Early mounted photograph of one of the most unique and interesting monuments on the Gettysburg battlefield- the monument to the 2nd Maryland Infantry (Confederate). Located southeast of town on Culp’s Hill, this monument was the first Confederate monument on the battlefield and met a great deal of resistance from authorities who bristled at the idea of allowing specific Confederate regimental monuments on the field. A compromise was reached in 1884, the stone would reflect the name “2nd Maryland Infantry” even though the unit was known as the “1st Maryland Battalion” in July 1863. Two different Union-affiliated units had also been designated as the “1st Maryland” at the battle, including the Union 1st Maryland Eastern Shore who the 1st Maryland Battalion on Culp’s Hill. The Confederate 1st Maryland was in fact redesignated to the 2nd Maryland in 1864.

The survivors agreed to use the latter designation and the monument was placed. Of note is that a close inspection of the monument today will show what appears to be an “amateur” modification to the granite that corrects the record (“1st MD Changed to” above “2nd Maryland Infantry, C.S.A”). The 2nd Maryland suffered nearly 50% casualties during the fight on Culp’s Hill, even losing their mascot, a dog named Grace, to the fighting. She was buried on the field.





[Antique Photography, Daguerreotype, Ambrotype, Albumen, carte-de-visite, CDV, Tintype] [Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Civil War, Union, Confederate, Ulysses S. Grant, US Grant, Robert E. Lee, Abraham Lincoln]