Location: East side of Ayres Avenue, in Rose Grove.
Description: Erected 1912. One of 74 Union brigade monuments erected at Gettysburg by the United States War Department to describe the movements and itinerary of each Union brigade of the Army of the Potomac. The monuments were designed by E.B. Cope. Many of the inscription tablets were made of bronze melted down from Civil War cannons. The pedestal consists of sea-green granite with a square base. Base tapers to a smaller dimension at the tablet. On each pedestal is mounted a bronze inscription tablet describing the movements and actions of the unit.
Inscription:
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
SECOND CORPS FIRST DIVISION
FIRST BRIGADE
Col. Edward E. Cross Col. H. Boyd McKeen
5th New Hampshire 61st New York
81st 148th Pennsylvania Infantry
July 2. Arrived about 7 A. M. and was massed in woods at left and rear of the line of Corps and at 10 A. M. took position forming the left of Division in column of regiments. Between 5 and 6 P. M. moved with Division to the support of Third Corps forming line of battle along a stone wall at the rear and east of the Wheatfield and advanced against the Confederate forces in the Wheatfield and in the woods at left forcing them back to the farther end of the Wheatfield and taking many prisoners when the ammunition being exhausted the Brigade was relieved by part of Second Division Fifth Corps and Second Brigade First Division Fifth Corps and retired to the stone wall and finally with Division to former position in line with Corps. Col. Cross fell mortally wounded early in the engagement.
July 3. Constructed breastworks early in the morning which gave protection from the cannonade in the afternoon. Remained in position until the close of the battle.
Casualties Killed 2 Officers 55 Men Wounded 22 Officers 238 Men Captured or Missing 13 Men Total 330
Army of the Potomac > Second Corps > First Division > First Brigade