History 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry Monument

1 history

1.1 first monument
1.2 pennsylvania supreme court
1.3 second monument

history

fire zouave (1891), ____ stephens, sculptor.

the 72nd regiment pennsylvania volunteers, commanded colonel dewitt clinton baxter , called baxter s philadelphia fire zouaves, recruited among firemen in philadelphia, pennsylvania. dress uniforms modeled on of zouaves, north african berber tribe famous ferocious fighting.

the 72nd played important role in beating pickett s charge on july 3, 1863. @ beginning of confederate advance across valley, 72nd posted in support , rear of batteries upon hancock s front. enemy drove in brigade pickets emmitsburg road, [sic] regiment rushed front line, striking assailants @ famous stone wall , clump of trees. morning, fire zouaves had numbered 458 officers , men. after fury of conflict, there 266 of 72nd left further duty.

first monument

in 1864, pennsylvania granted charter gettysburg battlefield memorial association promoting , protecting memorial structures. gbma subsequently asserted had exclusive authority approve design , location of gettysburg monuments, including on battlefield land not owned gbma. in 1896, gbma s land holdings totalled 522 acres (0.816 sq mi); gettyburg national military park totals 3,965 acres (6.195 sq mi).

in 1883, first 72nd pa infty monument approved, , gbma placed on roberts line … heavy losses . location seems have been safe choice gbma, since there remained nagging questions when – or late in battle – 72nd had joined in worst of fighting.

pennsylvania supreme court

members of regiment vehemently disagreed placement of monument. gbma-chosen location 70 yd (64 m) behind union front line, instead of right @ it. of battlefield land still in private hands, , 72nd bought 900 sq ft (84 m) tract @ union front line, on erect second monument. significantly, regiment bypassed gbma, obtaining approval second monument different pennsylvania commission.

in july 1888, gbma denied permission 72nd build second monument – on own land. on december 12, 1888, gbma had 72nd s captain john reed arrested trespassing, after had started men @ work laying foundation [second] monument of seventy-second regiment . unit s 1889 history, seventy-second regiment, pennsylvania volunteers, @ bloody angle, published unit s actions on july 3 of battle of gettysburg.

gbma v. 72nd pa regiment
in october 1889, gettysburg battlefield memorial association v. seventy-second pennsylvania regiment heard testimony regarding regiment s pickett s charge location(s). pennsylvania supreme court subsequently reaffirmed 72nd, finding authority of state commission established state act superseded gbma organizational authority monument locations (e.g., regulars , other states units): commonwealth … has right designate position of regiments specially distinguished (justice sterrett).

gettysburg s local newspaper, star , sentinel, editorialized commonwealth in position of cheat, ruling pennsylvania units not required follow gbma decisions, other states units were.

second monument

the approximately-13.5 ft (4.1 m) monument consists of two-part, stepped, polished-granite shaft set on two-part, rough- , finish-cut stepped base, , topped lifesize bronze sculpture. fire zouave figure in close combat enemy, swinging rifle club. monument designed captain john reed (the 72nd veteran arrested), last name of sculptor known: stephens. sculpture cast bureau brothers foundry in philadelphia.

about 1000 people attended july 4, 1891, monument s dedication, , edward mcpherson accepted on behalf of gbma. gbma later had second thoughts – on august 25, executive committee recommended marker placed indicate gbma bore no responsibility location of monument placed.

the 72nd s ownership of statuary tract proved crucial in preventing gettysburg electric railway building tourist trolley across field of pickett s charge. 72nd denied right-of-way across tract, forcing trolley company find route (behind union line). reiterate tract remained private land, in june 1893, 72nd marked boundaries stone markers, placed no trespassing sign, , erected flag pole stars , stripes (44 stars). association held statuary tract until march 20, 1911, when trustees survivors association of seventy-second regiment pennsylvania volunteers deeded war department.

the 2011 gettysburg america beautiful quarter developed in consultation representatives of gettysburg national military park. reverse of coin features image of 72nd regiment s statuary monument. codori barn, visible in background, not built until 1882.

high winds blew 1,500 lb (0.68 t) fire zouave sculpture off pedestal on june 25, 2013, week before 150th anniversary of battle of gettysburg. national park service personnel hoisted slightly-damaged sculpture onto pedestal next day, , restored on winter.