March 29, 2013

The South Carolina State Memorial near the Longstreet Tower is a simple but beautiful monument dedicated to those who fought and fell for the Palmetto State. The monument itself is fairly new --- it dates to the early 1960s --- and is partially constructed of Georgia granite. Anyone brave enough to climb the nearby tower will have an excellent view of the South Carolina Memorial and many other monuments and battlefield landmarks.

What may come to mind when pondering fallen South Carolinians at Gettysburg is the photographic image of fallen Southerners awaiting burial at the George Rose farm near Stony Hill. It is highly likely that many of those men were Carolinians of Semmes’ and Kershaw’s brigades. There were other South Carolinian regiments at Gettysburg as well, the state being represented by cavalry, infantry, and artillery in this epic battle.

**HONORED TODAY**

PVT. JOHN B. OWEN

Co. D, 157^th New York Infantry

Born 1841 --- Died July 01, 1863 at age 22

Pvt. Owen held various jobs in Homer, New York, before enlistment, including working as a farm hand and laborer. Unlike most of the deceased Union soldiers at Gettysburg, he was buried at Evergreen Cemetery. Little is known of his life.


(c) 2013 Skies of Blue and Gray