Union monuments - Pennsylvania Infantry

121st Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment

There are two monuments to the 121st Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment on the Gettysburg battlefield.

A monument south of Gettysburg on Hancock Avenue (top right) was erected by the survivors of the regiment in 1886. Location: 39.8109 N,77.23544 W; see map

A monument west of Gettysburg on Reynolds Avenue (bottom right) was erected by the State of Pennsylvania in 1888. Location: 39.83145 N, 77.25129 W; see map

The 121st Pennsylvania was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Major Alexander Biddle while his cousin, Colonel Chapman Biddle, held temporary brigade command. Colonel Biddle resumed command of the regiment during the battle despite being slightly wounded on July 1.

The circle that is the symbol of the Union First Army Corps is worked into both monuments in several places.

From the font of the monument on Hancock Avenue:

Col. Chapman Biddle
Brigade Commander

July 1st 1863
P.V. 121 Reg't

Maj. Alexander Biddle
Commanding Regiment

1st Brigade 3rd Division
First Corps

From the left side:

Extreme left
of Union line
1st Day
facing west.
Occupied Cemetery Ridge
July 2nd and 3rd.
Erected by the survivors of this
regiment in memory of their
fallen comrades

From the right side:

Whole number engaged
7 officers 258 enlisted men
Casualties
Killed
12 enlisted men
Wounded
5 officers 101 enlisted men
Captured and missing
1 officer 60 enlisted men
Total 179.

From he rear:

Called into service by President Lincoln
September 1st 1862; Participated in all
the engagements of the Army of the
Potomac, commencing with the Battle
of Fredericksburg. Mustered out June
2nd 1865.

From the monument on Reynolds Avenue:

121st Penna. Infantry
July 1st 1863
Occupied this position the extreme left of
the Union line. July 2nd & 3rd on Cemetery Ridge.

Present at Gettysburg 11 officers 286 men.
Killed and died of wounds 20 men
Wounded 5 officers 33 men
Captured and missing 1 officer 60 men

1st Brig. 3rd Div. 1s Corps

From the left side:

From
Fredericksburg
to
Appomattox

From the right side:

Recruited in Philadelphia
and Venango Counties.
Mustered in Sept. 1st 1861.
Mustered out June 2d 1865

See more about the 121st Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment during the Civil War