Union monuments - Pennsylvania Infantry

23rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment
"Birney's Zouaves"

The monument to the 23rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment is southeast of Gettysburg on Slocum Avenue. The monument was dedicated on August 5, 1886, and was originally topped by a pyramid of cannon balls. In 1888 it was renovated, moved across the street, and topped by the current statue of a Zouave.

Location: 39.817581 N, 77.219741 W; see map

The regiment was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Lieutenant Colonel John F. Glenn. It brought 538 men to the field, losing 1 killed and 13 wounded. Captain John B. Fassett of Company F earned the Medal of Honor on July 2 when, acting as an aide, he voluntarily led a regiment to the relief of a battery and recaptured its guns from the enemy.

From the front of the monument:

23d Pa. Vols.
The
regiment
was placed in reserve in rear
of this position at 9.30 a.m.
of the 3d, and subsequently
five companies advanced
into the breast-works.
During the heavy cannonade
it moved with the Brigade to
support the 'left centre'.
loss in the action:
two officers and twenty-nine
enlisted men killed and
wounded.

Birney's Zouaves

First Brigade
Third Division
Sixth Corps

From the left side:

Mustered in at Philadelphia
for three months service
April 21, 1861.
Mustered out July 31, 1861.
Remustered for three years
service August 2, 1861.
Mustered out Sept. 8, 1864.
Veterans and Recruits
transferred to 82d P.V.

Our corps commanders:
Patterson, Keyes, Franklin,
Sedgwick, Wright.
Our division commanders:
Cadwallader, Buell, Couch, Newton,
Wheaton, Bartlett, Terry, Russel.

From the rear:

Official list
of actions participated
in by the 23d P.V.
Falling Waters, Yorktown,
Williamsburg, Fair Oaks,
White Oak Swamp, Turkey Bend,
Charles City X Roads,
Malvern Hill, Chantilly,
Fredericksburg, Mine Run,
Marye's Heights, Gettysburg,
Salem Church, Funkstown,
Rappahannock Station,
Hanover Court House in 1864,
Cold Harbor, Petersburg
from June 19 to July 9,
Fort Stevens and Shenandoah
Valley Campaign with Sixth
Corps until August 21, 1864,
when directed home for muster out.
Casualties:
139 killed, 520 wounded
and 88 died.

About 8 p.m.of July 1, it marched from Manchester
thirty seven miles reaching the field about 2 p.m.
on July 2. Coming into position about 5 p.m. with
Shaler's Brigade, near Little Round Top on morning
of July 3. Ordered to Culp's Hill, where it remained
until ordered to support of left centre.
Started in pursuit of Lee July 5.

From the right side:

This tablet was erected
August, 1886 by the
survivors of the 23d
Pennsylvania Volunteer
Infantry and its friends.

Our brigade commanders:
Thomas, Graham, Abercrombie,
Wessels, Cochrane, Shaler, Edwards.
Our Regimental commanders:
Dare, Birney, Neill, Ely, Glenn.

See more on the 23rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment during the Civil War