Gen. John Sedgwick’s 6th Corps Headquarters Marker

Description

Sculpted by Gary Casteel
Size:  5” x 5” x 11”
Weight:  1.95lbs
1863 Signed and Numbered Limited Edition Monument Replicas
As the Battle of Gettysburg opened on July 1, 1863, the Union Sixth Corps, the largest in the Army of the Potomac, was among the farthest Union formations from the town.   After being ordered by Gen. George Meade to hurry his men along, Gen. John Sedgwick pushed his corps of over 10,000 men from Manchester, Maryland on the evening of July 1st along the hot, dusty roads to reach the battlefield about 5 p.m. on the afternoon of July 2nd, in time to free the Fifth Corps to help blunt Longstreet’s assault on the Union left.  It was one of the epic marches of the war.  The men with the Greek crosses on their jackets or caps were among the best of the veteran fighters.
Sedgwick heard the boom of cannon from miles away as he approached, and when he reached the field with his lead division, he headed it toward the sound of the heaviest fighting.  Without pausing to rest, Gen. Sedgwick sent his men where they were needed.  Some rushed to the Wheatfield to aid Crawford’s Pennsylvania Reserves.  Some were dispatched to Culp’s Hill.  The bulk were placed in reserve.  One brigade, Nevin's, arrived on the front line near Little Round Top in time to take part in turning back the Confederates' last lunge of the day.
As his brigades were parceled out and put under other officers, Sedgwick observed "he might as well go home."  It was a huge disappointment for a man who at Chancellorsville had commanded two more corps and a division beside his own.  It was also a serious waste of ability--Sedgwick was one of the very few Union generals with experience at commanding multiple corps.  Following the Union victory at Gettysburg, Sedgwick took part in the pursuit of Lee's defeated army.
Only 242 men from the entire Sixth Corps fell as casualties at Gettysburg, less than many regiments.  Never directly engaged, the corps’ casualties were practically all from picket activity and long-range shelling.
This monument was dedicated in 1913 and is located south of Gettysburg on the west side of Sedgwick Avenue.
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