Wainwright’s Brigade Monument (1-A)

Location: East Cemetery Hill.

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
FIRST CORPS
ARTILLERY BRIGADE
Col. Charles S. Wainwright
Maine 2D Battery B Six 3 Inch Rifles
Capt. James A. Hall
Maine 5th Battery E Six 12 Pounders
Capt. Greenleaf T. Stevens Lieut. Edward N. Whittier
1st New York Battery L Four 3 Inch Rifles
Capt. Gilbert Reynolds Lieut. George Breck
1st Penna. Battery B Four 3 Inch Rifles
Capt. James H. Cooper
4th U. S. Battery B Four 12 Pounders
Lieut. James Stewart

July 1. Arrived between 10 and 11 A. M. Battery B 2D Maine in advance relieved Battery A 2D U. S. on Chambersburg Pike and became hotly engaged with artillery in front and infantry on right but was compelled to retire from the ridge. About 2 P. M. the Confederates having opened with artillery from Oak Hill on right the batteries in advance were compelled to withdraw and take position on ridge in rear and on both sides of Reynolds Woods but again being flanked and enfiladed by Confederate infantry and artillery the Union forces were withdrawn to Seminary Ridge and at 4 P. M. retired through the town to Cemetery Hill. On reaching Cemetery Hill the artillery was immediately put into position for defence.

July 2. Not engaged until 4 P. M. when the Confederates opened on the position with four 20 Pounders and six 10 Pounder Perrotts but were compelled to withdraw. Battery B 1st Penna. relieved by Batteries F and C 1st Penna. At dusk the position on East Cemetery Hill was attacked by Brig. Gen. Hays’s and Brig. Gen. Hoke’s Brigades.They fought through Battery I 1st New York into Batteries F and C 1st Penna. spiking one gun. The cannoniers stood to their guns and with handspikes rammers and stones and the aid of infantry that was hurried to the defence the attack was repulsed between 9 and 10 P. M.

July 3. No serious engagement.

Casualties Killed 9 Men Wounded 6 Officers 80 Men Captured or Missing 11 Men Total 106

Army of the Potomac > First Corps > Artillery Brigade