Union monuments at Gettysburg > Pennsylvania > Cavalry
Two monuments to the 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry are a short distance apart southeast of Gettysburg on the east side of the Baltimore Pike.
The monument nearest the road was dedicated by the State of Pennsylvania in 1894.
State of Pennsylvania monument to the 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry at Gettysburg
From the front of the monument:
21st Penna. Cavalry
Near this spot
on June 26th 1863 fell
Private George W. Sandoe
an advance scout of a Company of Volunteer Cavalry,
afterwards Co. B, 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry
the first Union soldier killed at Gettysburg.
From the right side of the monument:
Organized at Harrisburg, PA. June 23, August 1, 1863.
Mustered out Feb. 20, 1864.
Total enrollment 1117
Killed men 3
Captured men 1
Died of disease men 17
Total 21
From the left side of the monument:
Organized at Harrisburg, Pa., Feb. 1864.
Mustered out July 8, 1865.
Total enrollment 1724
Killed Officers 1 Men 49
Died of wounds 1 24
Died of disease 1 93
Captured 1 32
Wounded 12 196
Missing 3 33
Total 19 416
From the rear of the monument:
Front Royal
Mt. Jackson
Harisonburg
—-
Cold Harbor Bellefield
Jerusalem Plank Road Hatcher’s Run
Petersburg Dinwiddie Court House
Weldon Rail Road Five Forks
Poplar Spring Church Amelia Springs
Boydton Road Sailors Creek
Stoney Creek Station Farmville
Appomattox
The second monument was funded by private donations and erected by the regimental association in 1894. It is about 35 yards south of the state monument and set back a small distance from the road.
Regimental Association monument to the 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry at Gettysburg
From the front of the association monument:
21 Pa. Cav.
Brev. Brig. General
Wm. H. Boyd
raised the first company of cavalry for the war,
Co. C 1st N.Y. (Lincoln) Cavalry, mustered July 19,
1861, Promoted Colonel, 21st Pa. Cav. Aug. 20th 1863.
Discharged Nov. 4th for wounds received at
Cold Harbor, Va. June 3rd, 1864.
Born July 14th 1825.
Died October 7th 1887.
From the rear of the monument:
Erected to the memory of the
21st Pa. V. Cavalry
(182 Regt.)
by the regimental association and friends. Dedicated Oct. 4th, 1894.
Mustered June 23 1863. Remustered for 3 yrs.
Feb. 20th 1864. Mustered out July 8th 1865.
Participated in 28 engagements. Total casualties 459.
Near this spot on June 26th 1863 fell
Priv. Geo. M. Sandoe of Capt. Robert Bell’s
Independent Cav. Co. of Adams Co. After-
wards Co. B. 21st P.V. Cav. He was the
first soldier killed on the battlefield of Gettysburg
Brevet Brig. General
Oliver B. Knowles. Enlisted
in the first Co. of Cav. for the war,
Co. C 1st N.Y. (Lincoln) Cav.
Mustered July 19, 1861. Promoted
to Maj, 21st Pa. Cav. Mar. 1864 to
Col. Nov. 1864, Discharged July 18, 1865.
Born Jan. 3rd 1842. Died Dec. 5th 1866.
Private Sandoe and his wife, Diana, from a photograph on the park information marker near the monuments
From the right side of the monument:
Monumental Com.
Capt. Wm. H. Boyd Co. D
Lieut. James T. Long Co. A
Sergt H. P. Bingham Co. B
Hon. Thad. M. Mahon, Co. B
John C. Lower Co. B.
From the left side of the monument:
Field officers
Lieut. Col. R. F. Moson
Major Robert Bell
Major Chas. F. Gillies
Major Rich’d Rykman
Location of the monuments to the 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry at Gettysburg
The two monuments to the 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment are south of Gettysburg on the east side of Baltimore Pike about 50 yards south of Colgrove Avenue and 0.25 mile south of the entrance to the National Park Visitor Center. (39°48’32.0″N 77°13’06.2″W)
See more on the history of the 21st Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry Regiment in the Civil War