| Birth: | unknown | | Death: | unknown | 
This monument, dedicated in June 1886, marks the spot where brigade commander Colonel Edward Cross (of the 5th New Hampshire) was mortally wounded during the Second Day of the Battle of Gettysburg (July 2,1863). The 5th New Hampshire, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Charles E. Hapgood, fielded 179 officers and men when it went into action to defend the collapsing II Corps Line in the Wheatfield and Rose Woods. Colonel Cross placed the 5th NH on the very left of the brigade line, and the unit fought through the woods east of the Wheatfield when the brigade advanced (it was the first wave of the attack on Confederates of Anderson's division in the Rose Woods). As the regiment neared the South end of the Wheatfield, Colonel Cross, directing the action while behind the 5th NH line, was mortally wounded by a Confederate sniper. Lt. Col. Hapgood, witnessing the shot, directed 19-yead old Sergeant Charles E. Phelps of Company I to bring down the Rebel soldier, which he did. The unit advanced further into the Rose Woods, and fought there for two hours against Georgia and Mississippi troops until its ammunition ran out, and it was relieved by men from the V Corps. A smaller marker for the regiment stands on Sickle Avenue, south of the Wheatfield to mark where they unit did most of its fighting. The 5th New Hampshire lost 79 of its men as casualties, with 33 being killed or mortally wounded, including Colonel Cross himself, and 2nd Lieutenant Ruel G. Austin of Company A. Sergeant Phelps was mortally wounded in the back after killing the sniper who brought down Colonel Cross. Lt. Colonel Hapgood would continue to lead the regiment unit his severe wounding on June 16, 1864 in front of Petersburg, Virginia. The 5th New Hampshire has the distinction of suffering the most battle deaths of any Union regiment through the course of the entire Civil War, with 295 killed soldiers in action. (bio by: Russ Dodge)
Search Amazon for 5th New Hampshire Infantry Monument | | | Burial:
Gettysburg National Military Park
Gettysburg
Adams County
Pennsylvania, USA
Plot: Ayres Avenue, Rose Grove, South of Wheatfield |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Record added: Apr 29, 2001
Find A Grave Memorial# 21958 |
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