by James G. Grindlay, Brevet Brigadier-General, U. S. V.
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Uniform of the 146th New York regiment. |
In “The century” for December, 1886 [see p. 298 of this volume], in the illustration, “View from the position of
Hazlett's battery on
Little Round Top,” it is stated, “the monument marks the position of the 91st Pennsylvania of
Weed's brigade.”
I beg to say that the location of the monument is exactly where the headquarters of the 146th: New York Volunteers were established and maintained during the
battle of Gettysburg.
Weed's brigade comprised the 140th and 146th New York and the 91st and 155th Pennsylvania Volunteers, and they formed the line of battle on
Little Round Top in the order as named from left to right.
The
Big Rock stands upon the summit of
Little Round Top, and was the headquarters of the 146th New York,
Colonel Kenner Garrard, and also brigade headquarters, when
Colonel Garrard succeeded
General Weed in command when the latter was killed.
The 146th New York occupied the ground immediately in front of the
Big Rock, and the center and colors of our regiment were opposite the rock — the 91st being on our right, as before stated; and
the extreme left of the 91st Pennsylvania was at least
one hundred yards to the right of the rock.
I am confirmed in this statement by correspondence with brother officers, among others
Major C. K. Dutton, of New York City, who writes me: “Your statement of the position of 146th is correct.
One thing
I do know, viz., that my company (H) was to the right of the rock, and several companies of the regiment on the right of my company before the 91st Pennsylvania came in line.
Jenkins,
Armstrong, and myself had our position a hundred feet to the right of the rock.”
The writer commanded the color company, and his memory is refreshed from the fact that at the reunion of the regiment at
Rome, N. Y., August 6th last, the subject was fully discussed and steps taken to erect a monument to mark the position, also by a recent examination of the maps and photographs of the field of battle at the residence of
General Sickles by a committee of our regiment.
Utica, N. Y., Dec. 26th, 1886.
