​The Battle of Gettysburg: Stories of Fatal Encounters ​

Lieutenant Colonel Martin Tschudy 
69th Pennsylvania Infantry
​Killed July 3, 1863

Lieutenant Colonel Martin Tschudy

 Martin Tschudy was the Lieutenant Colonel of the 69th Pennsylvania Infantry. His regiment was part of Brigadier General Alexander S. Webb's brigade. Webb's brigade would defend the Northern battleline in and around the famous "Angle". On July 3rd, as the 69th Pennsylvania Infantry defended a portion of a stone wall located within the Angle, Tschudy would be killed. 
 The day before, July 2nd, while defending a late afternoon attack by Ambrose Wright's Georgians Tschudy would be wounded in the head. He very well could have left his regiment but he refused to do so.
 On the afternoon of July 3rd, Pickett's Division attacked the 69th's position near the now famous "Copse of Trees." As remnants of these attacking southerners breached the northern line the 69th was forced to refuse several of its right companies. Infantry manuals instructed the Lt. Colonel to be positioned behind the right wing of the regiment. Here, while encouraging his men, Tschudy would be struck in the bladder proving to be a fatal wound. 
 His remains would be moved "east" of the Peter Frey Farm located along the Taneytown Road. In October Tschudy would be reinterred at Woodlands Cemetery in Philadelphia.  

---

Inscription from the western face of the 69th Pennsylvania Infantry Monument at Gettysburg. Although wounded on July 2nd,Tschudy's refused to leave his regiment.

Grave of Lt. Colonel Martin Tschudy at Woodlands Cemetery. Photo courtesy of Robert Gale.

"Rock of Erin" by Don Troiani

The Gettysburg Elliott map produced in 1864 showing burials near the Peter Frey Farm.

Following the battle, Tscudy's remains were eventually interred "on the east side of the Peter Frey Farm." As can be seen on the Elliott map there were both Confederate and Union soldiers buried north-west of the barn (red circle). The Elliott map also shows several graves east of the house across the Taneytown Road (blue and green circles). Being a Lt. Colonel and a favorite of the 69th, extra care may have been taken when burying his remains. Perhaps one of graves east of the Taneytown Road is Tschudy.
​We will never know for sure.

---

Monument to the 69th Pennsylvania Infantry (left) marks the center of their line of battle.

Looking south east towards the Frey barn. The house can be seen to the right of the barn.

This view is looking south east at the Frey barn. The Elliott map indicated both Confederates and Union dead were buried beyond the current fence line.