Near Gettysburg in Adams County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
First Volunteer Brigade
Artillery Reserve
— Army of the Potomac —
By Craig Swain, December 27, 2008
1. First Volunteer Brigade, Artillery Reserve Tablet
A set of crossed cannons, symbol of the artillery, is at the top of the tablet.
Artillery Reserve
First Volunteer Brigade
Lieut. Col. Freeman McGilvery
5th Mass. Battery E (10th New York Attached)
Capt. Charles A. Phillips
Capt. John Bigelow, Lieut. Richard S. Milton
July 3d in Ziegler's Grove.
Capt. Patrick Hart
July 3d On Second Corps line south of Pleasonton Avenue.
Capt. James Thompson
July 3d On line with Battery K 4th U.S. on right and Hart's Battery on left.
Casualties. Killed 1 officer 16 men. Wounded 10 officers 61 men. Captured or missing 5 men. Total 93.
Erected 1912 by Gettysburg National Military
By Craig Swain, December 27, 2008
2. McGilvery's Brigade Tablet
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.
Location. 39° 48.239′ N, 77° 14.077′ W. Marker is near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in Adams County. Marker is on Hancock Avenue, on the left when traveling north. Located on the south part of Cemetery Ridge in Gettysburg National Military Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gettysburg PA 17325, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 2nd Connecticut Light Battery (within shouting distance of this marker); 2nd Battery New Jersey Light Artillery (within shouting distance of this marker); New York State Auxiliary Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Reverend Father William Corby, C.S.C. (within shouting distance of this marker); Dow's 6th Maine Battery (within shouting distance of this marker); Battery H, 3rd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry (about 300 feet away); 15th Battery New York Light Artillery (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gettysburg.
Additional comments.
By Craig Swain, December 27, 2008
3. Left End of McGilvery's Artillery Line
Looking from across the street from the tablet, to the south. On the morning of July 3, McGilvery exercised operational control over a line of some thirty-nine artillery pieces deployed on a line through this section of the Federal line. Many of the batteries deployed here were attached from other commands. The gunners were protected by a rise of terrain to their front, and were not affected by the Confederate bombardment that afternoon.
Lt. Col. McGilvery was in the center of the action on July 2, and his gunners performed admirably. However on July 3, his batteries were not directly engaged during the Confederate bombardments. He wrote:
At about 12.30 o'clock the enemy opened a terrific fire upon our lines with at least one hundred and forty guns. This fire was very rapid and inaccurate, most of the projectiles passing from 20 to 100 feet over our lines. About one-half hour after the commencement, some general commanding the infantry line ordered three of the batteries to return the fire. After the discharge of a few rounds, I ordered the fire to cease and the men to be covered. After the enemy had fired about one hour and a half, and expended at least 10,000 rounds of ammunition, with but comparatively little damage to our immediate line, a slow, well-directed fire from all the guns under my command was concentrated upon single batteries of the enemy of those best in view, and several badly broken up and successively driven from their position to the rear.
At about 3 p.m. a line of battle of about 3,000 or 4,000 men appeared, advancing directly upon our front, which was completely broken up and scattered
By Craig Swain, December 27, 2008
4. Center and Right Side of McGilvery's Line
To the right side of McGilvery's line were batteries from his own command. Thompson's, Philips' and Hart's Batteries deployed just south of where the Pennsylvania Memorial stands. During the Confederate bombardment in the afternoon of July 3, Second Corps commander General Winfield Hancock demanded that McGilvery open fire on the Confederates. McGilvery was under contrary orders from his commander, General Henry Hunt, to keep silent until the Confederate infantry advanced. The Hancock and McGilvery entered a rather heated and profane argument over the orders. Eventually McGilvery fired some of his guns, but ceased firing when Hancock left the sector for the Copse of Trees.
Note that McGilvery tactfully did not mention Hancock by name in his report.
(Official Records of the War of the Rebellion, Series I, Volume XXVII/1 (S# 43), Report No. 318, pages 883-884.
— Submitted February 3, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 30, 2020. It was originally submitted on February 3, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 823 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 3, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
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