147th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry For Sale

Sculpted by Gary Casteel

Size:11” x 7 ½” x 9 ¼

Weight: 11.5lbs

1863 Signed and Numbered Limited Edition Monument Replicas

The 147thPennsylvaniaVolunteer Infantry, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Ario Pardee Jr., played asupporting but meaningful role in the Union defense at the Battle of Gettysburgas part of the 1stBrigade, 2ndDivision, 12thCorps. Organized in late 1862, largelyfrom surplus companies of the 28thPennsylvania Infantry, theregiment brought only eight companies (about 12 officers and 286 men) to thefield, as Companies I and K had not yet been formed. It arrived late on July 1 and took up aposition on the northern slope of Little Round Top, anchoring the extreme leftof the Union line that night before shifting to Culp’s Hill the next morning.

On July 2, the regiment spent much ofthe day held in reserve on Culp’s Hill while other units in the 12thCorps engaged Confederate forces. In theevening, as part of a broader movement to reinforce the Union left (followingthe heavy fighting in the Wheatfield and Peach Orchard areas), the brigademarched toward the left but returned to Culp’s Hill around 3 a.m. on July 3.The 12thCorps troops had constructed breastworks, which provedvital in the fighting to come.

Fortunately for the Union troops onthe hill, there was material for the works at hand. Rocks and trees abounded as supplements tothe shallow earth. There was also somecordwood there already cut and ready for use.Capt. Jesse H. Jones of the 60th New York recalled that“right and left the men felled the trees and blocked them up into a close logfence. Piles of cordwood near by wereforthwith appropriated. The sticks seton end and leaning against the outer face of the logs, made excellentbattening.” They incorporated theboulders already there when possible and topped the barricade with a head log. They blocked the log up so that it wouldprotect the soldiers’ heads while allowing them to fire from the slit betweenthe log and the body of the works. Onlythe regiments’ pioneers carried entrenching tools then, and Capt. Joseph Mooreof the 147th Pennsylvania Regiment lamented that “as usual in thehasty preparations for defense, the pioneer corps was not at hand, andbayonets, tin pans, tin cups etc. were improvised as implements in theconstruction of earthworks.” Yet the menworked with a will, and in three or four hours the job was done. Geary’s men who were not on the skirmish linerested behind their handiwork and waited for what would befall them. Many would call the earthworks ‘riflepits” orsimply “pits.” (Gettysburg – Culp’s Hill& Cemetery Hill, Pfantz, pg. 114-115)

The regiment saw its most significantaction on the morning of July 3. Atapproximately 5 a.m., Lt. Col. Pardee led the 147th in a determinedcharge against a stone wall occupied by Confederate troops (part of efforts toreclaim lost positions on the lower slopes of Culp’s Hill after some works hadbeen briefly taken the previous evening). The Pennsylvanians carried the position “inhandsome style,” delivering effective fire that inflicted heavy losses andhelped force the Confederates to abandon the line. This action took place inthe area now known as Pardee Field. Thefighting on Culp’s Hill that morning was among the most sustained of the entirebattle.

Themarker was dedicated September 12, 1889, and is located on the west side ofGeary Avenue about 150 yards southwest of its intersection with Slocum Avenue.