153rd Pennsylvania Infantry Monument Restored, and Peace Light Update
May 23, 2009
The monument to the 153rd Pennsylvania, located along Wainwright Avenue at the foot of Cemetery Hill, has been restored. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, May 22, 2009.
The monument was restored on Friday. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, May 22, 2009.
Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey informed us that the reason that the monument could not be restored immediately was because the iron rods on the inside of the monument that keep the pieces together were bent. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, May 22, 2009.
The monument is located on Wainwright Avenue. Other monuments visible include the brigade marker for von Gilsa’s brigade, the monument to the 68th New York Infantry, and to the 54th New York Infantry. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, May 22, 2009.
The monument was broken into three pieces, the bottom, middle, and top. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, May 22, 2009.
The monument has received new mortar. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, May 22, 2009.
The monument to the left (south) of the 153rd Pennsylvania is to the 41st New York Infantry Regiment. The Battlefield Military Museum is in the left background. The McKnight House is the white structure immediately to the right of the 153rd Pennsylvania. The new multi-colored Comfort Inn, which we will show you in a post later this week, is to the right of the McKnight House. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, May 22, 2009.
Culp’s Hill is in the background. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, May 22, 2009.
On the evening of July 2, 1863, when the Confederates began their attack, this was not a good position for infantry. A rise in the ground blocks the view of the Confederate’s approach on the evening of July 2, 1863. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, May 22, 2009.
Confederates from North Carolina engaged the 153rd Pennsylvania in hand to hand combat in this area before the Confederates advanced up East Cemetery Hill where they were finally repulsed. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, May 22, 2009.
Back at the Eternal Light Peace Memorial on Oak Hill, the cleaning of the monument does not appear to be going well. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:00 PM on Friday, May 22, 2009.
The graffiti on this side of the east stairway could not be completely cleaned off, and has now been recovered. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:00 PM on Friday, May 22, 2009.
For some reason the graffiti on this side of the east stairwell was not recovered. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:00 PM on Friday, May 22, 2009.
The graffiti on the south side of the monument has not been completely cleaned or recovered. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, May 22, 2009.
No attempts have yet been made to clean the most visible areas where the graffiti was applied. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, May 22, 2009.
See the following related posts:
Peace Light Cleaning Update: A Little More Progress on May 22, 2009.
Peace Light Cleaning Update: No Visible Progress on May 20, 2009.
Another Gettysburg Monument Vandalized on May 19, 2009.
Peace Light: Some Photographs Taken When the Vandalism was First Discovered on January 27, 2009.
Peace Light Monument Vandalism on January 10, 2009.
Eternal Light Peace Memorial Dedication Ceremony on January 1, 2009.
153rd Pennsylvania Monument on Barlow Knoll on September 14, 2008.
Red Cloths Finally Removed From Monuments on July 7, 2008.
Smith’s New York Battery Monument Still Awaits Restoration on May 31, 2008.
A New Type of Vandalism for Memorial Day on May 26, 2008.
