Union monuments at Gettysburg > Pennsylvania > Infantry
There are two monuments to the 139th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment on the Gettysburg battlefield. The main monument is north of Wheatfield Road along the driveway to the John Weickert farm. (Crawford Avenue & J. Weickert Farm tour map). A smaller secondary monument is on Sickles Avenue at its intersection with Wheatfield Road (Sickles Avenue at Excelsior Field tour map)
The 139th Pennsylvania Infantry at Gettysburg
The 139th Pennsylvania was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Colonel Frederick H. Collier. Collier shot himself in the foot early in the morning on July 3rd, and Lieutenant Colonel William H. Moody then took command of the regiment.
The regiment reached the battlefield on the evening of July 2nd and went into action just as the U.S. Regulars were being driven back from the Wheatfield. After the Regulars withdrew through their line the 139th Pennsylvania counter-charged, halting the Confederate attack.
On the 3rd the regiment advanced after Pickett’s Charge, clearing the area along the Wheatfield Road and recovering a cannon and three caissons of the Ninth Massachusetts Battery which had been lost on July 2nd.
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See Lieutenant Colonel Moody’s Official Report of the 139th Pennsylvania in the Battle of Gettysburg
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Attached to the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 6th Corps, Army of the Potomac |  |
Main monument to the 139th Pennsylvania Infantry
The main monument is granite and stands just over fourteen feet high. On its front is a relief of crossed flags behind an American Eagle, with the Greek Cross symbol of the Sixth Corps in relief above it on all four sides of the cap and a bronze tablet of the Coat of Arms of the State of Pennsylvania just below it on the front face.
This is the second monument to the regiment at Gettysburg. When funding became available from the state it was decided to erect this larger monument at the site of the original monument (see below), It was dedicated on September 11th, 1889.
From the front of the monument on the Weickert farm:
139th Pennsylvania Infantry,
3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 6th Corps.
From the left side:
Left Manchester, Md. at 9 p.m.
July 1st and arrived at Rock
Creek on the Baltimore Pike at
2 p.m. of the 2nd. Towards evening
the Brigade moved rapidly to
the front to support the Union
left, this Regiment deploying on
the right of Little Round Top, and
advanced with the 1st Brigade
Penna. Reserves, driving the enemy
into the Wheatfield.
Retired to and held this
position until the evening of
the 3rd when the Regiment moved
with the Penna. Reserve and
advanced about 900 yards to the
position indicated by a greek
cross tablet, and assisted in
forcing the enemy back. Subsequently
returned to this position.
Present at Gettysburg 511.
Killed and mortally wounded
4, wounded 16.
From the left side:
Recruited in the counties
of Allegheny Armstrong
Mercer and Beaver.
Mustered in Sept. 1, 1862.
Mustered out June 21, 1865.
Total enrollment 1070
Killed and died of wounds, 10 officers,
424 men.
Died of disease &c. 5 officers,
29 men.
Captured or missing, 1 officer,
54 men.
Total 750
From the rear:
Antietam Totopotomoy
Fredericksburg Cold Harbor
Marye’s Heights Petersburg
Salem Heights Fort Stevens
Gettysburg Opequon
Rappahannock Station Fisher’s Hill
Mine Run Cedar Creek
Wilderness Petersburg (Fort Fisher)
Spotsylvania Petersburg (assault)
North Anna Sailor’s Creek
Appomattox
Location of the main monument to the 139th Pennsylvania Infantry at Gettysburg
The main monument to the 139th Pennsylvania is south of Gettysburg north of Wheatfield Road, on the east side of the driveway to the James Weikert farm. (39°47’47.8″N 77°14’16.4″W)
Secondary monument to the 139th Pennsylvania Infantry
The smaller monument to the 139th Pennsylvania is also of granite and stands just over five and a half feet high, forming the Greek Cross symbol of the Sixth Corps. This monument was dedicated in 1886 and was originally placed at the current location of the main monument (above) at the Weickert Farm. When the newer, main monument was placed in 1889 this original monument was relocated to the position reached by the regiment in its advance on July 3.
Secondary monument to the 139th Pennsylvania at Gettysburg
From the front of the secondary marker on Sickles Avenue:
139th Penna. Vols.
3rd Brigade 3rd. Division 6th Corps
July 2, 3 & 4
1863
From the base of the marker:
Advanced near this point driving the enemy the evening of July 3.
Looking northeast, with the Trostle farm in the distance on the left.
Location of the secondary monument to the 139th Pennsylvania at Gettysburg
The secondary monument to the 139th Pennsylvania showing the position of the regiment in its advance on July 3 is south of Gettysburg on the east side of Sickles Avenue, 185 feet north of Wheatfield Road. (39°48’04.0″N 77°14’49.3″W)
See more on the history of the 139th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment in the Civil War