Draw the Sword

Reynolds Battery

Location: South Reynolds Avenue.

Order of Battle: 1st Corps Artillery Brigade

Number Engaged: 141 men and 6 Ordnance Rifles; 1 killed, 15 wounded, 1 missing; lost 1 gun on July 1.

Commander: Capt. Gilbert H. Reynolds (1832-1913)

Raised: Monroe County. At Gettysburg, 16 men from Battery E 1st New York Light were attached.

Monument Specifications: Round bas-relief of a wheeled cannon stands on a rectangular pedestal atop three-tiered, rough-hewn base. A round bronze relief of the New York State Seal is affixed to the center of the pedestal, on the front. The monument marks the position held by Reynolds Battery L on July 1, 1863.

Dedication Date: Sept. 17, 1889.

Sculptor/Artist/Company: Smith & Barry, fabricator.

Main Inscription: CASUALTIES/JULY 1ST 1863/NEAR CHAMBERSBURG PIKE/1 KILLED/15 WOUNDED/1 MISSING/JULY 2ND AND 3RD ENGAGED WITH ENEMY/FROM POSITION ON CEMETERY HILL/ORGANIZED AT ROCHESTER, N.Y./SEPT 17, 1861./MUSTERED OUT JUNE 17, 1865

Other Monuments and Memorials: There is a second monument on East Cemetery Hill which honors Battery E which was attached to Reynolds Battery. Vertical, rectangular monument stands on a low base. A New York State Seal is affixed to the upper front of the monument above the inscription plaque. The surfaces of the sculpture and base are rough-hewn. The final line reads “THIS MONUMENT IS COMMITTED TO/THE CARE OF A DEAR COUNTRY/WE WERE PROUD TO/SERVE.” Frederick & Field, fabricator. It indicates the position held by Battery E attached to Reynold’s Battery on July 2 & 3.

Supplemental Materials: After Action Report of Lieut. George Breck (will open a pop up window).

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

1st New York Artillery, Battery L

Organized at Rochester, N.Y., September, 1861. Moved to Elmira, N.Y., and mustered in November 17, 1861. Left State for Washington, D.C., November 21, 1861. Attached to Defenses of Washington, D.C., to February. 1862. Baltimore, Md., Dix’s Command, to May, 1862. 1st Brigade, Sigel’s Division, Dept. of the Shenandoah, to June, 1862. 1st Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of Virginia, to September, 1862. 1st Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to May, 1863. Artillery Brigade, 1st Army Corps, to March, 1864. Artillery Brigade, 5th Army Corps, to March, 1865. Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac, attached to 9th Army Corps. to April, 1865. Artillery Brigade, 5th Army Corps, to June, 1865.

SERVICE.–Duty at Camp Barry, Defenses of Washington, until February, 1862, and at Baltimore, Md., until May, 1862. Moved to Winchester, Va. Skirmish at Charlestown May 28. Defense of Harper’s Ferry, W. Va., May 28-30. Battle of Cedar Mountain, Va., August 9. Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Fords of the Rappahannock August 21-23. Sulphur Springs August 26. Battles of Gainesville August 28, Groveton August 29. Bull Run August 30, Chantilly September 1. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Battles of South Mountain September 14, Antietam September 16-17. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 29-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. “Mud March” January 20-24, 1863. Duty at Falmouth and Belle Plains until April. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Operations at Pollock’s Mill Creek April 29-May 2. Fitzhugh’s Crossing April 29-30. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. On line of the Rappahannock and Rapidan until October. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7, 1864. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May 3-June 15. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Laurel Hill May 8; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient May 12. North Anna River May 23-26. Jericho Ford May 23. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Bethesda Church June 1-3. Before Petersburg June 16-18. Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Weldon Railroad August 18-21, 1864. Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2. Pursuit of Lee April 3-9. Moved to Washington, D. C. Grand Review May 23. Mustered out June 17, 1865. Battery lost during service 11 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 12 Enlisted men by disease. Total 23.

1st New York Artillery, Battery E

Organized at Elmira, N.Y., and mustered in September 13, 1861. Left State for Washington, D.C., October 31, 1861. Attached to Defenses of Washington and W. F. Smith’s Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. Artillery, Smith’s 2nd Division, 4th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to May, 1862. Artillery, 2nd Division, 6th Army Corps. Army of the Potomac, to June, 1863. (Attached to 1st New York Independent Battery Light Artillery, August, 1862, to June 20, 1863.) Artillery Brigade. 1st Army Corps, June, 1863, to March, 1864. (Attached to Battery “L,” 1st New York Light Artillery, June 20 to October, 1863.) Artillery Brigade, 5th Army Corps, to June, 1864. Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac, to April, 1865. Artillery Brigade, 5th Army Corps, to June, 1865.

SERVICE.–Duty at Camp Barry, Defenses of Washington, D.C., November, 1861, to March, 1862. Moved to the Peninsula March 22. Action at Lee’s Mills April 5. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. Lee’s Mills April 16. Battle of Williamsburg May 5. Mechanicsville May 23-24. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Battle of Mechanicsville June 26. Garnett’s Farm and Golding’s Farm June 27-28. Savage Station June 29. White Oak Swamp Bridge June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. Duty at Harrison’s Landing until August 16. Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Centreville August 16-27. In works at Centreville August 28-31. Assist in checking Pope’s rout at Bull Run August 30, and cover retreat to Fairfax Court House September 1. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. South Mountain September 14. Lee’s Mills September 16. Antietam September 17. Duty at Hagerstown, Md., until October 29. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 29-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. “Mud March” January 20-24, 1863. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Operations at Franklin’s Crossing April 29-May 2. Maryes Heights, Fredericksburg, May 3. Salem Heights May 3-4. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 2-4. On line of the Rappahannock and Rapidan until October. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7, 1864. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James River May 3-June 15. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Laurel Hill May 8; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient, “Bloody Angle,” May 12. North Anna River May 23-26. Jericho Ford May 23. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Bethesda Church June 1-3. Before Petersburg June 16-18. Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. In the trenches as a Mortar Battery June, 1864, to January, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Assault and capture of Petersburg April 2. Moved to Washington, D.C., May. Grand Review May 23. Mustered out June 6, 1865. Battery lost during service 1 Officer and 4 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 12 Enlisted men by disease. Total 18.