During the battle of Gettysburg, the 71st Pennsylvania was assigned to the position that today is called the Bloody Angle or the High Water Mark of the Confederacy. On July 3rd, the commander of the regiment, Col. Richard Penn Smith, assigned eight companies to the front of the stone wall and two companies approximately 200 feet behind at the inner angle. After the bombardment that preceded Pickett's Charge, Col. Smith had ordered his executive officer, Lt. Col. Charles Kochersperger, to occupy the front stone wall until it became untenable. After that, he was to reform his line back at the inner angle with the other two companies, thereby closing the 200 foot gap in the line. After the bombardment that preceded Pickett's Charge, the men of the 71st Pennsylvania moved forward to the stone wall, along with the last functioning cannon from Cushing's battery. Using multiple loaded riffles and manning the last remaining cannon, the 71st Pennsylvania inflicted heavy casualties upon the Confederate soldiers of Pickett's Charge. When the Confederate soldiers were too close for the men of the 71st Pennsylvania to reload, Lt. Col. Kochersperger ordered the eight companies back to the inner angle. At the same time, the 72nd Pennsylvania moved forward to bring its guns to bear. The combined firepower of the 71st Pennsylvania and the 72nd Pennsylvania, along with the mortal wounding of General Lewis Armistead, were part of the final effort to bring a halt to Pickett's Charge.
In 1887, the State of Pennsylvania authorized $1,500 for monuments to be erected to commemorate Pennsylvania regiments at the Gettysburg Battlefield. The men of the 71st Pennsylvania, who had formed the Association of Survivors of the 71st Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, or California Regiment, worked on locating the monument at the appropriate place on the battlefield and worked on the design of the monument. The monument itself is composed of rough dressed Westerly granite from Rhode Island. On July 3rd, 1887, the monument was dedicated before a crowd of approximately 2,000 people in attendance. Speaking at the dedication of the monument was John Frazier, a former officer with the 71st Pennsylvania; General William Burns, a former commander of the Philadelphia Brigade; and former regimental commander General Isaac Wistar.
References:
Lash, Gary W., 2001, Duty Well Done - Edward Baker's California Regiment (71st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry): Butternut and Blue, 623 p.
Nicholson, John P., 1914, Pennsylvania at Gettysburg, 2nd Edition (1914 version): Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Wm. Stanley Ray, State Printer.
During the battle of Gettysburg, the 71st Pennsylvania was assigned to the position that today is called the Bloody Angle or the High Water Mark of the Confederacy. On July 3rd, the commander of the regiment, Col. Richard Penn Smith, assigned eight companies to the front of the stone wall and two companies approximately 200 feet behind at the inner angle. After the bombardment that preceded Pickett's Charge, Col. Smith had ordered his executive officer, Lt. Col. Charles Kochersperger, to occupy the front stone wall until it became untenable. After that, he was to reform his line back at the inner angle with the other two companies, thereby closing the 200 foot gap in the line. After the bombardment that preceded Pickett's Charge, the men of the 71st Pennsylvania moved forward to the stone wall, along with the last functioning cannon from Cushing's battery. Using multiple loaded riffles and manning the last remaining cannon, the 71st Pennsylvania inflicted heavy casualties upon the Confederate soldiers of Pickett's Charge. When the Confederate soldiers were too close for the men of the 71st Pennsylvania to reload, Lt. Col. Kochersperger ordered the eight companies back to the inner angle. At the same time, the 72nd Pennsylvania moved forward to bring its guns to bear. The combined firepower of the 71st Pennsylvania and the 72nd Pennsylvania, along with the mortal wounding of General Lewis Armistead, were part of the final effort to bring a halt to Pickett's Charge.
In 1887, the State of Pennsylvania authorized $1,500 for monuments to be erected to commemorate Pennsylvania regiments at the Gettysburg Battlefield. The men of the 71st Pennsylvania, who had formed the Association of Survivors of the 71st Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, or California Regiment, worked on locating the monument at the appropriate place on the battlefield and worked on the design of the monument. The monument itself is composed of rough dressed Westerly granite from Rhode Island. On July 3rd, 1887, the monument was dedicated before a crowd of approximately 2,000 people in attendance. Speaking at the dedication of the monument was John Frazier, a former officer with the 71st Pennsylvania; General William Burns, a former commander of the Philadelphia Brigade; and former regimental commander General Isaac Wistar.
References:
Lash, Gary W., 2001, Duty Well Done - Edward Baker's California Regiment (71st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry): Butternut and Blue, 623 p.
Nicholson, John P., 1914, Pennsylvania at Gettysburg, 2nd Edition (1914 version): Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Wm. Stanley Ray, State Printer.
Inscription
From the front of the monument:
California Regiment
71 Pennsylvania Vols. commanded by Col. R. Penn Smith carried into action 24 officers 307 enlisted men
Casualties
Killed 2 officers 19 enlisted men
Wounded 3 officers 55 enlisted men
Missing 3 officers 16 enlisted men
Total 98.
2. Brig. 2. Div. 2. Corps.
From the rear:
Philadelphia Brigade
To the left of this point on July 2, the 71st Penna. assisted in repulsing the furious attack of Wright's Ga. Brig. During the terrific cannonading of July 3, the regiment occupied a position 60 yards in the rear of this spot, a number of the men voluntarily helping to work Cushing's disabled Battery. As the enemy emerged from Seminary Ridge the regiment was ordered forward, the left wing to this point, the right to the right in the rear. When Pickett's Division rushed upon the wing in overwhelming numbers it fell back into line with the right, thus bringing the whole regiment into action, with the additional use of a large number of loaded muskets gathered from the battle field of the previous day. The Regiment captured a number of prisoners and three flags.
From the left side:
Patriotism
This Regiment was organized April 29,1861. Being the first 3 year regiment to complete its organization, it was enlisted in Philadelphia by Senator E.D. Baker and Isaac J. Wistar by special authority from the War Department to be credited to the State of California and was known as the "California Regiment." After the death of Colonel E.D. Baker at Ball's Bluff, Oct. 21, 1861, it was claimed by its native state and became the 71. Pennsylvania.
From the right side:
Heroism
The 71. Pennsylvania participated in all the principal battles of the Army of the Potomac and most of the minor ones until mustered out at the expiration of its term of service July 2, 1864. It numbered during its service nearly 2300 men. The total loss during that period being about 1800.
On the base of the monument, northwest corner:
Smith Granite Co
Westerly, R.I.
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