THE COSTER AVENUE WAR MEMORIAL MURAL

THE COSTER AVENUE MURAL DEPICTS THE FIGHT BETWEEN THE UNION BRIGADE OF COL. CHARLES R. COSTER AND THE CONFEDERATE BRIGADE OF BRIG. GEN. HARRY T. HAYS AND COL. ISAAC E. AVERY ON THE AFTERNOON OF JULY 1, 1863. COSTER’S THREE SMALL REGIMENTS WERE RUSHED TO THIS POSITION FROM CEMETERY HILL TO COVER THE RETREAT OF THE ELEVENTH CORPS. THEY TOOK POSITION BEHIND FENCES IN JOHN KUHN’S BRICKYARD AND WERE IMMEDIATELY ATTACKED BY HAY’S AND AVERY’S REGIMENTS. OUTNUMBERED THREE TO ONE AND OUTFLANKED ON BOTH ENDS OF THEIR LINE, COSTER’S MEN WERE DRIVEN FROM THE BRICKYARD WITH GREAT LOSS, AFTER A BRAVE BUT BRIEF STRUGGLE. IT IS THIS BATTLE THAT THE MURAL DEPICTS.