Tilton, a move that was greatly criticized. The regiment lost 1 man killed, 23 men wounded and 3 missing
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Attached to the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac |  |
Text from the front of the monument:
18th Mass. Vols.
First Brig. First Div. 5th Corps
Let us have peace
Text from the right side:
July 2, 1863
Text from the left side:
Little Round Top
July 3, 1863
Location of the monument
The 18th Massachusetts monument is on the inside of the loop of Sickles Avenue on the Stony Hill.
(39°47’50.5″N 77°14’45.3″W)