Gettysburg Sculptures
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Gettysburg Sculptures
United States
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Featured Monument:
11th Pennsylvania Infantry Regimental Monument
Bronze sculpture by sculptor E. A. Kretschman
Located midway along Doubleday Ave. (see Google map link at bottom of page)
(hover over the lower right corner of photo and a magnifying glass icon will appear. Click on the icon to enlarge the photo)
11th Pennsylvania Infantry Monument
Dedicated September 3. 1890
Cost: $2255.00
Bronze Cast by: Bureau Brothers, Philadelphia, PA.
Weight of Bronze Statue: Approx. 1000 Lbs.
Bronze Statue Height: Approx. 6 feet
The bronze statue of the 11th Pennsylvania Infantry is one of the most detailed bronze statues at Gettysburg. The facial expression of the young soldier shows much determination as he scans the distant fields.
The sculptor has included the torn coat sleeve as if nipped by a passing bullet. 
In most cases, if time permitted, prior to entering a battle the soldier would remove his knapsack or bed roll. Here we see the soldier carrying only the bare essentials as he enters into battle.
As the men entered the fighting of the 1st day, "Rowley (3rd Division, 1st Corps Commander Brig. Gen Thomas Rowley) issued orders for his men to unsling their knapsacks and load their muskets."
While in battle soldiers would often button only the top button of their coats in case they wanted to remove the coat quickly. Here we see the unbuttoned coat and the opened percussion cap box worn by the soldier on his belt secured with the brass US oval belt buckle.
The sewn patch on the elbow of the coat attests to the hardship endured by these soldiers. (a patch is also present on the left knee as well as a tear in the pant leg.)
The M1858 "smoothside" canteen rests on a tarred haversack. Used to carry their food items, these haversacks were made of canvas and covered by a tar type substance to make them waterproof. The sculptor portrayed the fact that many of the northern soldiers entering the battle would have very little food by sculpting an empty haversack.
The bayonet remained in the scabbard during most fighting in the civil war. One of the most documented uses for the bayonet was as a candle holder while in camp.
The detail of the rifle sling includes both the stiching as well as the brass rivets used to secure the end of the sling.
A detailed view of the soldiers hand as it grasps the stock of the rifle. Note the minor imperfection (porosity) on the bronze casting of the trigger guard.
The detail in the shoes or "brogans" looks authentic.
Gettysburg Sculptures
United States