9th New York Cavalry Regiment

The monument to the Ninth New York Cavalry Regiment is west of Gettysburg on Buford Avenue. see map

The monument, dedicated on the battle's 25th anniversary in 1888, features a bronze relief by sculptor Caspar Buberl depicting a mounted sentinel and entitled, "Discovering the enemy."

From the front of the monument:

9th New York Cavalry
2d Brig., 1st Div., Cavalry Corps

From the rear of the monument:

Position 8 a.m. July 1, 1863.
Picket on Chambersburg Road
fired on at 5 a.m.

From the tablet on the rear:

Enlisted Oct. 1, 1861. Re-enlisted Jan.2, 1864.
Mustered out July 17, 1865.
Total enlistments among which losses occured, 1981.
Losses during service
Killed in action, 63, died of wounds 32,
others wounded 270.
Died while prisoners, 16, others captured, 125,
battle losses 506.
Killed accidentally, 3; died of disease, 110,
aggregate losses, 619.
Battles and skirmishes 141.
Battle flags captured, 5.

Principal engagements
Williamsburg, Pope's Campaign, Beverly Ford, Ashby's Gap, Gettysburg, Williamsport, Brandy Station, Wilderness, Yellow Tavern, Meadow Bridge, Col Harbor, Trevillian Station, Deep Bottom, Smithfield, Leetown, Winchester, Port Republic, tom's Brook, Cedar Creek, Gordonsville, Waynesboro, Dinwiddie C.H., Five Forks, Sailors Creek, Appomattox

The 9th New York claimed that the first shot of the battle was fired by its Corporal Alpheus Hodges, who was in charge of a four man picket post on Chambersburg Pike. But in a controversy that continues to this day, the claim was challenged by the 8th Illinois Cavalry, who held their Lt. Marcellus Jones had the honor. Jones went so far as to erect his own marker on Chambersburg Pike, one of the earliest monuments on the battlefield. The 9th New York successfully defended its claims before the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association at the unveiling of the monument in 1888, and currently the monuments of both regiments claim the honor.

The regiment was commanded at Gettysburg by Colonel William Sackett. It brought 395 men to the field, losing two killed, two wounded and seven missing.

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