Draw the Sword

Dow’s Battery

Location: Hancock Avenue, just south of the Pennsylvania Monument

Order of Battle: Artillery Reserve, 4th Volunteer Brigade

Number Engaged: 103 men and 4 Napolean cannon; 13 wounded

Commander: Lt. Edwin B. Dow (1835-1917)

Raised: Aroostook County.

Monument Specifications: Tapered square marker stands on a low, rough-hewn base. A pyramid of cannon balls tops the piece. Relief elements on the front face include a star, cannon barrel, rammer, drum and other military accouterments. Monument marks the position held by Dow’s Maine Battery on July 3, 1863 from the morning hours until 10:00 A. M. on July 5. They engaged in artillery duel preceding Longstreet’s Assault on the third day.

Dedication Date: Oct. 3, 1889.

Other Monuments and Memorials: None.

Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:

Organized at Augusta and mustered in January 1, 1862. Duty at Augusta until March and at Portland, Me., until April 1. Moved to Washington, D.C., April 1-3. Camp at East Capital Hill and at Forts Buffalo and Ramsey, and at Falls Church, Va., until June. Ordered to report to General Banks at Harper’s Ferry, W. Va. Attached to 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of Virginia, to August, 1862. 3rd Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army Potomac, August, 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, 3rd Army Corps, to September, 1862. Artillery, 2nd Division, 12th Corps, Army Potomac, to June, 1863. 4th Volunteer Brigade, Artillery Reserve, Army Potomac, to September, 1863. 1st Volunteer Brigade, Artillery Reserve, to April, 1864. Artillery Brigade, 2nd Army Corps, to November, 1864. Artillery Reserve, Army Potomac, to June, 1865.

SERVICE.–Duty at Harper’s Ferry, Cedar Creek and Little Washington, Va., June to August, 1862. Battle of Cedar Creek August 9. Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Fords of the Rappahannock August 20-26. Battles of Groveton August 29, and Bull Run August 30. Chantilly September 1. Maryland Campaign September-October. Crampton’s Pass, South Mountain, Md., September 14. Battle of Antietam, Md., September 16-17. Duty at Sandy Hook, Md., and at Harper’s Ferry, W. Va., until December. Reconnoissance to Winchester December 2-6. Action at Dumfries December 27. Duty at Dumfries until May 27, 1863, and at Falmouth until June 13. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June-July. Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3. Pursuit to Williamsport, Md., July 7-14. Frederick, Md., July 13. March to Warrenton Junction, Va., July 18-August 2, and duty there until September 16. At Culpeper until October 12. Bristoe Campaign October 12-22. Culpeper October 12-13. Bristoe October 14. Advance to line of Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Mine Run November 28-30. Campaign from the Rapidan to James River May 3-June 15, 1864. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spottsylvania C. H. May 12-21; “Bloody Angle,” Spottsylvania C. H., May 12. North Anna River May 23-26. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg June 16-19. Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23, 1864. Deep Bottom July 27-28. Mine Explosion July 30 (Reserve). Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14-18. Garrison, Fort Davis, until October 20. At Fort McGilvrey and Battery 9 until March 15, 1865. At Fort Sampson until April 3. Assault on and capture of Petersburg April 2-3. Ordered to Reserve Artillery at City Point April 3. Duty there until May 3. Ordered to Alexandria and duty there to June 4. Ordered to Augusta, Me., and mustered out June 7, 1865. Battery lost during service 13 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 27 Enlisted men by disease. Total 40.