Help Restore the 50th Pennsylvania Monument at Antietam

The 50th PA Monument at Antietam

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I am reposting this from last May when Lizzy Bianchi first embarked upon her effort to restore the 50th Pennsylvania Monument at Antietam by raising funds to have cast a replacement hilt from the sword of the Colonel Benjamin Christ statue. I am very, very pleased to report that through her own efforts and initiative, Lizzy, now a junior at Honesdale High School, has raised $1,700.00, which means we are halfway there. I am certain we can very quickly raise the rest. Donations of any amount are most welcome. Please make your check payable to:
The Western Maryland Interpretative Association
P.O. Box 692
Sharpsburg, MD 21782

In the subject line of your check, please write: "50th Pennsylvania Monument Fund."

Please continue to read to find out more about this dedicated young lady and her efforts.

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Lizzy Bianchi is a student at Honesdale High School in northeastern Pennsylvania with a great interest in the American Civil War. Last summer, while touring the Antietam Battlefield, Lizzy told her guide, Bill Sagle, that she would love to do something to help preserve the battlefield for her senior project. Bill directed her question to me, and I had just the project for her. Only a few days prior to Lizzy's visit, my colleague Brian Baracz showed me photographs of the unveiling/dedication of the 50th Pennsylvania Monument, featuring a bronze, 7'4" statue of Colonel Benjamin Christ who organized and first led the regiment and who, at Antietam, commanded the First Brigade in Orlando Willcox's Second Division, Ninth Army Corps. The photographs revealed that when first unveiled, there was a hilt (handle) on Colonel Christ's sword. That hilt is no longer there.

But Lizzy is now determined to replace it.

I suggested the idea to her and she hit the ground running. The 50th Pennsylvania was formed in the summer of 1861 with volunteers from several Pennsylvania counties. Two companies--A & C--came from Schuylkill County, as did Colonel Christ, a native of Minersville. Since other volunteers came from Lizzy's home area, she feels more of a special attachment to the regiment. . .and to this endeavor.

I placed Lizzy in touch with artist and Civil War historian Michael Kraus who last year did such excellent, excellent work in sculpting the replacement sword for the 48th Pennsylvania monument, and Mike has agreed to work on this project as well.

We are very fortunate to have someone like Lizzy undertake a project like this, especially in someone so young and so passionate about the study and preservation of history.

Reward her efforts and help her achieve her goal by donating today. Any amount, no matter how large or small, will help. Mike Kraus has estimated a total cost for this project of $3,400. Lizzy has another year to make this project a reality and I encourage all of you to show her how much her efforts are appreciated by donating today.

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This Photograph Shows the Missing Hilt from the sheathed sword of Colonel Benjamin Christ. Let's return it!