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Union monuments at Gettysburg > Pennsylvania > Infantry 

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“Corn Exchange Regiment”

There are two momuments and a position marker to the 118th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment on the Gettysburg battlefield. The original monument is on the northeast slope of Big Round Top (Big Round Top tour map) A second monument is in the Rose Woods off Sickles Avenue (Sickles Ave. at the Rose Woods tour map) A marker showing the regiment’s second position on July 2 is along Wheatfield Road.

The 118th Pennsylvania was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Lieutenant Colonel James Gwyn. It was known as the Corn Exchange Regiment because the Philadelphia Corn Exchange (later the Commercial Exchange of Philadelphia) raised the money for the regiment’s equipment along with a $10 bonus for each recruit.

Attached to the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac

Monument  to the 118th Pennsylvania on Big Round Top

The first monument erected to the 118th at Gettysburg was dedicated on September 8, 1884 by the Commercial Exchange of Philadelphia. It is on the northeast side of Big Round Top along the trail that leads from behind the 9th Massachusetts monument to the summit. It shows the regiment’s position on July 3 and 4.

The front of the granite monument is inscribed with cornstalks encircling the Maltese Cross symbol of the Fifth Corps. It is capped with a carved knapsack leaning on a pile of cannonballs.

From the monument on Big Round Top:

Inscribed on the back of the pack:

118th Penna. Vol’s

From the top of the front of the monument:

Corn Exchange Reg’t

From the base of the front of the monument:

1st Brigade 1st Division 5th Corps
Army of the Potomac

From the left side of the monument on Big Round Top:

Erected in their honor by the Commercial Exchange
formerly Corn Exchange of Philadelphia, and the
surviving members of the Regiment.

From the right side of the monument:

Engaged in advance of “Wheat Field” July 2,
and held this position July 3, and 4, 1863.

From the rear of the Big Round Top monument:

Mustered into service August 30, 1862
Mustered out June 1, 1865
Participated in 34 battles
Killed in battle 205
Died of wounds and disease 500
Missing in action 273
Original muster 960
Recruits 456
Final muster of original members 139

Location of the Big Round Top monument to the 118th Pennsylvania at Gettysburg

The monument to the 118th Pennsylvania Infantry is on the north slope of Big Round Top on a walking trail from South Confederate Avenue to the summit of Big Round Top, about 500 feet (uphill) from South Confederate Avenue. (39°47’14.6″N 77°14’19.7″W)

Position marker on Wheatfield Avenue

The five and a half foot high granite marker was erected in 1886. It marks the second position of the regiment during the fighting on July 2. Captain Richard W. Davis was killed here.

From the Wheatfield Avenue monument:

2nd position of 118 P.V.
‘Corn Exchange Regt.’
July 2nd 1863.
1st Brig. 1st. Div. 5th Corps

Location of the position marker to the 118th Pennsylvania at Gettysburg

The marker for the second position of the 118th Pennsylvania is south of Gettysburg on the north side of Wheatfield Road about 230 feet southeast of its intersection with Sickles Avenue. (39°47’56.8″N 77°14’37.0″W)

Sickles Avenue Monument to the 118th Pennsylvania at Gettysburg

The monument to the 118th Pennsylvania that is seen by the most visitors is in the Rose Woods on Sickles Avenue. It was dedicated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on September 12, 1889.

The granite monument stands about thirteen and a half feet high. It depicts a Union soldier standing on a pedastal, facing the attack made by Kershaw’s Confederate Brigade on the afternoon of July 2. The top of the pedestal has carved corn stalks on each side. The front of the monument has a large Maltese Cross symbol of the Fifth Corps underneath the Seal of the State of Pennsylvania.

From around the top of the monument on Sickles Avenue:

Corn Exchange
118th. Penna. Infantry
1st Brigade 1st Division 5th Corps

From the left side of the monument:

First Position July 2d
July 3rd on Big Round Top
Present at Gettysburg 332
Killed 3 Wounded 19 Captured or missing 3

From the right side of the monument:

Antietam to Appomattox
Total enrollment 1500
Killed and mortally wounded 136
Wounded 330
Captured or missing 290

From the rear of the monument:

Recruited in Philadelphia
Mustered in Aug. 30, 1862
Mustered out June 1, 1865.

Location of the Sickles Avenue monument to the 118th Pennsylvania at Gettysburg

The main monument to the 118th Pennsylvania is south of Gettysburg about 150 feet northwest of Sickles Avenue at the Loop in the Rose Woods. Sickles Avenue is one way north and west, and must be accessed from the Devils Den area or via Ayers Avenue. (39°47’51.5″N 77°14’48.6″W)