Gettysburg Sculptures

An original postcard (copyright 1903) showing the location of the John Burns Statue along the original unfinished park road. Behind Burns foot and directly in-line can be seen the monument to the 150th Pennsylvania Infantry dedicated in 1889.

 Another vintage postcard showing the original location of the Burns Statue. Note the improved road that still continues straight towards Reynolds Woods.

 A modern photograph of the current location of the Burns Statue. Notice Burns is advanced westward in regards to the 150th Pennsylvania Infanty Monument (circled in red) and is no longer in-line.

A portion of the 1914 Gettysburg National Park Commission Map showing the straight road in front of the John Burns statue as well as the 14th Brooklyn monument. This road would later be improved to add the curve we use today.

If one stands behind or east of the current location of the Burns Statue the original base or location can still be found. The statue has been turned slightly to follow the curve in the road.

The monument for the first position held by the 14th Brooklyn (84th New York) Infantry was also moved. Orginially it was in-line with the Burns Statue along the unfinished road.

Today one can find located to the east the original location of the 14th Brooklyn's first position monument.

Modern view looking north from the original location of the 14th Brooklyn Infantry monument's base (blue arrow). The 150th Pennsylvania Infantry monument (circled in red). 

These monuments would have aligned with the 150th Pennsylvania Infantry monument (yellow arrow) as seen in the early postcards of the Burns statue. The post and pipe fence would have been to the right of this view. The Burns statue can be seen to the left.

One of the first carte de visites (CDV) of Burns was taken by the Tyson Brothers of Gettysburg, Pa. in 1863. Burns, because of his actions on July 1st, would become one of the most memorialized citizens of Gettysburg. 

Burns would also be photographed in various poses often holding a musket. Burns would in many cases autograph these images and sell the images to help his income. 

A small Redware clay canteen that measures approx. 1-3/8" in diameter is attributed to Henry Speece & Son potter's, located in Gettysburg. As described in their advertisement these souvenirs were "made from material taken from the most historic portions of the field, they are themselves relics."    The likeness of John Burns can be seen in the center of the Redware canteen.

John Good a Gettysburg cabinet maker would make small relic displays. Good would use relics found on the battlefield to make and sell these displays. The display pictured measures approx. 3-1/4" long x 2" wide would have had a small image of John Burns (see red arrow). The image of Mary Virginia "Jennie" Wade (shown) was the only civilian killed during the battle.

The underside of the John Good relic display mentions John Burns and his July 1st actions. Unfortunately the Burns image is gone.

A vintage postcard showing the home of John Burns and his statue. Burns can be seen sitting on the upper porch of his home days after the battle. The original house is now gone bur was located on the south east corner of West Street and the Chambersburg Pike.

The grave of John and his wife Barbara located in Evergreen Cemetery, Gettysburg, Pa. 

"Patriot"

A person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors.

The grave of John Burns flys the flag of the United States of America, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.