Straban Township near Gettysburg in Adams County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Latimer's Battalion
Johnson's Division - Ewell's Corps
— Army of Northern Virginia —
Photographed By Craig Swain, June 28, 2008
1. Latimer's Battalion Tablet
Army of Northern Virginia
Ewell's Corps - Johnson's Division
Latimer's Battalion
Brown's Carpenter's Dement's and Raine's
Batteries
Two 20 Pounder Parrotts, Five 10 Pounder Parrotts
Three 3 inch Rifles and Six Napoleons
July 1 After dark crossed Rock Creek and encamped on this ridge.
July 2 At 4 p.m. the Battalion except the 20 pounder Parrotts took position here and was engaged more than two hours in a heavy cannonade with the Union Artillery on Cemetery Hill, Stevens Knoll, and Culp's Hill. Ammunition exhausted and losses severe the guns were withdrawn except four to cover the advance of Johnson's Infantry against Culp's Hill. In the renewed firing Major S.W. Latimer was mortally wounded. In the cannonading the 20 pounder Parrotts in position half a mile north took an active part.
July 3 The 20 pounder Parrotts took part in the great cannonade while the other Batteries were in reserve.
July 4 The Battalion withdrew and began the march to Hagerstown.
Losses - Killed 10 - Wounded 49 - Horses killed 30
Erected 1910 by Gettysburg National Military Park Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant day of the year for for this entry is July 1.
Location. 39° 49.63′
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Carpenter's Battery - Latimer's Battalion (within shouting distance of this marker); Dement's Battery - Latimer's Battalion (within shouting distance of this marker); An Unequal Contest (within shouting distance of this marker); Raine's Battery - Latimer's Battalion (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Brown's Battery - Latimer's Battalion (about 500 feet away); Graham's Battery - Dance's Battalion (about 700 feet away); Milledge's Battery - Nelson's Battalion (approx. 0.2 miles away); Nelson's Battalion (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gettysburg.
Also see . . . Joseph W. Latimer. Short biography of the "Boy Major." Latimer was 19 when he died of his wounds on August 1, 1863. (Submitted on August 31, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 18, 2014
2. Marker on Benner's Hill
Photographed By Craig Swain, June 28, 2008
3. Latimer's Battalion Tablet
Located between the battery locations for Dement's and Carpenter's Batteries.
Photographed By Craig Swain, June 28, 2008
4. Dement's and Carpenter's Batteries
Looking south along the loop road. Latimer positioned his batteries around Benner's Hill, a low knoll to the northeast of Cemetery Hill. The guns were densely packed and were on a lower elevation than the Federal guns on Cemetery and Culp's Hill. On the high wooded ground in the distant center, the top of the Culp's Hill observation tower is visible. The geography gave the Federals an advantage, and soon Latimer's batteries were in a cross fire. Federal guns systematically knocked out one of Latimer's guns after another with concentrated fires.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 31, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 943 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 31, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on July 24, 2014, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 3, 4. submitted on August 31, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
