John Burns

The monument to John Burns is west of Gettysburg on Meredith Avenue. see map

From the monument:

My thanks are specially due to a citizen of
Gettysburg named John Burns who although
over seventy years of age shouldered
his musket and offered his services
to Colonel Wister One Hundred and
Fiftieth Pennsylvania Volunteers.
Colonel Wister advised him to fight in the
woods as there was more shelter there
but he preferred to join our line of
skirmishers in the open fields when the
t roops retired he fought with the Iron
Brigade. He was wounded in three places."
-Gettysburg report of Maj.-Gen. Doubleday.

The monument was created by sculptor Albert G. Bureau and was dedicated on July 1, 1903.

John Burns was in his seventies when the rebels came to Gettysburg. A veteran of the War of 1812, he grabbed his flintlock musket, told his wife "I am going out to see what is going on," and offered his services to the nearest Union regiment. His ancient musket was replaced with a modern rifle, and he fought with the Iron Brigade, suffering three wounds.

With his wounds he had to be left behind when Union forces retreated through town, and he was closely question by the Confederates as to how he came to be in civilian clothes and wounded on the battlefield. His answers apparently satisfied them and he was allowed to return home.

Burns became a celebrity after the battle, being photographed by Matthew Brady and meeting Lincoln, who sought Burns out when he came to the dedication of the National Cemetery. He died in 1872 and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery.

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