Near Sharpsburg in Washington County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Battery F, 5th U.S. Artillery
Photographed By Craig Swain, February 9, 2008
1. Battery F, 5th U.S. Artilllery Marker
Battery F, 5th U.S. Artillery.
Lieut. Leonard Martin, U.S.A., Commanding.
(September 17, 1862.)
Early in the morning of the 17th, Battery F, 5th U.S. Artillery, generally known as Ayers' Battery, moved with Smith's Division, Sixth Army Corps, from its bivouac in Pleasant Valley near Crampton's Pass, and, about 12, noon, went into position about 110 yards south of this point on the left of Battery D, 2nd U.S. Artillery, and engaged the Confederate Artillery in the woods around the Dunkard Church and in the fields south of it. The fire was continued with intervals, throughout the day, and the battery remained in substantially the same position until the morning of the 19th.
Erected by Antietam Battlefield Board. (Marker Number 103/108.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Antietam Campaign War Department Markers series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 17, 1862.
Location. 39° 28.728′ N, 77° 44.609′ W. Marker is near Sharpsburg, Maryland, in Washington County. Marker is at the intersection of Smoketown Road and Mummas Lane, on the left when traveling west on Smoketown Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sharpsburg MD 21782, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least
this page online
More about this marker. See comment regarding the marker number.
Also see . . .
1. Antietam Battlefield. National Park Service site. (Submitted on March 7, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
2. Battery F, 5th U.S. Artilllery. As part of the 2nd Division, VI Corps Artillery, Battery F used four 10-pdr Parrott Rifles and two 12-pdr Napoleon smoothbore guns. (Submitted on March 7, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
3. Lt. Leonard Martin. (Submitted on October 24, 2015, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)
Photographed By Brian Scott, September 19, 2015
2. Battery F, 5th U.S. Artillery Marker
Additional commentary.
1. 103 or 108?
The tally of Antietam Battlefield Board tablets indicates duplicate number 103. The one shown here and another for Battery B, 4th U.S. Artillery. There was no 108 listed. According to Battle of Antietam: The Official History by the Antietam Battlefield Board, by George R. Large and Joe A. Swisher, the National Park Service has identified the issue and determined that Battery F's tablet should instead be 108. Originally the Battery F tablet shown here was placed near Battery B's along the Hagerstown Pike.
— Submitted March 7, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
Photographed By Craig Swain, September 17, 2007
3. Five Tablets along the Smoketown Road
On the left stand numbers 101 and 109. On the right, closest to the camera, is 103, which has been tentatively renumbered 108 in documentation. Beyond it are numbers 104 and 341.
Photographed By Craig Swain, April 6, 2008
4. Battery F Position
Looking from the southwest wall of the Mumma Cemetery toward the modern Visitor Center. Battery F deployed across the front here facing to the southwest at around 1 p.m. The Dunkard Church and West Woods are beyond the New York monument (on the distant right). Some of the buildings of the Piper Farm are seen on the left beyond the Sunken Road. The battery was in position to face two of the more active sectors of the battlefield.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 1, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 7, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,083 times since then and 23 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week March 9, 2008. Photos: 1. submitted on March 7, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on October 24, 2015, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 3. submitted on March 7, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 4. submitted on August 3, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
