2nd United States Artillery, Batteries B and L

2nd United States Artillery Battery B and LThe Second United States Artillery, Batteries B and L is honored by two monuments at Gettysburg, one on Pleasanton Avenue and one along Granite Schoolhouse Lane.

About the Main Monument

When was it dedicated? Erected between 1907 and 1908.

What is it made out of? Foundation: Concrete. Monument: Polished red Jonesboro Granite. Plaque: Bronze.

What size is it? 24 by 50 inches and 7 feet high.

Who made it? Van Armitage Granite Company

What does it depict? One of 45 monuments erected to units of the United States regular army on the battlefield. A red polished Jonesboro granite monolith that is set upon a concrete foundation with a descriptive 3’6′x3’7′ bronze tablet with the coat of arms of the United States in bronze.

What does it honor? Locates position occupied by Heaton’s Battery of Regular 2nd Artillery during Battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863.

How is it inscribed? The monument reads,

CAVALRY CORPS
FIRST BRIGADE HORSE ARTILLERY
BATTERIES B & L SECOND ARTILLERY
Six 3 Inch Rifles
Lieut. Edward Heaton Commanding

July 2. Arrived near the battlefield at 5.30 A. M. and reported to Major General Alfred Pleasonton who ordered the Battery to be held in reserve until near dark when it was moved back two miles on the Baltimore Pike for the night.

July 3. Moved to the front and was ordered to the position occupied the day before but being subject to the severe artillery fire the Battery was ordered to retire out of range and there remained until the close of the battle.

When was this photograph taken? September 3, 2007.

Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. Located north side of Pleasonton Avenue at the Hummelbaugh Farm.

Is this monument located along the NPS Auto Tour route? No.

Has this monument been moved or changed? This monument has not been moved or materially altered.

Monument Details, Alternative Views, and Contextual Views

Secondary Monuments and Markers

2nd United States Batteries B and LMonument Title: Second Monument

Photographed: October 8, 2007.

Location: Granite Schoolhouse Lane. Located south side of Granite Schoolhouse Lane, to commemorate artillery park on adjacent George Spangler Farm. This monument is denoted on the map above by a RED pushpin.

Description: One of 45 monuments erected to units of the United States regular army on the battlefield. Red granite monolith with gabled top and rough hewn sides and back consists of polished Jonesboro granite 24 by 50 inches and 7 feet high. Set upon a concrete foundation with a descriptive 3’6″x3’7″ bronze tablet and the coat of arms of the United States in bronze. Locates positions occupied by Regular 2nd Artillery during Battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863.

Inscription: Reads,

ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
CAVALRY CORPS
FIRST BRIGADE HORSE ARTILLERY
BATTERIES B & L SECOND U. S. ARTILLERY
Six 3 Inch Rifles
Lieut. Edward Heaton Commanding

July 2. Arrived at 5.30 A. M. In reserve during the day and at night withdrew two miles on the Baltimore Pike.

July 3. Advanced to former position in the morning and ordered to the Reserve Artillery and for a time exposed to a severe fire. In the evening was withdrawn to the position of the previous night.

At Gettysburg

The 2nd United States Artillery, Batteries B and L served as a member of Robertson’s Brigade in the Pleasanton’s Corps, Army of the Potomac.

Commander: Lt. Edward Heaton (1842-1884). Born in Cincinnati, Ohio. Post-war lawyer in New Jersey.

Number Engaged: 6 ordnance rifles and 136 men

Casualties: no loss

General Information

Raised: The battery was raised in New York City and Hamilton County Ohio (Cincinnati).

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

Battery B

At Fortress Monroe, Va., January, 1861. Attached to Dept. of Virginia April, 1861, to September, 1861. Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac, to May, 1862. Consolidated with Battery “L” 2nd Artillery, May, 1862, and attached to 1st Brigade, Horse Artillery, Artillery Reserve, 5th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to September, 1862. Pleasanton’s Cavalry Division, Army of the Potomac, to November, 1862. Averill’s Cavalry Brigade, Right Grand Division, Army of the Potomac, to February, 1863. 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1863. 1st Brigade, Horse Artillery, Army of the Potomac and Shenandoah, to December, 1864. Reserve Artillery, Middle Military Division, to April, 1865. Horse Artillery Brigade, 22nd Corps, to August, 1865.

SERVICE.–Action at Big Bethel, Va., June 10, 1861. Capture of Forts Hatteras and Clark, Hatteras Inlet, N. C., August 28-29. Moved to Washington, D.C., September, and duty there until March, 1862. Moved to the Virginia Peninsula. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. Near Williamsburg May 4. Sistersville, New Kent Court House, May 9. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Turkey Bridge June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison’s Landing until August 16. Moved to Fortress Monroe, thence to Alexandria August 16-24. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Sugar Loaf Mountain September 10-11. Frederick, Md., September 12. Catoctin Mountain September 13. Battle of Antietam September 16-17. Shepherdstown Ford September 19. Markham Station November 4. Warrenton November 6. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 8. Stoneman’s Raid April 29-May 8. Brandy Station or Fleetwood and Beverly Ford June 9. Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Brandy Station August 1-4. Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13-17. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Raccoon Ford October 10. Morton’s Ford, Stevensburg, and Kelly’s Ford October 11. Brandy Station or Fleetwood October 11-12. Oak Hill October 15. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-9. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. New Hope Church November 27. Rapidan Campaign May 4-June 12. Wilderness May 5-7. Brock Road and the Furnaces May 6. Todd’s Tavern May 7-8. Sheridan’s Raid to the James River May 9-24. Ground Squirrel Church and Yellow Tavern May 11. Brook Church or Richmond fortifications May 12. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Hanovertown May 27. Crump’s Creek and Haw’s Shop May 28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-7. Siege of Petersburg June 16-August 5. Deep Bottom July 27-29. Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-November 28. Tell Gate, near White Post, and near Newtown August 11. Cedarville, Guard Hill or Front Royal August 16. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Near Cedarville September 20. Front Royal September 21. Milford September 22. Waynesboro September 29. Tom’s Brook October 8-9. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. Expedition to Lacey Springs December 19-22. Duty in the Shenandoah Valley until April, 1865, and at Washington, D.C., until August, 1865.

Battery L

At Fortress Monroe, Va., January, 1861. Attached to Dept. of Virginia to September, 1861. Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac, to May, 1862. Consolidated with Battery “B” May, 1862, and attached to 1st Brigade, Horse Artillery, Artillery Reserve, 5th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to September, 1862. Artillery, Pleasanton’s Cavalry Division, Army of the Potomac, to November, 1862. Averill’s Cavalry Brigade, Right Grand Division, Army of the Potomac, to February, 1863. 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1863. 1st Brigade, Horse Artillery, Army of the Potomac, to August, 1864. Horse Artillery, Army of the Shenandoah, Middle Military Division, to December, 1864. Reserve Horse Artillery, Army of the Shenandoah, to April, 1865. Horse Artillery Brigade, 22nd Army Corps, to August, 1865.

SERVICE.–Duty at Fortress Monroe, Va., until September, 1861. Ordered to Washington, D.C., and duty there until March, 1862. Ordered to the Virginia Peninsula. Peninsula Campaign April to August. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Turkey Bridge June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison’s Landing until August 16. Moved to Fortress Monroe, thence to Alexandria August 16-24. Maryland Campaign September 7-22. Sugar Loaf Mountain September 10-11. Frederick September 12. Catoctin Mountain September 13. Battle of Antietam September 16-17. Shepherdstown Ford September 19. Markham Station November 4. Warrenton November 6. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 8. Stoneman’s Raid April 29-May 6. Brandy Station or Fleetwood and Beverly Ford June 9. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Brandy Station August 1-4. Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13-17. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Raccoon Ford October 10. Morton’s Ford, Stevensburg, and Kelly’s Ford October 11. Brandy Station or Fleetwood October 11-12. Oak Hill October 15. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. New Hope Church November 27. Rapidan Campaign May 4-June 12, 1864. Wilderness May 5-7. Brock Road and the Furnaces May 6. Todd’s Tavern May 7-8. Sheridan’s Raid to the James River May 9-24. Ground Squirrel Church and Yellow Tavern May 11. Brook Church, Fortifications of Richmond, May 12. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Hanovertown May 27. Crump’s Creek and Haw’s Shop May 28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-7. Siege of Petersburg June 16-August 5. Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-November 28. Toll Gate, near White Post, and near Newtown August 11. Cedarville, Guard Hill or Front Royal August 16. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Near Cedarville September 20. Front Royal September 21. Milford September 22. Waynesboro September 29. Tom’s Brook October 8-9. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. Expedition to Lacey Springs December 19-22. Duty in the Shenandoah Valley until April, 1865, and at Washington, D.C., until August. Moved to Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Md., August, 1865.

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