Sculpted by Gary Casteel
1863 Signed and Numbered Limited Edition Monument Replicas
Formed in August 1862, the 13th New Jersey was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Col. Ezra A. Carman. They arrived on the field around 5 pm on July 1, 1863, with 360 men in their ranks and suffered casualties of 1 killed and 20 men wounded during the battle.
The 13th New Jersey would be witness to and play a peripheral role in one of the storied incidents of the battle the morning of July 3rd. By way of a mistaken or misunderstood order two regiments of the brigade, the 2nd Massachusetts and the 27th Indiana, were ordered to make an ill-fated charge across Spangler’s Meadow against the strongly posted Confederate line. Probably the 13th would have been ordered to make the advance along with the 2nd Massachusetts, had it not been for the fact that the Hoosiers were in reserve behind the Jersey men and thus it was easier for them to go forward rather than pulling the 13th off the line. In any event, the men of the regiment could only watch helplessly as their comrades advanced into a murderous fire. The 13th extracted a small measure of satisfaction though by providing covering fire for their comrades as they fell back. The steady firing of the 13th was then instrumental in driving back the Confederates who ventured across the field in pursuit of the retreating 27th Indiana.
While most of the heavy fighting for Culp’s Hill on the morning of July 3 took place farther up the slopes away from the 13th New Jersey, Col. Carman’s men stayed busy through the day trading shots with the Confederate skirmishers and sharpshooters.
By 7:30 on the evening of the 3rd the firing on Culp’s Hill was over. However, the men of the 13th still would not get some much-needed rest for several hours to come; they, along with two other regiments, were ordered to move to the support of cavalry guarding the right flank of the Army of the Potomac. Over four miles and nearly four hours later, the 13th New Jersey was able to bivouac for the night.
The 13th New Jersey monument is located somewhat off the beaten path, on a knoll overlooking Rock Creek which is where their colors stood on July 3, 1863. This memorial, designed by members of the regiment, contains one of the finest bas relief carvings on the battlefield.
This monument was dedicated on July 1, 1887 and is located on the west side of Carman Avenue about 70 yards east of the intersection with Colgrove Avenue.
