I drove up to Lyons, New York to see the dedication of a new monument to a Civil War regiment, the 111th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, that was celebrated on August 22, 2026. Lyons is a small town with a little under 6,000 residents, but many people came out on a perfect Saturday to participate in the unveiling.
The ceremony was held at Lyons Central Park, which has the focus of the towns celebrations for the last century and a half. There was a farmers market, a number of reenactors camped in the area and drilling on the green, as well as Civil War-focused organizations meeting with the attendees.
The Daughters of Union Veterans and other descendants’ organizations helped inform visitors.
Among those honored was one Civil War veteran Brigadier General John Bullis, who enlisted as a private. He did not serve in the 111th, but he served in the 125th New York. He was wounded and captured twice during the war.
The historical importance of local people like Major General Gordon Granger were also highlighted. Granger’s “Juneteenth Proclamation” in 1865 informing enslaved people in Galveston is now commemorated every year on June 19th. The also highlighted the roles of Black and white residents in the Underground Railroad for African Americans fleeing to Canada just 60 miles away.
A prayer was offered by a reenactor portraying John Nelson Brown of Clyde, the chaplain of the regiment. Rev. Brown wrote an account of the the regiment’s performance at Gettysburg that inspired the town to erect the monument. At the start of the Battle of Gettysburg 390 were in the ranks. Those who died numbered 58, wounded 177, missing 14, total casualties were 249. Throughout the war, the 111th suffered among the highest rate of casualties in whole Union army.
On July 2, 1863 the 111th Regiment was part of Willard’s Brigade of the II Corps at the Wheatfield. Seeing an attempt by the Confederates to outflank Willard, General Handcock rode over to the 111th and ordered it “…to the right in great haste, to charge the rebel advance, which had broken through our lines on the right of the Third Brigade and had advanced between 20 and 30 rods beyond our lines, and was in the act of turning the right flank of the brigade.”
The monument shows a complete history of the regiment. It is across from older monuments to those who served in the Spanish American, World War I and II, and other more modern wars.
The companies were recruited in the counties of Cayuga and Wayne.
Linda Schwab, an historian from Cayuga County, said that half the men in the regiment were from Cayuga.
Also among the presenters was Gary Casteel, the well-known Civil War sculptor of Gettysburg. Casteel said that the figures on display are only half of the monument. It focuses on the color bearers of the regiment who were, one after another killed or mortally wounded during the charge. Two of the figures are still at the foundry and will be installed this Fall. Here is a sketch of the planned monument:
People attending the ceremony could walk through the encampment and get to know some of the reenactors.
At the end of the program, the Excelsior Brass Band performed a selection of Civil War Era music.
