The Second Brigade, Third Division, First Corps

The Pennsylvania Bucktail Brigade

Brigade marker for 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division of the 1st Corps
It is located near the McPherson Barn on Stone Avenue

 It reads:

 ARMY OF THE POTOMAC

First Corps Third Division 
Second Brigade
Col. Roy Stone Col. Langhorne Wister
Col. Edmund L. Dana
143rd 149th 150th Pennsylvania Infantry

July 1.     Arrived and went into position at McPherson buildings between Reynolds Woods and the Railroad Cut and was subjected to a heavy front and enfilading artillery fire from the right. Repulsed repeated attacks of Brig. Daniel's Brigade Major Gen. Rodes's Division from the right as well as front attacks until pressed on both flanks and in front by superior numbers. It retired to Seminary Ridge and held temporary breast works there until the Corps retired before overwhelming numbers to Cemetery Hill when the Brigade with the Division took position at the left of the cemetery on and near the Taneytown Road.

July 2.     Late in the afternoon moved to left and took position previously occupied by First Division Second Corps 

July 3.     Remained in the same position under the heavy artillery fire in the afternoon.

The strength of the Brigade July 1st 1315

Casualties Killed 4 Officers 105 Men Wounded 35 Officers 430 Men Captured or Missing 8 Officers 271 Men Total 853

Colonel Roy Stone 

Colonel Langhorne Wister

                   

Colonel Edmund Dana










143rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment

143rd Pennsylvania Monument on Chambersburg Pike


Located on The Chambersburg Pike (modern US 30) the monument represents the position held by the regiment from 11am July 1, 1863 until they fell back to Seminary Ridge.  The soldier on the front of the monument represents Sergeant Ben Crippen shaking his fist at the Confederates as his regiment retreats.  He was killed shortly after this act of defiance, and his body was never recovered and most likely is in an unknown grave at the National Cemetery.


Dedicated:  September 11, 1889


Commander:  Colonel Edmund L. Dana, who took over the Brigade for Colonel Stone (after he was wounded in the hips and arm during the fighting.), Lieutenant Colonel John D. Musser then took command of the regiment.

Number Engaged: 515


Casualties: 21 killed, 141 wounded, 91 missing


Raised:  Luzerne, Susquehanna, Wyoming and Lycoming counties.

Major Events and Battles:  Organized at Wilkes-Barre October 18, 1862; Chancellorsville; Bristoe Campaign; Wilderness; Spotsylvania; North Anna; Cold Harbor; Petersburg; Mustered out June 12, 1865

Medal of Honor Awardee
Sergeant James M. Rutter 
Company C, 143d Pennsylvania Infantry.
For actions at Gettysburg, Pa., 1 July 1863. 
Date of issue: 30 October 1896. 
Citation: At great risk of his life went to the assistance of a wounded comrade, and while under fire removed him to a place of safety.

Sergeant James M. Rutter MOH






Secondary Monument to the 143rd Pennsylvania

There is a secondary monument on Hancock Avenue that marks the position held by the regiment on July 3, 1863.  It is south of the Copse of Trees, and was erected in 1895.

149th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment 

"1st Regiment Bucktail Brigade"

149th Pennsylvania Monument on the Chambersburg Pike

Located on the Chambersburg Pike at the McPherson Barn, it represents the position held by the regiment from 1130 on Juy 1 until they retired to the Seminary and eventually to Cemetery Hill in the afternoon.

On July 1, 1863 in fighting along the Chambersburg Pike the regiment endured heavy losses as a result of  Confederate artillery. On July 1, all of the officers of the 149th were either killed or wounded.  In fact, three men were killed by a single shot.   Lt. Col. Dwight sent the colors fifty yards north to draw fire away from the regiment. This worked, although when the regiment retreated the colors were lost, in spite of the heroic death of Color Sergeant Henry Brehm, who was shot down after he had fought off a party of attackers and was running to return the colors to the retreating regiment.

Dedication Date:  September 11, 1889.

Commander: Col. Walton Dwight. Wounded on July 1.

Number Engaged: 450

Casualties: 53 killed, 172 wounded, 111 missing (336 total)

Raised: Clearfield, Huntingdon, Lebanon, Mifflin, Potter, and Tioga counties Pennsylvania

Significant Battles and Events:  Organized at Harrisburg August, 1862, Chancellorsville, Bristoe Campaign, Haymarket, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Mustered out June 24, 1865

Secondary Monuments and Markers

There is a secondary monument located on Hancock Avenue, it was dedicated on October 20, 1866, it represents the position held by the regiment on July 3, 1863 when they were used in support of Stannard's Brigade.  It was originally located on Reynolds Avenue and was moved to this location in 1889.

149th Pennsylvania Monument on Hancock Avenue

There is also a monument to D company of the 149th located at the intersection of West Confederate Avenue and Fairfield Road.  

It was dedicated in 1886 and honors the memory of Joseph Baldwin who was killed near this spot, and Alex Stuart who was mortally wounded near this spot.  Company D was detached as Provost Guard.  They held this location on the evening of July 1, 1863 for about 20 minutes covering the regiment's retreat.

Monument to Company D, 149th Pennsylvania

150th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment

150th Pennsylvania Monument on Stone Avenue
(McPherson Barn in background)

Located on Stone Avenue by the McPherson Barn it represents the location held by the regiment on the afternoon of July 1, 1863.

The regiment was initially under the command of Colonel Wister, who took over command of the brigade.  Lt Col Huidekoper held command of the regiment until he was wounded, Capt. Jones then took command.  Huidekoper received the Medal of Honor for continuing in a command role after being wounded.

Dedication Date:  September 11, 1889.

Commander: Col. Langhorne Wister

Number Engaged: 397

Casualties: 35 killed, 152 wounded, 77 missing (264 total)

Raised: Philadelphia and the counties of Crawford, McKean, and Union, 

Major Battles and Events:  Organized at Philadelphia and Harrisburg September 4, 1862, Chancellorsville, Bristoe, Mine Run, The Wilderness,  Spottsylvania, North Anna, Petersburg, Cold Harbor, Mustered out June 23, 1865.  Company K assigned as body guards to Lincoln from Febrary 63 to muster out.

Secondary Monuments and Markers

There is a secondary monument on Hancock Avenue.  It represents the position held by the regiment on July 3, 1863.  It was originally in the area of the main monument shown above, but moved when the larger monument was placed in 1889.

Secondary monument to the 150th Pennsylvania
Located on Hancock Avenue




Medal of Honor Awardees
Lt. Colonel Henry S. Huidekoper
150th Pennsylvania

For actions at Gettysburg Pennsylvania, July 1, 1863.

Issued May 27, 1905.

Citation: While engaged in repelling an attack of the enemy, received a severe wound of the right arm, but instead of retiring remained at the front in command of the regiment.

 

Lt. Colonel Henry S. Huidekoper, MOH



Corporal Monroe J. Reisinger

Company H, 150th Pennsylvania

For actions at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863

Awarded January 25th 1907

 Citation: Specially brave and meritorious conduct in the face of the enemy.

Grave of Sergeant Monroe J. Reisinger MOH 
Note that he was promoted after the actions for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor

Sadly I couldn't find a picture of  Corporal Reisinger.  As always, if you have anything you'd like to add, please feel free to comment.