Irish Wolfhound, Irish Brigade Monument - Gettysburg National Battlefield - Gettysburg, PA
Posted by: 
NorStar
N 39° 47.821 W 077° 14.713
18S E 307773 N 4407639
This sculpture for the Irish Brigade primarily from New York features an Irish Wolfhound at the base of a cross.
Waymark Code: WMNDEA
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 02/20/2015
Views: 11
Near Gettysburg, within the Gettysburg National Battlefield, is this monument for the Irish Brigade, which has, at the base of a cross, this sculpture of an Irish Wolfhound.
The monument is located along a windy road with small hills along Sickle Avenue, and not far from a key location of the battlefield called "The Wheatfield." If traveling generally north the monument is on the left, southwest side of the road.
The monument is a bronze sculpture, 19 ft. 6 in. x 10 ft. 2 in. x 8 ft.
The sculpture of the dog is roughly life-sized. It is lying such that the head is to the right (as viewing from the front). The face is visible as are the paws.
The Irish Brigade is a legendary unit in the Civil War. It was comprised of the 63rd, 69th and 88th New York Infantry,the 14th New York Independent Battery, the 28th Massachusetts, and the 116th Pennsylvania. This monument is specifically for the New York Infantry units. This unit was thrown into the heart of the battle in the Wheatfield, engaging heavily with the Confederate Army and took heavy losses.
The wolfhound here is a figurative sculpture not intended to be of any particular dog, but as a symbol of the Irish heritage. According to one site, the sculpture represents faith and devotion. According to Wikipedia, Irish Wolfhounds are descended from war dogs and were used in hunting wolves and guarding sheep. Today, they can be family pets. They are known to be devoted to family, but aren't particularly good guard dogs. The breed is known for this motto: “gentle when stroked, fierce when provoked”.
As an aside, I've been reading fiction, the Iron Druid series, where the main character has an Irish Wolfhound, named Oberon
Source:
Stonesentinels.com (Irish Brigade):
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visit link)
Longislandwins.com (A Prayer Before Death for the Irish Brigade Gettysburg July 2, 1863):
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visit link)
Wikipedia (Irish Wolfhound):
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visit link)