Draw the Sword

Location: East Cavalry Battlefield

Order of Battle: Cavalry Corps, 2nd Division

Number Engaged: 4 Ordnance Rifles and 84 men; no loss

Commander: Capt. Alanson M. Randol (1837-1887)

Raised: New York City and Suffolk County, Massachusetts and dated to 1821. The unit was consolidated in February 1862.

Monument Specifications: Polished granite monument with rough hewn sides with bronze plaque and seal affixed to the front.

Dedication Date: ca. 1907-1908.

Main Inscription: Honors Chester’s section and reads,

ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
CAVALRY CORPS
BATTERIES E & G FIRST U. S. ARTILLERY
Four 12 Pounders
Capt. Alanson M. Randol Commanding

July 1 & 2. With First Brigade Second Cavalry Division. Not engaged.

July 3. One section under Lieut. James Chester was ordered to Second BrigadeThird Cavalry Division and took position west of Low Dutch Road and with Brig. General Custer’s Second Brigade Third Division Cavalry Corps was hotly engaged in repelling the attack of Major General Stuart’s Confederate Cavalry Division. The one section under Lieut. Ernest L. Kinney remained near the Hanover Road.

Other Monuments and Memorials: There is a second identical monument located a short distance away, also on the East Cavalry Battlefield. Honors Kinney’s section. It has the same inscription as the previous monument.

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

Battery E

Stationed at Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor, S. C., January, 1861. Defense of Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor, April 12-13, 1861. Evacuation of Fort Sumter April 13. Reached Fort Hamilton, N.Y. Harbor, April 19. Moved to Chambersburg, Pa., June 3, and Joined Patterson’s army. Attached to Patterson’s army to October, 1861. Hooker’s Division, Army Potomac, to March, 1862. Artillery Reserve, Army Potomac, to May, 1862. 2nd Brigade, Artillery Reserve, 5th Army Corps, Army Potomac, to September, 1862. Artillery, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps, to October, 1862. Artillery, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps, to May, 1863. 2nd Regular Brigade, Artillery Reserve, Army Potomac, to June, 1863. 2nd Brigade, Horse Artillery, Artillery Reserve, Army Potomac, to June, 1864. 3rd Brigade, DeRussy’s Division, 22nd Army Corps, to July, 1864. 1st Brigade, DeRussy’s Division, 22nd Army Corps, to October, 1865.

SERVICE.–Ordered to Washington, D.C., August 26, 1861. Duty at Arsenal and at Camp Duncan, Defenses of Washington, until March, 1862. Moved to the Virginia Peninsula. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. Battle of Fair Oaks, Seven Pines, May 31-June 1. Seven days before Richmond June 26-July 1. Savage Station and Peach Orchard June 29. White Oak Swamp and Glendale June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison’s Landing until August 16. Moved to Fortress Monroe, thence to Centerville August 16-28. Pope’s Virginia Campaign August 28-September 2. Battles of Groveton August 29; Bull Run August 30. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Battle of Antietam September 16-17. Shepherdstown Ford September 19-20. At Sharpsburg until October 30. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 29-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 11-15. At Falmouth, Va., until April, 1863. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Aldie June 17. Middleburg June 19. Upperville June 21. Ashby’s Gap June 21. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Near Harper’s Ferry July 14. Shepherdstown July 16. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Custer’s Raid into Albemarle County February 28-March 1, 1864. Near Charlottesville February 29. Stannardsville March 1. Rapidan Campaign May 4-June 8. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spotsylvania May 8-21; Milford Station May 21; Chesterfield May 23; North Anna River May 23-26. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Mechump’s Creek May 31. Cold Harbor June 1-5. Sharp’s Farm June 3. Moved to Washington, D.C., June 18. Garrison duty at Forts Willard and Strong, Defenses of Washington, D.C., 22nd Army Corps, until October, 1865.

Battery G

Stationed at Fort Pickens, Fla., January to May, 1861. Moved to Fort Hamilton, N.Y. Harbor, May 13-26, thence to Washington, D.C., July 8. At Arlington Heights, Va., until July 16. Attached to Richardson’s Brigade, Tyler’s Division, McDowell’s Army Northeast Virginia, to August, 1861. Richardson’s Brigade, Division Potomac, to October, 1861. Artillery Reserve, Army Potomac (temporarily attached to Batteries “E” and “K,” 1st Artillery, February, 1862), to May, 1862. 2nd Brigade, Artillery Reserve, 5th Army Corps, Army Potomac, to September, 1862. Artillery, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps, to October, 1862. Artillery, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps, to May, 1863. 2nd Regular Brigade, Artillery Reserve, Army Potomac, to June, 1863. 2nd Brigade, Horse Artillery, Army Potomac, to June, 1864.

SERVICE.–Reconnaissance from Alexandria on Fairfax, Richmond and Mt. Vernon Roads July 14. Advance on Manassas, Va., July 16-21. Occupation of Fairfax Court House July 17. Blackburn’s Ford July 18. Battle of Bull Run July 21. Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C., until March, 1862. Moved to the Virginia Peninsula. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. Battle of Fair Oaks, Seven Pines, May 31-June 1. Seven days before Richmond June 26-July 1. Golding’s Farm June 27. Savage Station and Peach Orchard June 29. White Oak Swamp and Glendale June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison’s Landing until August 16. Moved to Fortress Monroe, thence to Centerville August 16-28. Pope’s Campaign in Virginia August 28-September 2. Battles of Groveton August 29. Bull Run August 30. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Crampton’s Pass September 14. Battle of Antietam September 16-17. Shepherdstown Ford September 19-20. At Sharpsburg, Md., until October 30. Movement to Falmouth October 30-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 11-15. At Falmouth until April, 1863. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-6. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Aldie June 17. Middleburg June 19. Upperville June 20-21. Ashby’s Gap June 21. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Shepherdstown July 16. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Custer’s Raid into Albemarle County February 28-March 1. Near Charlottesville February 29. Stannardsville March 1. Rapidan Campaign May 4-June 5. Wilderness May 5-7. Spotsylvania May 8-21. Milford Station May 21. Chesterfield May 23. North Anna May 23-26. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Machump’s Creek May 31. Cold Harbor June 1-5. Sharp’s Farm June 3. Moved to Washington, D.C., June 18, and garrison duty at Forts Willard and Strong, Defenses of Washington, 22nd Corps, to October, 1865.

Comments on this Post

One Response to “* 1st United States Artillery Batteries E & G”

1. Dan says:

   October 19, 2007 at 4:00 am

   If you check out Military History Online, you’ll see they’re having a tour this weekend at Gettysburg.

   You might be interested in that. It’s this weekend.

   On Saturday, they’re featuring an afternoon discussion of the artillery dual over the Peach Orchard.

   Should be good.