The 126th was commanded by Colonel Eliakim Sherrill, who was a farmer and former US Congressman from Geneva. Sherrill took over command after Colonel Willard was killed near the Codon Farm. Lt Col James M Bull ten took over command for the entire regiment until he was mortally wounded during Pickett's charge on the third, where the monument now stands.
The 125th, the 111th and the 126th, had been nicknamed the Harper Ferry Cowards because of their unwilling surrender at Antietam in 1862. The unit spent a miserable winter as prisoners in a Union war camp until they were exchanged, and got a chance to clear their name at Gettysburg.
Three soldiers from the 126th were awarded the Medal of Honor: Captain Morris Brown Je, Private Jerry Wall, both of which captured enemy flags. Sgt George H Dore was awarded when "the colors being struck down by a shell as the enemy were charging, this soldier rushed out and seized it, exposing himself to the fire of both sides."
3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, Second Corps
The 125th, the 111th and the 126th, had been nicknamed the Harper Ferry Cowards because of their unwilling surrender at Antietam in 1862. The unit spent a miserable winter as prisoners in a Union war camp until they were exchanged, and got a chance to clear their name at Gettysburg.
Three soldiers from the 126th were awarded the Medal of Honor: Captain Morris Brown Je, Private Jerry Wall, both of which captured enemy flags. Sgt George H Dore was awarded when "the colors being struck down by a shell as the enemy were charging, this soldier rushed out and seized it, exposing himself to the fire of both sides."
3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, Second Corps
The 126th was commanded by Colonel Eliakim Sherrill, who was a farmer and former US Congressman from Geneva. Sherrill took over command after Colonel Willard was killed near the Codon Farm. Lt Col James M Bull ten took over command for the entire regiment until he was mortally wounded during Pickett's charge on the third, where the monument now stands.
The 125th, the 111th and the 126th, had been nicknamed the Harper Ferry Cowards because of their unwilling surrender at Antietam in 1862. The unit spent a miserable winter as prisoners in a Union war camp until they were exchanged, and got a chance to clear their name at Gettysburg.
Three soldiers from the 126th were awarded the Medal of Honor: Captain Morris Brown Je, Private Jerry Wall, both of which captured enemy flags. Sgt George H Dore was awarded when "the colors being struck down by a shell as the enemy were charging, this soldier rushed out and seized it, exposing himself to the fire of both sides."
3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, Second Corps
The 125th, the 111th and the 126th, had been nicknamed the Harper Ferry Cowards because of their unwilling surrender at Antietam in 1862. The unit spent a miserable winter as prisoners in a Union war camp until they were exchanged, and got a chance to clear their name at Gettysburg.
Three soldiers from the 126th were awarded the Medal of Honor: Captain Morris Brown Je, Private Jerry Wall, both of which captured enemy flags. Sgt George H Dore was awarded when "the colors being struck down by a shell as the enemy were charging, this soldier rushed out and seized it, exposing himself to the fire of both sides."
3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, Second Corps
Inscription
126th New York Infantry
3d Brig. 3d Div.
2d Corps
—-
July 3d 1863
The regiment was in position two hundred yards at the left, July 2 until 7 p.m., when the brigade was conducted thirteen hundred yards farther to the left and the regiment with the 111th N.Y. and 125th N.Y., charged the enemy in the swale, near the source of Plum Run, driving them there from and advancing one hundred and seventy five yards beyond, towards the Emmitsburg Road, to a position indicated by a monument on Sickles Avenue. At dark the regiment returned to near its former position. In the afternoon of July 3rd it took this position and assisted in repulsing the charge of the enemy, capturing three stands of colors and many prisoners.
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