Union Monuments, New Jersey

12th New Jersey Infantry Regiment

The main monument to the Twelfth New Jersey Regiment is south of Gettysburg on Hancock Avenue across from the Brian Farm. (see map) It was was dedicated by the State of New Jersey in1886.

A marker at the Bliss farm site, dedicated in 1888, commemorates the actions of detatchments of the regiment in the struggle for the imortant position between the Union and Confederate lines..

The 12th New Jersey Infantry was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Maj. John T. Hill. It brought 532 men to the field and was part of 2nd Army Corps, 3rd Division, 2nd Brigade.

From the front of the monument:

In memory of
the men of the
Twelfth Regiment
New Jersey Infantry
Volunteers,
who fell upon this field
July 2d & 3d 1863,
and who elsewhere
died under the flag
this monument is dedicated
by their surviving comrades
as an example
to future generations.

12th Regt.
N.J. Vol.

A bas-relief at the base of the monument shows the fighting around the Bliss barn.

From the right side:

"Buck & Ball.
Calibre .69."
Two charges were made
by this regiment on Bliss Barn
July 2d & 3d 1863
capturing it

Strength at muster in 992
Gained 907, total 1899
Died in service,
officers 9, enlisted men 252.

Lost on this field
Killed 2 officers, 20 men
Wounded, 4 officers, 80 men.
Missing 9, Total 115.

"Buck and ball Calibre .69" refers to the common load of one ball and three buckshot used in the regiment's smoothbore muskets, represented by the balls on the top of the monument.

From the front of the marker at the Bliss farm site:

Erected by the State of
New Jersey A.D. 1888
in honor of the 12th
Regiment of Volunteers
a detachment of which in
the afternoon of July 2, 1863.
charged the Bliss house and
barn here capturing the
enemy's skirmish reserve
of 7 officers and 85 men
stationed therein.

From the rear:

On the
morning of July 3,
another detachment of
the regiment charged
capturing the buildings
and one officer and
one man and driving
back the skirmish
reserve.
The regiment lost in
these charges 60
officers and men.

See more on the 12th New Jersey Infantry Regiment during the Civil War