The "Eagle" and the 115th Pennsylvania Infantry Monument in the Wheatfield
115th Pennsylvania Infantry Monument in the "Wheatfield". c1889
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115th Pennsylvania Infantry Monument in the "Wheatfield" 2022
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"Pennsylvania Day" at Gettysburg was held September 11th and 12th, 1889. Thousands of veterans and their family's returned to Gettysburg for these days of remembrance. During this celebration the veterans of the 115th Pennsylvania Infantry would return to the now famous Wheatfield to dedicate their monument. Although not as grand as some monuments, their intentions were to leave future generations a record of their service in the Civil War. And they did!
From the Address of Captain Frank Seltzer, September 12th 1889,
"Standing here today our minds wanders back to the time when we fought side by side on this spot and once more the stirring scenes are reenacted that will live forever in our memory....Yonder shaft, standing there as a companion to the many silent sentinels, keeping their lonely watch over the famed battlefield, rears its majestic head to the heavens, as if proud of the distinguished honor conferred upon it, and with mute eloquence recounts to the passer-by the fields of bloody strife on which our brave regiment so gallantly distinguish itself and where many of our comrades laid down their lives so the cause of liberty, home and country might be perpetuated.....Many of those who belong to our number sleep their last sleep-in faraway graves many of them in a soil that was unfriendly to them and to whom was denied even so much as a simple stone to mark their last resting place. Their graves were dug amid the fierce and terrible exigencies of grim and cruel war, where no loving hand could deck their silent tombs. Only the gentle breezes and whispering winds are singing a mournful dirge over them. Let us therefore, who are yet alive, the more tenderly cherish the friendship of one another… when the shadows of life are lengthening over the landscape of existence and when memory like the seam and fluted bows of some old forest oak opens to a passing breeze we may ever hold in our hearts the recollection of duty well done to our country.
From the Address of Captain Frank Seltzer, September 12th 1889,
"Standing here today our minds wanders back to the time when we fought side by side on this spot and once more the stirring scenes are reenacted that will live forever in our memory....Yonder shaft, standing there as a companion to the many silent sentinels, keeping their lonely watch over the famed battlefield, rears its majestic head to the heavens, as if proud of the distinguished honor conferred upon it, and with mute eloquence recounts to the passer-by the fields of bloody strife on which our brave regiment so gallantly distinguish itself and where many of our comrades laid down their lives so the cause of liberty, home and country might be perpetuated.....Many of those who belong to our number sleep their last sleep-in faraway graves many of them in a soil that was unfriendly to them and to whom was denied even so much as a simple stone to mark their last resting place. Their graves were dug amid the fierce and terrible exigencies of grim and cruel war, where no loving hand could deck their silent tombs. Only the gentle breezes and whispering winds are singing a mournful dirge over them. Let us therefore, who are yet alive, the more tenderly cherish the friendship of one another… when the shadows of life are lengthening over the landscape of existence and when memory like the seam and fluted bows of some old forest oak opens to a passing breeze we may ever hold in our hearts the recollection of duty well done to our country.
"Eagle" of the 115th Pennsylvania
Infantry Monument, Right View.
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"Eagle" of the 115th Pennsylvania
Infantry Monument, Left View.
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To me the focus of attention of the monument is the eagle. My guess is the members of the 115th selected an eagle sculpture as it is the national symbol of the United States. When the eagle was chosen as the countries national symbol it represented courage, strength, freedom and immortality for generations. The eagle displayed on the monument appears to be watchful, its wings raised as if ready for flight. The veterans that served with the 115th had endured many difficult campaigns, and lost many friends. With this monument they did leave us a detailed historical record and a wonderful sculpture.
The sculptor that created this wonderful work of art is unknown to me, but the skill displayed tells us this sculptor was well trained. The details of the feathers, the talons and the head exhibit great genius. A wonderful example of artistry.
The sculptor that created this wonderful work of art is unknown to me, but the skill displayed tells us this sculptor was well trained. The details of the feathers, the talons and the head exhibit great genius. A wonderful example of artistry.
"Eagle" of the 115th Pennsylvania
Infantry Monument, Front View.
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"Eagle" of the 115th Pennsylvania
Infantry Monument, Rear View.
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When walking the Gettysburg Battlefield take time to study the minute details of the monuments. The artistry and skill in creating and construction these memorials may be surprising.
Vintage Postcard (post 1907) showing the 115th Pennsylvania Infantry monument (left) along De Trobriand Avenue
A short Video of the famous "Wheatfield" and its monuments.
The Avenue we use today.
When the veterans placed their monuments in the Wheatfield prior to 1906 there were no roads or avenues. My guess there were paths made by individuals and equipment required to erect the monuments. The Gettysburg Battlefield Commission recognized this problem of access to the field and the issue was resolved.
Noted in the July 20th, 1906 report of the Gettysburg Battlefield Commission:
On January 19, 1906, a survey was commenced for the purpose of discovering the best line, ground, and grade for an avenue to open important Union and Confederate positions and battle lines south of the Wheat Field and through Rose Grove along the advanced position of Brooke's brigade, July 2, 1863. This part of the field has been very difficult of access heretofore. The proposed avenue is intended to remedy this difficulty. A very good grade was found upon ground recently purchased by the United States from J. Emory Bair. In January and February, 1906, the avenue was located permanently and staked. Bids have been received for grading and piking the avenue; action upon it is now pending. The avenue to be piked will be 5,858 feet long and 16 feet wide, stonework 14 inches deep, built on the Telford system. No grade upon it is over 4 degrees. Two culverts over Plum Run are included in the bids.
Approximately one year later the same Commission would report on July 1, 1907:
Ayres and Brooke avenue was completed and opened to the public on April 1. It traverses and opens a very important part of the battlefield. There are now on the line of this avenue sixteen large regimental monuments, as follows: Starting on the east end from the Wheatfield road, the Eleventh, First, Second, and Thirteenth ( Bucktails ) Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry monuments, One hundred and forty-fifth Pennsylvania Infantry, the last four of Brooke's brigade, One hundred and tenth Pennsylvania Infantry, Eighth New Jersey Infantry, One hundred and fifteenth Pennsylvania Infantry, the last five in the south wheat field. Ten monuments to the United States regular infantry will be erected on this avenue, The Second, Third, Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, Tenth, Eleventh. Twelfth, Fourteenth, and Seventeenth, also a number of other regimental and brigade positions of both armies will be marked on this avenue.
With this, Ayres, Brook and De Trobriand Avenues were created.
I used a camera extension for the images shown. Never climb on monuments, cannons or stone walls.
When the veterans placed their monuments in the Wheatfield prior to 1906 there were no roads or avenues. My guess there were paths made by individuals and equipment required to erect the monuments. The Gettysburg Battlefield Commission recognized this problem of access to the field and the issue was resolved.
Noted in the July 20th, 1906 report of the Gettysburg Battlefield Commission:
On January 19, 1906, a survey was commenced for the purpose of discovering the best line, ground, and grade for an avenue to open important Union and Confederate positions and battle lines south of the Wheat Field and through Rose Grove along the advanced position of Brooke's brigade, July 2, 1863. This part of the field has been very difficult of access heretofore. The proposed avenue is intended to remedy this difficulty. A very good grade was found upon ground recently purchased by the United States from J. Emory Bair. In January and February, 1906, the avenue was located permanently and staked. Bids have been received for grading and piking the avenue; action upon it is now pending. The avenue to be piked will be 5,858 feet long and 16 feet wide, stonework 14 inches deep, built on the Telford system. No grade upon it is over 4 degrees. Two culverts over Plum Run are included in the bids.
Approximately one year later the same Commission would report on July 1, 1907:
Ayres and Brooke avenue was completed and opened to the public on April 1. It traverses and opens a very important part of the battlefield. There are now on the line of this avenue sixteen large regimental monuments, as follows: Starting on the east end from the Wheatfield road, the Eleventh, First, Second, and Thirteenth ( Bucktails ) Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry monuments, One hundred and forty-fifth Pennsylvania Infantry, the last four of Brooke's brigade, One hundred and tenth Pennsylvania Infantry, Eighth New Jersey Infantry, One hundred and fifteenth Pennsylvania Infantry, the last five in the south wheat field. Ten monuments to the United States regular infantry will be erected on this avenue, The Second, Third, Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, Tenth, Eleventh. Twelfth, Fourteenth, and Seventeenth, also a number of other regimental and brigade positions of both armies will be marked on this avenue.
With this, Ayres, Brook and De Trobriand Avenues were created.
I used a camera extension for the images shown. Never climb on monuments, cannons or stone walls.