Location: Coster Avenue, the Brickyard.
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
ELEVENTH CORPS SECOND DIVISION
FIRST BRIGADE
Col. Charles R. Coster
134th 154th NewYork
27th 73D Pennsylvania Infantry
July 1. Arrived about 2 P. M. and went into position on Cemetery Hill supporting Battery I 1st New York. Skirmishers occupying a church and near by house. Advanced about 3.30 P. M. through the town and faced to the right and intercepted the advance of Brig. Gen. Hays’s and Brig. Gen. Hoke’s Brigades Major Gen. Early’s Division they moving toward town in rear of First Division Eleventh Corps and held them from the line of retreat of that Division to Cemetery Hill. Retired to East Cemetery Hill about 4.30 P. M. and resumed former position on the right of Second Brigade with Third Division on the right.
July 2. In same position during the day under fire of artillery and sharpshooters. At 8 P. M. Brig. Gen. Hays’s Brigade charged the position and was repulsed with heavy loss. The 27th Penna. bore a conspicuous part in repelling this attack. Battery I 1st New York was temporarily captured but was immediately recovered.
July 3. Not actively engaged.
Casualties Killed 3 Officers 53 Men Wounded 8 Officers 220 Men Captured or Missing 12 Officers 301 Men Total 597
Army of the Potomac > Eleventh Corps > Second Division > First Brigade