149th Monument at Gettysburg
TRANSFER
OF MONUMENT
BY CAPT. GEORGE K. COLLINS
CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN:
I will take your time, knowing how precious it is, for only a few moments.
performing the present task which has been assigned me, it seems proper that I
should say a few words in relation to the history of this monument.
Four
five years ago Major Coville
and myself visited this battlefield, and found our late friend and comrade, Gen.
Henry A. Barnum. At that
time several of the states had monuments marking positions of regiments, and of
the places of interest were well known and designated by tablets and other
things to mark locations. Every one we met was talking about the " Bloody
Angle", "Pickett's Charge," Little Round Top, "Devil's
Den," and the " Railroad Cut " back of Seminary Ridge. But only
one or two monuments had been erected to honor the men of the great State of New
York, and these by private contribution; and Culp's Hill was little known and seldom
visited, except by those who had been engaged there. This state of affairs was
deplored by our party, and before we separated we pledged ourselves, to another,
that we would see a monument erected in honor of our beloved regiment on this
spot, where so many of our valiant men shed their blood in defense of the
country on that memorable July 2 and 3, 1863. When returned home it was our
intention at once to commence the task of raising funds; but we were soon
informed by General Barnum that it had been proposed by a few patriotic citizens
to introduce a bill in the legislature the State of New York, for the purpose'
of honoring its different commands on this battlefield by erecting memorial
monuments in their behalf. As you shell know, under a bill subsequently passed,
General Sickles, General Slocum, and others were appointed commissioners, and
provisions were made which each regiment and separate command from the State of
New York, taking part in this engagement, had $ I,5OO set apart to it for a
monument on this battlefield.
At the first reunion of
the regiment after our visit, Col. Abel
G. Cook, Col. Henry N.
Burhans, Maj. Thomas
Merriam, Maj. Orson Coville, Com. Gebhardt and myself were selected as a
committee to supervise and attend to the erection of a monument at this place,
and at the head of that committee it was the pleasure of the regiment to
designate myself as chairman. This committee was subsequently added the name of
our honored chairman, Col. Nicholas
Grumbach, and that of Gen. Henry A. Barnum, since deceased. This monument
committee at once entered into a contract with the Smith Granite Company for the
erection of a monument, which contract was ratified adopted by the New York
Commission. Three years ago with other members of the old Third Brigade, we came
here to dedicate what had been repaired
by this company; but on assembling, the structure presented was so far from a compliance
with the specifications of the contract, we refused to accept it and called upon
the New York Commission for its rejection. This after a long and tedious delay
was finally done and a new monument was contracted for which now stands before
you. I trust it meets the approval of every comrade present, and will give
pleasure and be a matter of pride to every member of this regiment that shall
hereafter visit this battlefield.
One word more in reference
to the design on the tablet, and my pleasing task is ended. When a design was
first broached, a statue placed on a suitable pedestal was suggested, and a
pleasing and an appropriate subject was sought after. The courageous act of
Color Sergeant William C. Lilly, who during the engagement at this place saw the
staff of his colors while standing on yon Breastwork shot in twain, gathered up
the pieces and coolly, under fire, mended the broken member with splints from a
cracker box and straps from his knapsack, was recalled. It resulted in a design
drafted by Comrade George J. Sager, representing this act of heroism of our
color bearer.
Afterwards a tablet was
suggested by General Barnum showing breastworks and men under fire placed behind
it; this resulted in the embodiment of the ideas blended in one design. With
this in mind the drawings which had already been made with the suggestions of
different members of the committee submitted to the great war artist, Edwin Forbes,
who elaborated and perfected a design on canvas from which this tablet was
modeled in clay, and a mould perfected in plaster by Mr. Ralph Cook of Syracuse,
in the employ of Francis & Co., the contractors and erectors of this
monument. Whatever honor there is in unfolding and perfecting this design is due
to the several persons whom I have named.
And now it is my pleasure
and honor to turn this monument over to the Battlefield Memorial Association, in
whose charge henceforth it will remain. Closing, I desire to add as historian,
as well as a member of the regiment, that I feel justified in saying it stands
here the memorial tribute to as gallant a regiment
as ever wielded a sword or shouldered a musket.
