Monument to the 6th Pennsylvania Reserves Much Easier to Access

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<div class="divcap">The monument to the 6th Pennsylvania Reserves (35th Pennsylvania Regiment) is located on the John Weikert Farm, north of the Wheatfield Road. It was dedicated in September, 1890. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>

One of the least accessible memorials for the last couple of years has been the monument to the 6th Pennsylvania Reserves (35th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment). This summer, however, a path was opened (reopened) to the monument on the John Weikert Farm, near the Wheatfield Road.

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<div class="divcap">To get to the monument, drive on the Wheatfield Road towards Little Round Top. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">This was a beautiful fall day. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">With the lack of rain this summer, this is supposedly to be a bad year for the color of the leaves. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2009.</div>

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<div class="divcap">The recent rains appear to have helped. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">It could be a very colorful fall at Gettysburg. The Zook monument is coming up on the right. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">United States Brigadier General Samuel Zook was mortally wounded near this location on July 2, 1863. He was hit in the shoulder chest and abdomen and died in a house on the Baltimore Pike on July 3, 1863. The Zook marker/monument/shaft was dedicated on July 25, 1882. This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">The Wheatfield is clearly visible on the right and Little Round Top is in the right background. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">After we pass the Wheatfield, we'll take a right on Ayres Avenue and find a place to park. Little Round Top is hidden by the trees on the left. Big Round Top is in the right background. The monument on the right is to the 11th Pennsylvania Reserves (40th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment). This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">The monument to the 11th Pennsylvania Reserves was dedicated in September, 1890. This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">But we need to refocus on getting to the 6th Pennsylvania Reserves, which is in the left background. We'll walk along Ayres Avenue, cross the Wheatfield Road... This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">... and come to an opening in the fence. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">In the past, we've had to climb a fence at this location. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">Someone has done a great job clearing a nice wide path. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2009.</div>

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<div class="divcap">The large flat rock is not an obstacle. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">Past the rock, the trail was a little narrower. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">This view was taken facing north at approximately 5:45 PM on Wednesday, October 6, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">We've now come to a stone wall... This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">...where someone has created an easier access. This view was taken facing northeast circa 1888.</div>

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<div class="divcap">The John Weikert buildings are in the background. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">And here it is. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">Someone has recently placed a wreath by the monument. At this point you might be asking why, unless you had a relative in this unit, would you care about the 6th Pennsylvania Reserves? This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">There were 63 Medal of Honors (64 counting the one to be officially issued for Alonzo Cushing) awarded for the Battle of Gettysburg. Six of those Medal of Honors were to men in this unit. That's 9% of the Gettysburg Medal of Honors. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">The 19th Massachusetts Infantry had five members awarded Medals of Honor for Gettysburg. Three units, 1st Delaware, 14th Connecticut, and 126th New York each had three individuals awarded Medals of Honor. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2009.</div>

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<div class="divcap">By the way, someone has also cleared a little around the monument. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">The six Medals of Honor were awarded for the same incident, and all six citations are very similar. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">The late afternoon light and the composition of the monument did not allow the inscriptions to be easily read. Here's a readable section on the northwest side of the monument. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 5:45 PM on Wednesday, October 6, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">Here's the citation for the Medal of Honor awarded to John W. Hart: "Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company D, 6th Pennsylvania Reserves. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: Cumberland, Md. Birth: Germany. Date of issue: 3 August 1897. Citation: Was one of six volunteers who charged upon a log house near the Devil's Den, where a squad of the enemy's sharpshooters were sheltered, and compelled their surrender." This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">The next two photographs show some details from the south side of the monument. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">Of course, one can certainly criticize the criteria used for awarding these Medal of Honors, and doubt if they should have been issued at all. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">The fact remains, however, that with all the famous military units that fought in the Gettysburg Campaign, the one awarded the most Medal of Honors was the 6th Pennsylvania Reserves. Ponder that as you leave the monument's location. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>

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<div class="divcap">A location that until recently was not very accessible. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.</div>