** ** 5th Maine Artillery, Battery E
Posted to the Project on 28 Aug 07
Dedicated to the 5th Maine Artillery, Battery “E” this monument was dedicated on October 3, 1889. It stands just in front of the large equestrian monument to General Slocum. The monument’s main feature is the highly polished die made of red Beach granite. Red was chosen because it is the color of the artillery branch. Balanced on top of the die is a black granite cannonball of almost three feet in diameter — symbolic of a cannonball. The monument also features a “bas relief” of three artillerymen loading a Napoleon cannon. The 5th Maine battery was made up of six 12 pound Napolean cannons and 136 men at Gettysburg.
The commander of the battery was Capt. Greenlieft T. Stevens (1831-1918). Stevens Knoll is named for him. Stevens was a graduate of Harvard and a lawyer prior to the Civil War. He was wounded in the July 2 fight. Lt. Edward N. Whittier (1840-1902) succeeded to command of the battery. Whittier was a future Medal of Honor winner (for the battle of Fisher’s Hill, Virginia).
There is an additional small marker to this artillery unit along Seminary Avenue.
5th Maine Artillery (Battery E)
Members of the 1st Corps Artillery Brigade
Commanded by: Capt. Greenlieft T. Stevens (1831-1918), Lt. Edward N. Whittier (1840-1902)
Numbered: 136; six 12 lbs Napolean guns; 3 killed, 13 wounded, 7 missing
Monument: Slocum Avenue, “Stevens Knoll.” Secondary marker along Seminary Avenue.
Monument Specifications: Four-sided monument stands on a tiered base and is topped with a large sphere. A relief of three uniformed soldiers shooting a cannon appears on the upper portion of the base on the right side. Monuments marks the position held by Stevens’ Battery in Cemetery Hill, where it nearly destroyed the left flank of the Confederate attacking column on July 2, as Hoke’s and Hays’ brigades attempted to take the east of Cemetery Hill.
Dedication Date: October 3, 1888.
Main Inscription: “IN THE ASSAULT UPON/EAST CEMETERY HILL/IN THE EVENING OF/JULY 2ND, THE ENEMY,/(HAYS AND HOKE’S BRIGADES),/EXPOSED THEIR LEFT FLANK TO/STEVENS’ BATTERY/WHICH POURED A TERRIBLE FIRE/OF DOUBLE CANISTER INTO/THEIR RANKS.”/DOUBLEDAY
Other Monuments & Markers: Stone Marker, Confederate Avenue, near the Lutheran Theological Seminary. Denotes position on the afternoon of July 1 during the first day’s battle.
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
Organized at Augusta and mustered in December 4, 1861. Duty at Augusta until March 10, 1862, and at Fort Preble, Portland, Me., until April 1. Moved to Washington, D.C., April 1-3. Camp on Capital Hill until May 19. Moved to Aquia Creek, thence to Fredericksburg, Va., May 19-22. Attached to 2nd Division, Dept. of the Rappahannock, to June, 1862. 2nd Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of Virginia, to September, 1862. 2nd Division, 1st Corps, Army Potomac, to May, 1863. Artillery Brigade, 1st Army Corps, to April, 1864. Artillery Brigade, 5th Army Corps, to June, 1864. Artillery Brigade, 6th Army Corps, to December, 1864. Artillery Brigade, Army of the Shenandoah, to July, 1865.
SERVICE–Moved to Front Royal, Va., May 25, 1862, and to Manassas June 17. At Warrenton July 4-22. March to Waterloo July 22, thence to Culpeper August 4. Battle of Cedar Mountain August 9. Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Fords of the Rappahannock August 20-23. Thoroughfare Gap August 28. Battle of Groveton August 29, and Bull Run August 30. Ordered to Washington September 7, to refit, and duty there until October 24. Moved to Berlin October 24, and thence to Lovettsville October 30. Reconnoissance from Bolivar Heights to Rippen, W. Va., November 9. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15. “Mud March” January 20-24, 1863. At Fletcher’s Chapel until April 28. Chancellorsville Campaign April 28-May 6. Operations at Fitzhugh’s Crossing April 29-May 2. Battle of Chancellorsville May 2-5. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Rapidan Campaign May 4-June 15, 1864. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7. Spottsylvania May 8-12. Ny River May 10. Spottsylvania C. H. May 12-21. North Anna River May 23-26. Line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg June 17-19. Siege of Petersburg June 17-July 9, 1864. Ordered to Washington, D.C. Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-November 28. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Fisher’s Hill September 22. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. Duty at Strasburg until November 10. Near Winchester until December 28, and at Stevenson’s Depot until January 10, 1865. At Frederick, Md., until April 4. At Winchester until June 21. Ordered to Augusta, Me., June 21, and there mustered out July 6, 1865. Battery lost during service 2 Officers and 16 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 15 Enlisted men by disease. Total 33.