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Monuments at Gettysburg – 74th Pennsylvania Infantry
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on December 11, 2014
The 74th Pennsylvania Infantry Monument at Gettysburg is located north of the town of Gettysburg at West Howard Avenue. It was dedicated in 1888 by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. A drawing of the monument (above) was available 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 74th Pennsylvania Infantry.
A full description of the monument, its GPS coordinates, a photograph, and some of the history of the 74th 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 74th Pennsylvania Infantry in its article on the monument dedications:
Where the Storm Was Terrible.
On the 2nd the 74th Regiment was posted in front of the batteries in the cemetery. Here it was joined by the men who had been sent on picket on the previous night, and to this position it clung through the terrible storm of battle of the two succeeding days, losing one officer and eight men killed and one officer and fifteen men wounded, a total loss in the entire battle of 136. Colonel Von Hartung, who was in command of the regiment, was severely wounded on the first day. Lieutenant Colonel Von Mitzell succeeded him, but was afterward taken prisoner, the comand then devolving on major C. Schleiter.
The monument of the 74th Infantry was dedicated on 2 July 188. The organization will march to the monument, the president of the association will make an address, as will also Colonel A. Von Hartung.
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Adolph VonHartung (1832-1902)
Adolph VonHartung commanded the 74th Pennsylvania Infantry at Gettysburg. He was born in Germany. On 5 August 1861 he joined Company A as its Captain and on an unknown date was transferred to headquarters. On 17 October 1862 he was promoted to Major, on 15 January 1863 to Lieutenant Colonel, and on 4 April 1863 he was promoted to Colonel, the position he held at the Battle of Gettysburg. On the 1st day at Gettysburg, Colonel VonHartung was wounded in the leg and Lieutenant Colonel Theodore VonMitzel took over for him.
Colonel VonHartung applied for a pension early on 29 July 1864 as a result of his war injuries. He died on 10 April 1902 and is buried at Louden Park Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland. More information about Colonel VonHartung can be found at his FindagraveMemorial.
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Theobold Alexander VonMitzel , second in command of the regiment, took over after Colonel VonHartung was wounded. Originally, he had served as Captain of Company K, but was transferred to headquarters, date unknown. Unfortunately for Major VonMitzel, he was captured at Gettysburg during the retreat of the regiment and sent to Libby Prison in Richmond where he was held as a Prisoner of War until he escaped on 11 May 1864. On 15 October 1864, he was re-united with the 74th Pennsylvania Infantry and was mustered in as a Lieutenant Colonel. The front side of his Pennsylvania Veterans’ File Card from the Pennsylvania Archives is shown above. No Findagrave Memorial has been found for him.
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Henry Krauseneck was the officer in command of one company at Gettysburg. He had enrolled as Captain of Company D at Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, although his residence was given as Allegheny County. Unfortunately for Captain Krauseneck he was charged with cowardice in the regiment’s retreat. The details of the charges can be found in War Department Special Orders #114 (24 May 1864) and #368 (27 October 1864). He was found guilt and given the opportunity to resign, which he did.
For further information on Henry Krauseneck, see Civil War Institute at Gettysburg article, “Cowardice at Gettysburg.”
No Findagrave Memorial has been found for 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 74th 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 the74th 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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