Sculpted by Gary Casteel

1863 Signed and Numbered Limited Edition Monument Replicas
 
The 1st Corps went through three commanders in the three days of the Battle of Gettysburg. The first, General John F. Reynolds, was mortally wounded early in the fighting on July 1, 1863. The second, senior division commander, General Abner Doubleday, then assumed command.
 
By all reports General Doubleday performed well in a difficult situation, but General George Meade had a low opinion of his abilities and replaced him with General John Newton, a division commander from the 6th Corps. General Newton led the 1st Corps through the defense of Pickett's Charge. General Doubleday returned to his division command even though he was senior to Newton. After Doubleday was lightly wounded on the last day of the battle, he permanently left the army, with a lifelong grudge against Meade. General Newton retained command of the 1st Corps until the Army of the Potomac was reorganized in 1864 for Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign. The 1st Corps was dissolved, and Newton was sent to the Army of the Cumberland.
 
General Newton discussed his assumption of command at the Battle of Gettysburg in his after-action report:
 
July 2.--In obedience to an order from Headquarters Army of the Potomac, dated July 1, I reported in person to the general commanding, at the cemetery gate, early in the morning of this day, and assumed command of the First Corps. I found the First Division (Brigadier-General Wadsworth) occupying the high wooded hill and sloped immediately on the right of General Howard's position on Cemetery Hill, an important position, from which it was not detached during the subsequent operations at Gettysburg. Major-General Doubleday's (Third) division was in reserve behind the Eleventh Corps on Cemetery Hill. Brigadier-General Robinson's (Second) division was likewise posted on the Cemetery Hill, but on the left of the Eleventh Corps, and facing to the left in the position afterward occupied by the Second Corps. The artillery of the corps, except one battery with the First Division, was posted on Cemetery Hill, and was not detached from this position during all the subsequent fighting.
 
This monument was dedicated in June of 1913 and is located south of Gettysburg on the south side of Pleasonton Avenue.