Union monuments at Gettysburg • Massachusetts at Gettysburg
A monument and a marker to the 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment are south of Gettysburg on Hancock Avenue near the Copse of Trees. (Hancock Avenue Part 3 tour map)
Monument to the 20th Massachusetts Infantry at Gettysburg
About the monument to the 20th Massachusetts
The monument is a large boulder known as a “Puddingstone.” It is native to Massachusetts and is the official stone of the Commonwealth. The stone was brought for the monument’s dedication from Roxbury, where many of the men of the regiment had played on such boulders as they grew up. The monument was dedicated on October 20th, 1885.
The 20th Massachusetts at Gettysburg
Colonel Paul Joseph Revere, grandson of Paul Revere of Revolutionary War fame, commanded the 20th Massachusetts at the Battle of Gettysburg. He was mortally wounded on July 2nd and died on the 4th. Lieutenant Colonel George N. Macy took command when Colonel Revere fell. Macy was wounded on July 3, losing his left hand. Captain Henry L. Abbott then took over the regiment.
The 20th Massachusetts brought 301 men to the field, losing 30 killed, 94 wounded and 3 missing.
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See Captain Abbott’s Official Report for the 20th Massachusetts in the Battle of Gettysburg |
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Attached to the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Corps, Army of the Potomac |  |
From the front of the monument
20th Mass. Infantry
3rd Brig. 2nd Div 2nd Corps
July 3rd 1863
Form the bronze tablet on the rear of the monument
This monument marks the position occupied by the Twentieth Massachusetts Infantry
in line of battle July 2nd and 3rd 1863 until advanced to the front of the copse of
trees on its immediate right to assist in repelling the charge of
Longstreet’s Corps.
This tablet is placed by their comrades in honor of
Colonel Paul Joseph Revere
First Lieutenant Henry Ropes, Second Lieutenant Sumner Paine,
and forty-one enlisted men
who were killed or mortally wounded.
The tablet was presented by Mrs. Nathaniel Thayer, daughter of Colonel Revere.
Marker for the 20th Massachusetts at the Copse of Trees
Iron position marker signs placed by the State of Massachusetts
The signs are on the south side of the Copse of Trees.
From the sign:
Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.
The position of this regiment in line of battle
was 125 yards S.S.W.
which is represented by its monument.
When Pickett’s Division pierced the Union line
this regiment retired by its right flank,
faced left, and rushed up to this copse of trees
and attacked Pickett’s troops then
coming over the wall.
Location of the monument to the 20th Massachusetts Infantry at Gettysburg
The monument to the 20th Massachusetts is south of Gettysburg on the west side of Hancock Avenue. It is about 40 yards northwest of the U.S. Regulars monument. Hancock Avenue is one way northbound. (39°48’41.2″N 77°14’10.2″W)
See more on the history of the 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment in the Civil War.