A reader of ours named G.F. Clark emailed us from Colorado. He’s a veteran of the 3rd United States Infantry, U.S. Army Presidential Honor Guard, Co. E, 1St. (Now 4th Bn.).The monument to Ayres’ 2nd Division of the 5th Corps is in the right background. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 3:00 PM on March 20, 2017.

The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment is also known as “The Old Guard.” It is the oldest active duty regiment in the U.S. Army. Soldiers from the Old Guard are in charge of the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery. The Old Guard is the official Army Honor Guard and escort to the President.This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 8:05 AM on November 2, 2016.

The pin on the left marks the location of the 3rd United States Infantry marker on Ayres Avenue. The pin on the right marks the location of the 1st Ohio Artillery, Battery L.This map was created in a chair facing east on March 20, 2017.

Mr. Clark is unable to travel and won’t be getting to Gettysburg any time soon. He had a request for us.This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 3:00 PM on March 20, 2017.

“As a proud member of the 3rd U.S. Infantry, I was wondering if during your travels through the battlefield and weather permitting of course, you would be kind enough to take a readable photo of their monument.”This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 3:00 PM on March 20, 2017.

He asked us to take “a readable photo.” This view was taken facing east at approximately 3:00 PM on March 20, 2017.

Mr. Clark, this is the Gettysburg Daily. We don’t just take ONE photo. It’s too bad you didn’t ask us to take photos of a stone wall (don’t worry, there’s one in the background).A high resolution TIFF of the monument text. This view was taken facing east at approximately 3:00 PM on March 20, 2017.

The 3rd United States was part of Hannibal Day’s First Brigade out of Ayres’ Division of United States Regulars. The brigade arrived in Gettysburg from the Baltimore Pike on the morning of July 2nd. After briefly camping near Power’s Hill, the brigade was ordered to support Brigadier General John C. Caldwell’s division as it advanced into the Wheatfield.This view was taken facing east at approximately 3:00 PM on March 20, 2017.

Day was sent in with Sydney Burbank’s Brigade of Regulars, who were repulsed in the Wheatfield. Day’s Brigade was positioned on the eastern portion of Houck’s Ridge. Day realized that he was being outflanked on his right by Confederates moving down the Wheatfield Road. The Regulars retreated back to a position north of Little Round Top.This view was taken facing west at approximately 3:00 PM on March 20, 2017.

Accounts vary as to the orderliness of the retreat. One popular quote from a soldier in Weed’s brigade on Little Round Top claimed the following about the U.S. Regulars in the Wheatfield: “For two years the U.S. Regulars taught us how to be soldiers, in the Wheatfield at Gettysburg, they taught us how to die like soldiers.” The Regulars reportedly did not break rank and fired several volleys as they retreated.This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 3:00 PM on March 20, 2017.

The Regulars in the 3rd U.S. would have been retreating towards Gibbs’ Battery L, 1st Ohio Artillery. Four of Gibbs’ guns were at the base of Little Round Top and two were located in the approximate location of their monument. Gibbs’ battery wanted to fire canister into the advancing Confederates. Soldiers in the artillery battery waved their hats to Caldwell’s men and the Regulars, urging them to double-quick across the valley so that the artillery could open fire. The 3rd US marker is visible on Ayres Avenue in the left background.This view was taken facing west at approximately 3:00 PM on March 20, 2017.

Thank you to our many readers who are veterans.This view was taken facing west at approximately 3:00 PM on March 20, 2017.