The start of the Civil War started with the proclamation that Abraham Lincoln was voted in as President. Due to this, the first start to succeed from the Union was South Carolina on December 20, 1860. The last state was Tennessee on June 8, 1861. Respectively, the monument for the Tennessee regiments on the Gettysburg battlefield is also the last one to be dedicated. It was dedicated on the second day of the 119th anniversary in 1982. The monument was paid only by private donations. The monument is dedicated to the soldiers that fought within the three regiments that fought here. During the dedication, the monument was covered with cotton sheets that were sewn together that was donated by Tennesseans.
The three regiments that were associated within Archer’s Brigade of Heth’s Division. As they arrived into Pennsylvania on June 30th, approximately 688 soldiers and 87 officers were ready for battle. The first Tennessee was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel (Lt. Col) Newton George and Major Felix Buchanan. The 7th Tennessee was commanded by Col. John Fite and Lt. Col. Samuel Spherad. The 14th Tennessee was commanded by Capt. Bruce Phillips.
On July 1st, the regiments took part within the initial heavy fighting against Buford’s dismounted Cavalry and the Iron Brigade near McPherson’s Ridge. Looking below the pink color of the initial wave of fighting was between 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. and where the brighter red lines are from 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. as they pushed the Union in retreat. However, during the first encounter within the enemy, the 2nd Wisconsin and 7th Wisconsin pushed forward and captured General James Archer. The red arrows show the retreat of the initial wave of the 13th Alabama and the three regiments of Tennessee.
On July 3rd, all three regiments took part within the Pickett-Pettigrew-Trimble Charge. All the regiments made it somewhere close to the stone wall north of the Angle and briefly breached the Federal lines. The 1st Tennessee lost three color bearers and the 14th Tennessee lost four color bearers, and the battle flags were captured by the 14th Connecticut Infantry. However, the 7th Tennessee was slightly different. They too lost 3 color bearers. As the flags were almost captured, Captain Archibald Debow Norris tore the flag away from the staff, and stuffed it under his uniform, and safely returned it to Confederate lines. This regimental flag was the only one that didn’t fall into enemy hands from the Tennessee regiments.
Overall, at the Battle of Gettysburg, Tennessee lost the following men:
1st Tennessee: 6 killed, 67 wounded, and 105 missing/captured
7th Tennessee: 5 killed, 26 wounded, and 80 missing/captured
14th Tennessee: 5 killed, 25 wounded, and 97 missing/captured
