Union Monuments - New York Infantry

111th New York Infantry Regiment

The monument to the 111th New York Infantry Regiment is south of Gettysburg on Hancock Avenue by the Bryan Farm. It was dedicated in 1891 by the State of New York.
Location: 39.815416 N, 77.235392 W; see map

The 111th New York was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Colonel Clinton D. MacDougall. He was wounded on July 3rd, and Lieutenant Colonel Isaac M. Usk took command until he, too was wounded, when Caption Aaron P. Seeley took over the regiment.

The 111th, along with its sister regiments in the brigade, had been branded as the "Harpers Ferry cowards" for their surrender - through no fault of their own - as part of the garrison of Harper's Ferry during the Antietam campaign in 1862. Paroled but forced to spend a miserable winter in a Union prisoner of war camp in Chicago until exchanged, the brigade was looking for a chance to clear their name - and got their wish at Gettysburg.

From the front of the monument:

111th New York Infantry.
3rd Brigade, 3rd Division
2nd Corps.

From the rear:

111th New York Infantry.
Arrived early morning July 2nd 1863, position near
Ziegler's Grove. Went to relief of 3rd Corps in afternoon;
took this position that evening and held it to close of battle.
Number engaged (8 companies) 390
Casualties
Killed 58, wounded 177, missing 14, total 249
Recruited in Cayuga and Wayne Counties.
Mustered in at Auburn August 20, 1862.
Engagements -- Bolivar Heights and all battles of 2nd
Corps from Gettysburg to Appomattox.
Total enrollment --- 75 officers --- 1730 men
Losses --- killed and died -- 12 officers, 394 men
Wounded --- 26 officers, 531 men
Total 863
Mustered out June 5, 1865.

See more on the 111th New York Infantry Regiment during the Civil War