Union monuments at Gettysburg > Wisconsin
The monument to the 7th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment is west of Gettysburg on Meredith Avenue. (Stone and Meredith Avenues tour map) A marker southeast of Gettysburg on Culp’s Hill shows the regiment’s position on July 2 and 3. (Stevens Knoll tour map)
Monument to the 7th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment at Gettysburg
About the monument
The monument is made of red granite on a granite base and stands 11′ 4′ tall. It is topped by the five-sided symbol of the Iron Brigade. On the front face is the circle symbol of the Union First Corps. Other symbols include an eagle over crossed flags on the right side, crossed rifles behind a knapsack on the front, and the Wisconsin state seal on the left side.
The monument’s material and symbols are identical and its design is very similar to that of the monument to the 6th Wisconsin. It was dedicated by the State of Wisconsin on June 30th, 1888.
The monument to the 7th Wisconsin is unusual in that it faces away from the park road. Meredith Avenue was realigned after the monument was placed and the monument still faces the old road alignment.
The 7th Wisconsin Infantry at the Battle of Gettysburg
The 7th Wisconsin was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Colonel William W. Robinson. Robinson took over the brigade during the battle after Brigadier General Solomon Meredith was wounded, and Major Mark Finnicum then led the regiment.
The regiment reached the battlefield on the morning of July 1st and launched a counterattack against the Confederate Brigade of James Archer which started from the location of the monument and moved west. Archer was captured and his brigade suffered heavy casualties. But Confederate reinforcements continued to arrive through the day and after several hours of heavy fighting the Union line north and west of Gettysburg collapsed.
The regiment’s survivors retreated south of Gettysburg to Cemetery Hill. They were then posted on the north flank of Culp’s Hill, which they held for the rest of the battle.
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Corporal Francis Coates was awarded the Medal of Honor “In action at Gettysburg, PA on July 1, 1863 for unsurpassed courage in battle where he had both eyes shot out.” |
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See Colonel Robinson’s Official Report of the 7th Wisconsin in the Battle of Gettysburg
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From the front of the monument:
Iron Brigade
7th Wis. Vol. Inft’y.
1st Brigade, 1st Div. 1st Corps.
This monument marks one of the
advanced positions of the regt. in battle
July 1st 1863.
It went into action with 370 and lost
killed – 39
wounded – 103
missing – 52
total – 194
List of engagements
Cedar Mountain, Catlett’s Station,
Rappahannock Station, Gainesville,
2nd Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam,
Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh’s Crossing,
Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Haymarket,
Mine Run, Wilderness, Spottsylvania,
North Anna, Tolopotomy, Bethesda Church,
Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad,
Hatcher’s Run, Gravelly Run, Five Forks and
Appomattox C.H.
Position of Regt. July 2 & 3 indicated
by stone marker on Culp’s Hill.
From the right side of the monument:
This regt. was mustered into the
U.S. Service at Madison, Wis.
Aug. 18. 1861 for 3 years.
Reenlisted Dec. 28, 1863.
Mustered out July 3rd 1865,
having been in 25 battles.
Original strength 1029. Recruits 685.
Casualties
Killed – 172.
Wounded – 761.
Died of wounds – 100.
Died of disease – 124.
Total 1157.
Wisconsin cherishes the memory of her brave sons.
Location of the monument to the 7th Wisconsin Infantry at Gettysburg
The main monument to the Seventh Wisconsin Infantry is west of Gettysburg on the west side of Stone – Meredith Avenues 0.2 mile south of Chambersburg Road. (39°50’08.7″N 77°15’14.0″W)
Detail of the Iron Brigade symbol from the top of the 7th Wisconsin monument
Position marker on Culp’s Hill
Marker for the 7th Wisconsin on Culp’s Hill
From the Culp’s Hill marker:
7th Wis. Vol.
Inf’t.
July 2nd & 3rd
1863
Location of the position marker for the 7th Wisconsin
The Culp’s Hill position marker for the Seventh Wisconsin is southeast of Gettysburg about 110 feet north of Slocum Avenue about 170 feet east of where it merges with Williams Avenue. Both Slocum and Williams Avenue are one way westbound. (39°49’12.6″N 77°13’17.8″W)
See more on the history of the 7th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment in the Civil War