The advance marker for the 54th New York Infantry is located west of Rock Creek near Barlow Knoll. This view is taken from just west of Rock Creek. The marker is approximately 25 paces from the creek. This view was taken from the east facing west at approximately 5:00 PM on Monday, September 15, 2008.
The advance marker for the 54th New York Infantry Regiment is one of those seldom seen markers on the Gettysburg Battlefield. A detachment of 45 members of the 54th New York were placed as skirmishers on the south side of Rock Creek on July 1, 1863. There they fought and were pushed back by Georgia soldiers of John Brown Gordon’s Brigade.
To get to the marker, start on Barlow Knoll. The statue is in memory of United States Brigadier-General Francis C. Barlow. To the left is the monument to the 17th Connecticut Infantry Regiment, and cannon from Bayard Wilkeson’s Battery G, 4th U.S. Artillery. This view is from the northwest facing southeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Monday, September 15, 2008.
Continue to the area of the 17th Connecticut Monument and the right piece of Wilkeson’s battery. View is from the northwest facing southeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Monday, September 15, 2008.
We will use the flag conveniently placed in the vent hole of the piece to locate a trail to the marker. The opening in the woods is just above the flag. View from the northwest facing southeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Monday, September 15, 2008.
Proceed down the hill and look for the opening in the woods. View from the west facing east at approximately 5:00 PM on Monday, September 15, 2008.
The trail begins here. It’s about 100 yards to Rock Creek. View from the west facing east at approximately 5:00 PM on Monday, September 15, 2008.
The trail is not very wide. View is from the west facing east at approximately 5:00 PM on Monday, September 15, 2008.
In places the trail is overgrown. View from the west facing east at approximately 5:00 PM on Monday, September 15, 2008.
The path continues through the small trees. View is from the west facing east at approximately 5:00 PM on Monday, September 15, 2008.
After approximately 70 yards one enters a small clearing where the marker is located. View from the southwest facing northeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Monday, September 15, 2008.
We have now turned back to look at the marker and the trail down which we just walked. This view is from the east facing west at approximately 5:00 PM on Monday, September 15, 2008.
The marker states: “54th N.Y. INFANTRY A DETAIL OF 45 MEN FROM THIS REGIMENT OCCUPIED THIS POSITION JULY 1 1863” View from the east facing west at approximately 5:00 PM on Monday, September 15, 2008.
Rock Creek is approximately 25 yards east of the marker. View is from the west facing east at approximately 5:00 PM on Monday, September 15, 2008.
This is the view that the 54th New York had as Georgians from John Brown Gordon’s Brigade attacked from across the creek. View from the west facing east at approximately 5:00 PM on Monday, September 15, 2008.
The 54th New York does not have a monument in the Barlow Knoll area. The monument is located at the eastern foot of East Cemetery Hill where the unit was attacked on the evening of July 2, 1863. View from the north facing south at approximately 5:00 PM on Monday, September 15, 2008.
Accounts of the 54th’s action here are scarce. The 68th New York and 153rd Pennsylvania also had skirmishers in this area. At first the Union troops fought well. An account from the 61st Georgia states that the skirmish line of the New Yorkers and Pennsylvanians was difficult to move. View from the south facing north at approximately 5:00 PM on Monday, September 15, 2008.