The flagpole on Barlow’s Knoll is one of the most visible landmarks on the 1st day’s battlefield. It also happens to be the location where Lt. Colonel Doug Fowler was killed on the first day at Gettysburg. The original wooden flagpole was first erected by the veterans of the 17th CVI in 1885. The current steel flagpole was set in place by the surviving veterans in 1921. It’s likely that most visitors to the knoll who don’t get out of their car do not even realize that the flagpole is a memorial to those members of the 17th CVI who fought there.
This spring the flagpole is set for a long needed restoration by the National Park Service, a project that is completely funded through a donation from Company F, 14th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. The members of Company F, 14th CVI have a long history of donating funds for the preservation of Civil War sites.The work should be completed this spring, in time for a planned re-dedication of the flagpole on July 1, 2018. For those who are counting, that’s the 155th anniversary of the fighting at that location.
According to Carolyn Ivanoff (a member of the 14th CVI and a long time friend of the 17th CVI and contributor to this site), plans for the re-dedication are still being finalized. Once they are they’ll be posted here. In addition, Carolyn will also be presenting a new program, Following the 17th Connecticut from Barlow’s Knoll to Spangler Farm and Beyond, July 1863, hosted by the Gettysburg Heritage Center on Saturday evening, June 30th.
You can read more about the restoration effort below: Restoration of Flagpole on Barlow's Knoll Article.