The 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry Monument is an 1891 statuary memorial on the

Gettysburg Battlefield The Gettysburg Battlefield is the area of the July 1–3, 1863, military engagements of the Battle of Gettysburg within and around the borough of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Locations of military engagements extend from the site of the first shot ...

. It is located on

Cemetery Ridge Cemetery Ridge is a geographic feature in Gettysburg National Military Park, south of the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, that figured prominently in the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1 to July 3, 1863. It formed a primary defensive position for the ...

, by

The Angle The Angle (Bloody Angle colloq.) is a Gettysburg Battlefield area which includes the 1863 Copse of Trees used as the target landmark for Pickett's Charge, the 1892 monument that marks the high-water mark of the Confederacy, a rock wall, and seve ...

and the copse of trees, where Union forces – including the 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry – beat back Confederate forces engaged in

Pickett's Charge Pickett's Charge (July 3, 1863), also known as the Pickett–Pettigrew–Trimble Charge, was an infantry assault ordered by Confederate General Robert E. Lee against Major General George G. Meade's Union positions on the last day of the B ...

. The monument was the subject of a

Pennsylvania Supreme Court The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the highest court in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System. It also claims to be the oldest appellate court in the United States, a claim that is disputed by the Massachusetts Supreme J ...

case over control of the battlefield. It is depicted on the 2011 "Gettysburg" America the Beautiful quarter

commemorative coin Commemorative coins are coins issued to commemorate some particular event or issue with a distinct design with reference to the occasion on which they were issued. Many coins of this category serve as collectors items only, although some countries ...

. The regiment erected an earlier monument in 1883. To avoid confusion, that is now usually referred to as th
"Philadelphia Brigade" Monument.

History

The

72nd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment The 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry (originally raised as the 3rd California) was a volunteer infantry regiment which served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was part of the famous Philadelphia Brigade. Members of this regiment wor ...

, commanded by Colonel

DeWitt Clinton Baxter DeWitt Clinton Baxter (1829–1881) was an American artist and engraver. He also served as colonel and brevet brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Early life DeWitt Clinton Baxter was born March 9, 1829, in Dorches ...

and also called "Baxter's Philadelphia Fire Zouaves," was recruited among firemen in

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

. Their dress uniforms were modeled on those of the

Zouave The Zouaves were a class of light infantry regiments of the French Army serving between 1830 and 1962 and linked to French North Africa; as well as some units of other countries modelled upon them. The zouaves were among the most decorated unit ...

s, a North African

Berber Berber or Berbers may refer to: Ethnic group * Berbers, an ethnic group native to Northern Africa * Berber languages, a family of Afro-Asiatic languages Places * Berber, Sudan, a town on the Nile People with the surname * Ady Berber (1913–196 ...

tribe famous for its ferocious fighting. The 72nd played an important role in beating back

on July 3, 1863. At the beginning of the Confederate advance across the valley, the 72nd was posted in support and to the rear of the batteries upon Hancock's front. " the regiment was rushed to the front line, striking the assailants at the famous

stone wall Stone walls are a kind of masonry construction that has been used for thousands of years. The first stone walls were constructed by farmers and primitive people by piling loose field stones into a dry stone wall. Later, mortar and plaster ...

and the clump of trees." That morning, the Fire Zouaves had numbered 458 officers and men. After the fury of the conflict, there were but 266 of the 72nd left for further duty.

First monument

In 1864, Pennsylvania granted a charter to the

Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association The Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association (GBMA) was an historic preservation membership organization and is the eponym for the Gettysburg Battlefield#Memorial association era, battlefield's memorial association era. The association was c ...

for promoting and protecting "memorial structures." The GBMA subsequently asserted that it had exclusive authority to approve the design and location of all Gettysburg monuments, including on battlefield land not owned by the GBMA. In 1896, the GBMA's land holdings totalled ; Gettyburg National Military Park now totals . In 1883, the first "72nd PA Infty" monument was approved, and the GBMA placed it on the "Roberts Line … where their heavy losses were". This location seems to have been a "safe" choice by the GBMA, since there remained nagging questions about ''when'' – early or late in the battle – the 72nd had joined in the worst of the fighting.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court

Members of the regiment vehemently disagreed with the placement of the monument. The GBMA-chosen location was nearly behind the Union front line, instead of right at it. Much of the battlefield land was still in private hands, and the 72nd bought a tract at the Union front line, on which to erect a second monument. Significantly, the regiment also bypassed the GBMA, obtaining approval for the second monument from a different Pennsylvania commission. In July 1888, the GBMA denied permission for the 72nd to build the second monument – ''on its own land''. On December 12, 1888, the GBMA had the 72nd's Captain John Reed arrested for trespassing, after "''he had started men at work laying a foundation for the '' econd' monument of the Seventy-second Regiment''". The unit's 1889 history,
The Seventy-second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, at Bloody Angle
'' published the unit's actions on July 3 of the

Battle of Gettysburg The Battle of Gettysburg () was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, by Union and Confederate forces during the American Civil War. In the battle, Union Major General George Meade's Army of the Po ...

. ;GBMA v. 72nd PA Regiment: In October 1889, Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association v. Seventy-second Pennsylvania Regiment heard testimony regarding the regiment's

location(s). The

subsequently "reaffirmed" for the 72nd, finding that the authority of the ''state'' commission established by a state act superseded any GBMA organizational authority for monument locations (e.g., fo
US regulars
and other states' units): "''the Commonwealth … has the right to designate the position where any of her regiments specially distinguished themselves''" (Justice Sterrett). Gettysburg's local newspaper, ''The Star and Sentinel'', editorialized that the Commonwealth was "in the position of a cheat," for ruling that Pennsylvania units were not required to follow GBMA decisions, as other states' units were.

Second monument

The approximately- monument consists of a two-part, stepped, polished-granite shaft set on a two-part, rough- and finish-cut stepped base, and topped by a lifesize bronze sculpture. The "Fire Zouave" figure is in close combat with the enemy, swinging his rifle as a club. The monument was designed by Captain John Reed (the 72nd veteran who was arrested), but only the last name of the sculptor is known: Stephens. The sculpture was cast by the

Bureau Brothers Foundry Bureau Brothers Foundry was a foundry established by two French immigrants, Achille and Edouard Bureau, in Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commo ...

in Philadelphia. About 1000 people attended the July 4, 1891, monument's dedication, and

Edward McPherson Edward McPherson (July 31, 1830 – December 14, 1895) was an American newspaper editor and politician who served two terms in the United States House of Representatives, as well as multiple terms as the Clerk of the House of Representatives ...

accepted it on behalf of the GBMA. The GBMA later had second thoughts – on August 25, its executive committee recommended a marker be placed to indicate the GBMA bore "no responsibility for the location of the monument as now placed." The 72nd's ownership of its statuary tract proved crucial in preventing the

Gettysburg Electric Railway The Gettysburg Electric Railway was a borough trolley that provided summer access1991 Gettysburg Times to Gettysburg Battlefield visitor attractions such as military engagement areas, monuments, postbellum camps, and recreation areas (e.g., ...

from building a tourist trolley across the field of Pickett's Charge. The 72nd denied right-of-way across its tract, forcing the trolley company to find another route (behind the Union line). To reiterate that its tract remained private land, in June 1893, the 72nd marked the boundaries with stone markers, placed a no trespassing sign, and erected a flag pole with the Stars and Stripes ( 44 stars). The association held the statuary tract until March 20, 1911, when trustees for the survivors' association of the "Seventy-second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers" deeded it to the War Department. cited by: ) The 2011 "Gettysburg" America the Beautiful Quarter was developed "in consultation with representatives of

Gettysburg National Military Park The Gettysburg National Military Park protects and interprets the landscape of the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. Located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the park is managed by the National Park Service. The GNMP propert ...

." The reverse of the coin features an image of the 72nd regiment's statuary monument. The Codori Barn, visible in the background, was not built until 1882. High winds blew the ''Fire Zouave'' sculpture off its pedestal on June 25, 2013, just a week before the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. National Park Service personnel hoisted the slightly-damaged sculpture back onto its pedestal the next day, and restored it over the winter.Marc Charisse
"Gettysburg statue damaged in storm,"
''The Evening Sun'', June 27, 2013. File:72nd PA Infantry MN227.jpg, "Philadelphia Brigade" Monument (1883), Hancock & Webb Avenues.

References

{{Reflist , refs= {{cite web , title=List of Classified Structures , url=http://www.hscl.cr.nps.gov/insidenps/summary.asp?PARK=GETT&PAGE=5 , publisher= NPS.gov , access-date=2011-05-02 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915202522/http://www.hscl.cr.nps.gov/insidenps/summary.asp?PARK=GETT&PAGE=5 , archive-date=2012-09-15 , url-status=dead p. 5: *MN226: {{cite web , title=72nd Pennsylvania Infantry Monument , url=http://www.hscl.cr.nps.gov/insidenps/report.asp?PARK=GETT&RECORDNO=457 , access-date=2011-05-01 , quote=''1 of 110 MN to PA. Dedicated 07/04/1891. Indicates advance post of 72nd PA infty (PA

s) July 3, 1863, during repulse of Armistead's Brigade. … Monument is a two-part stepped polished granite shaft topped by a bronze statuary of a "Fire Zouave" in swinging rifle position and set on a two-part 5.9x4.9 foot rough and finish cut stepped base. The base has bronze tablets. The shaft has an incised inscription. Sculptured by __ Stephens. Located on the former Webb Avenue in

the Angle The Angle (Bloody Angle colloq.) is a Gettysburg Battlefield area which includes the 1863 Copse of Trees used as the target landmark for Pickett's Charge, the 1892 monument that marks the high-water mark of the Confederacy, a rock wall, and seve ...

. It is the only monument on the battlefield that’s location was reaffirmed by a Pennsylvania State Supreme Court decision.'' , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915202543/http://www.hscl.cr.nps.gov/insidenps/report.asp?PARK=GETT&RECORDNO=457 , archive-date=September 15, 2012 , url-status=dead , df=mdy-all NOTE
Isbell, 2006
claims the "monument is as designed by {{sic, Private John Reed". *MN227: {{cite web , title=72nd Pennsylvania Infantry Monument , url=http://www.hscl.cr.nps.gov/insidenps/report.asp?PARK=GETT&RECORDNO=458 , access-date=2011-05-01 , quote=''Indicates position held by 72nd PA Infty Jul 3, 1863, standing in-line, firing volleys into Armistead's line advance. Located junction Webb Ave & Hancock @ copse of trees.'' , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915202610/http://www.hscl.cr.nps.gov/insidenps/report.asp?PARK=GETT&RECORDNO=458 , archive-date=September 15, 2012 , url-status=dead , df=mdy-all Pennsylvania Infantry 72 Pennsylvania Infantry 72 Pennsylvania Infantry 72 Pennsylvania Infantry 72 Pennsylvania Infantry 72 Pennsylvania Infantry 72 Pennsylvania Infantry 72 Pennsylvania Infantry 72 Pennsylvania Infantry 72 1891 establishments in Pennsylvania

History

First monument

Pennsylvania Supreme Court

Second monument

See also

References