Gettysburg Monuments Vandalized- November 18 and 19, 1999

Gettysburg, Pa, November 22, 1999 - Park Protection Rangers at Gettysburg National Military Park are 

investigating incidents of vandalism that occurred on the Gettysburg battlefield during a two day period 

on November 18 and 19. An unknown person or persons damaged numerous Gettysburg monuments by 

pouring oil on the civil war memorials.  

On the evening of November 18, a Park Watch Volunteer discovered what appears to be a 

vegetable-based oil on the 17th Connecticut Infantry Monument on Wainwright Avenue and notified the 

park's law enforcement officers. Further  investigation revealed that eight additional monuments on East 

Cemetery Hill also had oil poured onto them. The markers damaged were the 75th Ohio Right Flank 

Marker, the 25th and 75th Ohio Infantry Monument, the 25th Ohio Right Flank Marker, the 4th Ohio 

Infantry Monument, the 68th New York Infantry Monument, the 14th Indiana Infantry Monument, 

Cooper's Battery B, 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery Monument, and the Equestrian statue of Maj. 

General Oliver Howard.

In many instances small quantities of the substance had been poured onto each corner of the monument. 

In other cases it was poured onto the top of the stone or onto a bronze fixture on the monument. 

Sometime between 12:00 noon and about 2:30 p.m. on Friday, November 19, a similar oil was poured onto 

the four corners of the Soldiers National Monument and the New York State Monument in the National 

Cemetery. This discovery prompted a second search for damaged markers. Oil was found on the 21st 

Pennsylvania Cavalry Monument, the 60th New York Volunteers Monument, the 66th Ohio Right Flank 

Marker and the marker indicating the falling of Maj. J.G. Palmer of the 66th Ohio, the Equestrian statue of 

Maj. General Henry Slocum and the base of the observation tower at Culp's Hill.  

The park's monument preservation crew was advised of the damage early on Friday morning and 

immediately began working to remove the oily substance with assistance from volunteers. Work 

continued throughout the day Friday and Saturday. Efforts have been only partially successful so far 

and The work is continuing.  

No suspect information has been developed at this time.  Anyone who has any information is asked to 

call Gettysburg National Military Park Protection at (717) 334-0909.

This site designed and maintained by Bruce Amsden. send Email to memphre@together.net

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