51st PA Monument Unveiled

On Saturday Oct. 8th the 51st Regt. Pa. Vols. unveiled a very fine Granite Tablet to the memory of their comrades who fell in the charge when Burnside Bridge was captured.

The Tablet is 4 feet, 4 inches, high: 32 feet, 1 inch, wide; 1 foot, 10 inches, deep; and is mounted on the end of the South wing wall of the bridge. The North side of the Tablet bears the name of the killed in that famous charge.

On the East side is the inscription: “Erected by the survivors of the 51st Regt. Pa. Vols., to commemorate their Comrades who fell in taking this bridge in the battle between the Federal and Confederate forces Sept. 17, 1862.

On the South side; Omitted. Private, Charles Keyser, Co. A.

On the West side; 51st Pa. V. was organized Sept., 1861 by Col., afterwards Maj. Gen. John F. Hartranft, its leader in many battles and in this charge. Mustered out July, 1865. Engaged in 20 battles, 18 minor contests and numerous skirmishes. Total death roll, 314.”

The Tablet is surmounted by a tenor drum, lying on its side. On the snare end of the drum is the badge of the Ninth Army Corps – a shield and a cannon crossed, and on the batter end is the inscription, “51st P.V.”