A vehicle struck and damaged the monument to the 74th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment this month. It is located on West Howard Avenue. Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide and the host for our series on the Eleventh Corps, Stuart Dempsey, is inspecting the monument after we came across it last week. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 7:30 PM on Saturday, July 18, 2010.

This map shows the location of where the video was shot to explain the damage to the 74th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. Video #1 was taken on the “Dead Monument’s Curve” on West Howard Avenue. This map was created facing north at approximately 7:30 AM on Monday, July 25, 2010.

In Video #1 (the only video we shot for this segment) Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey shows the latest damage inflicted upon the monument to the 74th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. The white lines on the monument are where the National Park Service did a good job putting it back together after it was hit and broken into more than a few pieces in 2003. Stuart also appeals to the National Park Service (he also wrote the Superintendent a letter) to protect this monument, possibly by placing obstructions in the path of any future out of control vehicles. This view was taken facing southeast to southwest to southeast at approximately 7:30 PM on Saturday, July 18, 2010.

Many drivers use West Howard Avenue as a shortcut to get from the Mummasburg Road to the Carlisle Road/Biglerville Road. The curve in this area of West Howard Avenue (Dead Monument’s Curve) greatly increases the chances of monuments and markers being struck. Visitors entering West Howard Avenue from the Mummasburg Road (behind the photographer) can get up some pretty good speed before entering this curve. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 7:30 PM on Saturday, July 18, 2010.

Because of the high rate of speed, the driver becoming distracted, or both, some vehicles leave the avenue in this area. The monument to the 74th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, or German Regiment, has been struck a couple of times over the years. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 7:30 PM on Saturday, July 18, 2010.

Stuart is pointing to the tire tracks heading towards the monument during the latest incident. The monument is supposed to fit together in three large pieces: the base, the middle, and the cap where the figure of the soldier and the flag are located. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 7:30 PM on Saturday, July 18, 2010.

Stuart Dempsey shows where in this latest incident, the “cap” has been shoved off the middle section of the monument. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 7:30 PM on Saturday, July 18, 2010.

The force of the collision has also pushed the middle section of the monument off its base. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 7:30 PM on Saturday, July 18, 2010.

This mortar that used to help connect the middle section to the base has been shoved out of the monument and onto the ground. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 7:30 PM on Saturday, July 18, 2010.

Here’s how the right flank marker of the 74th Pennsylvania was damaged by a vehicle in January, 2010. The Oak Ridge Tower is in the background above the marker. Oak Hill is in the right background. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 5:00 PM on Wednesday, January 20, 2010.

Here’s how the monument looked after it was struck by a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed in 2003. This view, courtesy of Stuart Dempsey, was taken facing southwest in 2003.