Gettysburg Sculptures

Delaware Memorial

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Dedicated: April 29th, 2000

Bronze bas-relief by sculptor Ron Tunison, cast by Tallix Foundry, New York. 

The granite portion of the memorial was designed by W. Barksdale Maynard. The memorial stands 11' in height and 8' wide, and weighing 21 tons, the granite monument was quarried and carved by Rock of Ages in Barre, Vermont.

Mr. Maynard indicated during the design process, "I recall favoring the idea of a bas relief sculpture instead of a freestanding one for the Delaware Memorial. I have always been impressed by the Arch of Titus reliefs in Rome showing soldiers, and too many recent Civil War memorials had been badly done free-standing statues, it seemed to me."  Maynard would use the style of letters found on the Column of Trajan for the "Delaware."

The bronze relief depicts Delaware soldiers along Cemetery Ridge who, having helped repulse Longstreet's Charge, hurl themselves forward in a countercharge.

Framing the bronze relief are oak leaves and pine boughs. The oak leaves symbolize northern Delaware and the pine boughs southern Delaware.

A southern soldier surrenders to the advancing Delaware troops.

Lying beneath this fallen southern Color Sergeant is the flag he dedicated himself to carry. There are only a few  monuments at Gettysburg that depict the southern battle flag.Tunison has captured the fact that the southern army was ill supplied. Note the patched knee on the pants of the southern soldier.

Click on link below to find the location of this monument on the battlefield.

              http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=39.816464,-77.232326&spn=0.001784,0.003363&t=h&z=18&msid=115384869448164027979.0004969a0b67593f57dea 

The 1st Delaware Infantry counter attacks. In the background the Bryan farm can be seen.

A line officer of the 1st Delaware urges his men forward as bullets riddle the flags.

The facial expression of this Delaware soldier reflects the shock of being struck by a southern bullet.

With flag in hand and clenched fist, this northern Color Sergeant advances towards the southern troops.

A determined northern soldier eyes his retreating enemy.

A forage cap from a member of the 1st Delaware Infantry, 2nd Corps. 

The sculptor has placed his likeness on the southern soldier surrendering in the background.

  After the battle, the Gettysburg area would become infested with flys. The sculptor has included this fact by adding one to the bronze portion of the memorial. 

It appears in one of the other photographs I have posted.

Hint: Flys are attracted in this case to leaves.

Can you find it?