The young girl with her foot on the monument to the 140th New York Infantry Monument is reading a message left sometime this week by vandals to the monument. Plum Run Valley/Valley of Death is in the left background. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Saturday, October 2, 2010.

The monument to the 140th New York Infantry Regiment is located on Little Round Top. It is the monument on the left. The large monument on the right is to the 44th New York Infantry Regiment (which includes members of the 12th New York). This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Saturday, October 2, 2009.

Thankfully there is not much writing on the monument, and to see it, you have to get close. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Saturday, October 2, 2010.

This is what the young girl was reading on her visit to Gettysburg. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Saturday, October 2, 2009.

The vandals also used the marker to give Colonel Patrick O’Rorke some heavy, black eyebrows. His nose is shiny because visitors rub it for good luck, even though he did not have any at this spot. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Saturday, October 2, 2010.

This was all the marks that we could see on the monument. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Saturday, October 2, 2010.

Maybe the vandals were frightened off before they could finish their message. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Saturday, October 2, 2010.

On the afternoon of July 2, 1863, Texas soldiers were climbing up Little Round Top in this area. Brigadier General Gouverneur K. Warren found Colonel Patrick O’Rorke and his 140th New York Regiment marching to the Wheatfield, and ordered them to Little Round Top. At first O’Rorke declined Warren’s orders because he was to follow his brigade (Weed’s Brigade) to the Wheatfield. Warren replied, “never mind that, Paddy. Bring them up on the double-quick and don’t stop for aligning. I’ll take the responsiblity.” This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Saturday, October 2, 2010.

O’Rorke moved his men over the north slope of Little Round Top. As he reached the summit of the hill, he saw Texans outflanking the right of the 16th Michigan Infantry Regiment. O’Rorke dismounted and drew his sword. “Down this way, boys!” he shouted as he ran down the slope towards the enemy. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Saturday, October 2, 2010.

When O’Rorke reached the area where the monument is located, some accounts have him grabbing the regimental colors and mounting a rock. This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:30 PM on Saturday, October 2, 2010.

A wayside exhibit in this area depicts O’Rorke directing his men down the slope towards the Confederates. The large rocks of Devil’s Den are in the left background. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 7:00 AM on Thursday, July 9, 2010.

Obviously this view does not have O’Rorke with the flag, but he is brandishing his sword. At this point he yelled, “Here they are men, Commence firing!” This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Saturday, October 2, 2009.

These were O’Rorke’s last words. In an instant, a bullet cut through the colonel’s neck and he fell without a sound. This view was taken facing west at approximately 4:30 PM on Saturday, October 2, 2010.

O’Rorke’s regiment continued their charge down the slope. The 140th New York managed to stop the Confederate attack, but the cost was high. Besides O’Rorke, twenty five other men in the 140th were killed, 89 were wounded, and 18 were missing in action, probably captured. This view was taken facing west at approximately 4:30 PM on Saturday, October 2, 2010.

Most visitors don’t take the time to read what happened here from the information provided on the monument or the wayside exhibit. So the young girl can now have her picture made as she rubs Patrick O’Rorke’s nose. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:30 PM on Saturday, October 2, 2010.

And others can mark the monument up… This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Saturday, October 2, 2010.

… or make a cartoon figure of Colonel O’Rorke. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Saturday, October 2, 2010.