Pennsylvania monuments at Antietam
There are two monuments to the 51st Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment at Antietam. This first is on Branch Avenue (Branch Avenue North tour map), the second is on the east side of Burnside’s Bridge (Burnside Bridge tour map).
The regiment was commanded at Antietam by Colonel John F. Hartranft, a lawyer and militia lieutenant colonel in Norristown. The 51st Pennsylvania, along with the 51st New York, were the two regiments that successfully stormed Burnside’s Bridge and led the attack to the outskirts of Sharpsburg.
Branch Avenue monument
The Branch Avenue monument to the 51st Pennsylvania was dedicated on September 17, 1904.
Text from the Branch Avenue monument:
51st
PENNSYLVANIA
VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
2nd Brigade 2nd Division
9th Corps
Location 385 yds South
70 Degrees East
Casualties at Antietam
Killed 21
Wounded 99
Total 120
Recruited in Montgomery
Northampton Union Centre
Lycoming and Snyder
Counties
Battles participated in
Roanoke Island
Newbern Camden
Second Bull Run
Chantilly
South Mountain
Antietam
Fredericksburg
Vicksburg Jackson
Cambell’s Station
Knoxville Wilderness
Spotsylvania
North Anna Cold Harbor
Petersburg The Crater
Reams Station
Weldon Railroad
Hatcher’s Run
Assault on Petersburg
Bronze bas-relief from the rear of the monument showing its charge over Burnside’s Bridge
Location of the Branch Avenue monument
The monument is on the east side of Branch Avenue about 1/3 of a mile south of Burnside Bridge Road. (39°27’04.4″N 77°44’24.1″W)
Burnside’s Bridge monument
The monument to the 51st Pennsylvaina at Burnside’s Bridge was dedicated in 1906. For many years this monument, along with those of the 35th Massachusetts and the 21st Massachusetts, were mounted on the corners of the Burnside Bridge. In the early 1960s auto trafic was moved to a new bridge upstream, the Burnside Bridge was restored, and the monuments were moved to the east bank.
Text from the west side of the Burnside’s Bridge monument:
51st P.V.
The 51st Regt. P.V.
was organized Sept. 1861
by Col., afterwards,
Maj. Gen. John. F. Hartranft,
its leader in many battles and in
this charge.
Mustered out July 1865
Engaged in 20 battles,
18 minor combats and
numerous skirmishes.
Total death roll 314.
Text from the north side of the monument:
The following comrades were killed :
Lieut. Col. Thos. S. Bell
Private James Coulston, Co. A
Private William Somerlot, Co. A
1st Lieut. David Hunsicker, Co. C
Private David McKane, Co. C
Private Simon P. Emery, Co. C
Private George Mayberry, Co. D
Private John Hallowell, Co. C
Private William Comer, Co. F
Private Henry S. Lentz, Co. F
Private Henry Shultz, Co. F
Private James Dowling, Co. G
Private Miles Dillen, Co. G
Private William Wanrick, Co. G
Private Wallis Wiggins, Co. G
1st Sergt. Matthew Vandine, Co.G
1st Lieut. Jacob G.Beaver,Co. H
Private Isaac Beck, Co. H
Private Edward Bear, Co. H
Private Levi Marks, Co. H
Private Isaac Wittes, Co. H
Private Thomas P. Davis, Co. I
Sergt. Albert Snyder, Co. K
And 84 others wounded.
Text from the south side:
Omitted
Private Charles Keyser, Co. A
5th Sergt. Richard J. Williams, Co. B
8th Corp. George W. Bird, Co. B
Private David S. Hutman, Co. B
Private Henry G. Moore, Co. B
Text from the east side:
Erected by the survivors of the
51st Regt. Pa. Vols.
to commemorate their
comrades who fell in
taking this bridge in the
battle between the Federal
and Confederate forces.
Sept. 17, 1862
Location of the Burnside’s Bridge monument
The monument is on the east side of Burnside’s Bridge over Antietam Creek. (39°27’02.6″N 77°43’53.5″W)