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Monuments at Gettysburg – 73rd Pennsylvania Infantry
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on December 9, 2014
The 73rd Pennsylvania InfantryMonument at Gettysburg is located south of the town of Gettysburg at The Angle. It was dedicated in 1889 by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as part of the large group completed for the 25th Anniversary. A drawing of the monument (above) was included in the Philadelphia Inquirer article describing the regimental histories and ceremonies that took place in 1889. For a picture of the monument, see Steven Recker’s Virtual Gettysburg Web Site which has more information about the monument and the 73rd Pennsylvania Infantry .
A full description of the monument, its GPS coordinates, two photographs, and some of the history of the 73rd Pennsylvania Infantry can be found on the Stone Sentinels Web Site.
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On 11 September 1889, the Philadelphia Inquirer included the following information on the 73rd Pennsylvania Infantry in its article on the monument dedications:
The 73rd There Three Days.
The 73rd had no field officers at Gettysburg and was commanded by senior Captain D. F. Kelly. As the rear of the Union forces was retiring through the town the 73rd was ordered forward and charged through the orchard just below the cemetery, checking the pursuit of the enemy and occupying the houses on either side of the Baltimore Pike. A brisk fire swept all the approaches and checked the enemy. On the 2nd the corps occupied a position like the letter V, the apex pointing toward the town and both the receding lines were frequently passed over by the enemy’s shells. The rebels advanced under the cover of Cemetery Hill and made one impetuous attack upon the brigade battery, but were repulsed by the 73rd and 27th. On the third day in the same position the regiment was exposed to the artillery fire from a circuit of two or three miles. The ceremonies will include an oration by G. T. R. Knorr; presentation of the monument to State Committee, W. W. Ker, Esq.; presentation to Gettysburg Monument Association, Colonel Vanderslice.
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Daniel F. Kelly commanded the 73rd Pennsylvania Infantry at Gettysburg.
Kelly enrolled as Captain of Company F on 11 September 1861 at Philadelphia and was mustered into service the same day. The Pennsylvania Veterans’ File Card (above) from the Pennsylvania Archives gives little information about him except his age of 24 and his residence of Philadelphia. It also notes that his last name is sometimes found on the rolls as Daniel F. Kelley and that he was discharged from service on 21 December 1863, but at this time it is not known why. Another record states that he was mustered out with his company on 23 June 1864.
Although there are many persons named Daniel F. Kelly (or Kelley) in Findagrave, no match has been located for the Captain who led the 73rd Pennsylvania Infantry at Gettysburg. Additional information is sought about him.
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Around the base of the Pennsylvania Memorial at Gettysburg are a series of plaques which, by regiment and company, note the names of every soldier who was present at the Battle of Gettysburg. The plaque for the 73rd Pennsylvania Infantry is pictured below. By clicking on the plaque it should enlarge so the names can be more clearly read. If a name does not appear, it could be that the soldier did serve in the 73rd Pennsylvania Infantry, but was not part of the regiment during its days in Gettysburg. There could also be errors on the plaque.
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The news clippings are from the on-line resources of the Free Library of Philadelphia.
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