Myth, Memory, and Honor

Spangler's Spring was a place of myth, memory, and honor at Gettysburg. On July 3, from the hill behind this location, the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry attacked Confederates on Culp's Hill. During a lull in the battle, enemy combatants filled their canteens here. Legend says they called a truce, but there is little evidence to support this. The slaughter here was devastating, a terrible memory veterans could not forget. They believed this to be hallowed ground, a place to honor their fallen comrades. In 1879, the 2nd Massachusetts erected the first permanent regimental monument at Gettysburg. The survivors' inscription read, in part, "To perpetuate the honored memories of that hour, the survivors of this Regiment have raised this stone. 1879." Soon other Union regiments returned to dedicate monuments memorializing their deeds and their fallen comrades.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania · United States