The Fifth Battery, New York Artillery is honored by a monument and two iron tablets at Gettysburg, one on the Baltimore Pike and one in Evergreen Cemetery.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? 1888 or 1889.
What is it made out of? Sculpture: Quincy granite with bronze elements; Base: granite.
What size is it? Sculpture: approx. 2 ft. 2 in. x 4 ft. 7 in. x 2 ft. 5 in.; Base: approx. 8 ft. x 8 ft. 5 in. x 6 ft. 2 in.
Who made it? Frederick & Field, fabricator.
What does it depict? Marker on a tiered, rough-hewn base is topped with a scale model of a Parrot rifled cannon. A round State Seal relief is affixed to the front.
What does it honor? It indicates the position occupied by Taft’s 5th New York Battery from 5:00 P.M. on July 2, 1863.
How is it inscribed? FIFTH NEW YORK/INDEPENDENT BATTERY./(TAFT’S)/2D BRIGADE, ARTILLERY RESERVE (On rear face:) THIS BATTERY/HELD THIS POSITION FROM/5 P.M. JULY 2D TO/5TH 1863/CASUALTIES,/1 KILLED, 2 WOUNDED.
When was this photograph taken? June 14, 2012.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Soldiers’ National Cemetery, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. Located in the east end of the National Cemetery.
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
Monument Title: Iron War Department Position Marker #1
Photographed: May 2, 2010.
Location: Inside the Evergreen Cemetery Gatehouse. This monument is marked on the map above by a RED pushpin.
Description: Iron War Department tablet denotes battery location in Evergreen Cemetery. Painted inscription tablet, 3’8″x3′. Mounted on a fluted post, 4’4″ high. Tablet cast by Calvin Gilbert, founder.
Inscription: Reads,
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
ARTILLERY RESERVE
SECOND VOLUNTEER BRIGADE
FIFTH NEW YORK LIGHT ARTILLERY
Six 20 Pounder Parrots
Captain Elijah D. Taft
July 2. Arrived and halted in park about 10.30 A. M. Moved to the cemetery at 3.30 P. M. and engaged from 4 P. M. until dark. Four guns south of and facing Baltimore Pike firing on a Confederate battery on Benner’s Hill. Two guns firing westwardly.
July 3. Engaged at intervals in same position until 4 P. M. One gun on Baltimore Pike having burst the other three relieved the section firing westwardly. Remained in this position until the close of the battle.
Casualties Killed 1 Man Wounded 2 Men
Ammunition Expended 1114 Rounds
Monument Title: Iron War Department Position Marker #2
Photographed: February 8, 2009.
Location: Baltimore Pike. This monument is marked on the map above by a BLUE pushpin.
Description: Iron War Department tablet denotes battery location along the Baltimore Pike. Painted inscription tablet, 3’8″x3′. Mounted on a fluted post, 4’4″ high. Tablet cast by Calvin Gilbert, founder. The inscription is the same as the tablet located in Evergreen Cemetery.
At Gettysburg
The 5th Independent New York Battery was also known as First Excelsior Artillery. During the battle of Gettysburg, it served as a member of Taft’s Brigade in the Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac.
Commander: Capt. Elijah D. Taft (1819-1915). Carpenter from Brooklyn.
Number Engaged: 146 men and six 20 lb Parrotts
Casualties: 1 killed, 2 wounded
Soldiers Buried in the New York Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:
- Pvt. John C. Begg, A-97
General Information
Raised: New York City and the counties of Monroe and Kings. Was raised as part of the Excelsior Brigade.
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized at New York City and mustered in November 8, 1861. Left State for Washington, D.C., November 16, 1861. Attached to Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac, to May, 1862. Unattached, Artillery Reserve, 5th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to September, 1862. Reserve Artillery, 5th Army Corps, to December, 1862. Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac, to May, 1863. 2nd Volunteer Brigade, Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac, to November, 1863. 1st Volunteer Brigade, Artillery Reserve, to March, 1864. 2nd Brigade, Artillery Reserve, to May, 1864. Artillery Brigade, 5th Army Corps, May 15-19. DeRussy’s Division, 22nd Army Corps, Dept. of Washington, to July, 1864. Artillery Brigade, 6th Army Corps, to August, 1864. Artillery, 1st Division, 19th Army Corps, Army of the Shenandoah, Middle Military Division, to December, 1864. Artillery Brigade, 19th Army Corps, to February, 1865. Artillery Reserve, Army of the Shenandoah, and Dept. of West Virginia, to July, 1865.
SERVICE.–Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D. C., until March, 1862. Peninsula Campaign March to August, 1862. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. Battle of Seven Pines or Fair Oaks May 31-June 1. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Battle of Mechanicsville June 26. Savage Station June 29. White Oak Swamp and Glendale June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison’s Landing until August 16. Moved to Alexandria August 16-24. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Battle of Antietam September 16-17. Duty in Maryland until October 29. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 29-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. “Mud March” January 20-24, 1863. At Falmouth until April. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 3-July 31. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. On line of the Rappahannock until October. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Rappahannock Station November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Campaign of the Rapidan May 3-19, 1864. Battle of the Wilderness May 5-7. Laurel Hill May 8. Spottsylvania May 8-12. Spottsylvania Court House May 12-19. Ordered to Washington May 19, and duty in the Defenses of that city until July. Repulse of Early’s attack on Washington July 11-12. Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-November 28. Battle of Winchester September 19. Fisher’s Hill September 22. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. Duty in the Shenandoah Valley and in the Dept. of West Virginia until July, 1865. Mustered out July 6, 1865. Battery lost during service 4 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 13 Enlisted men by disease. Total 17.
New York at Gettysburg
New York Infantry 10th Infantry :: 12th Infantry :: 33rd Infantry :: 39th Infantry :: 40th Infantry :: 41st Infantry :: 42nd Infantry :: 43rd Infantry :: 44th Infantry :: 45th Infantry :: 49th Infantry :: 52nd Infantry :: 54th Infantry :: 57th Infantry :: 58th Infantry :: 59th Infantry :: 60th Infantry :: 61st Infantry :: 62nd Infantry :: 63rd Infantry :: 64th Infantry :: 65th Infantry :: 66th Infantry :: 67th Infantry :: 68th Infantry :: 69th Infantry :: 70th Infantry :: 71st Infantry :: 72nd Infantry :: 73rd Infantry :: 74th Infantry :: 76th Infantry :: 77th Infantry :: 78th Infantry :: 80th Infantry :: 82nd Infantry :: 83rd Infantry :: 84th Infantry :: 86th Infantry :: 88th Infantry :: 94th Infantry :: 95th Infantry :: 97th Infantry :: 102nd Infantry :: 104th Infantry :: 107th Infantry :: 108th Infantry :: 111th Infantry :: 119th Infantry :: 120th Infantry :: 121st Infantry :: 122nd Infantry :: 123rd Infantry :: 124th Infantry :: 125th Infantry :: 126th Infantry :: 134th Infantry :: 136th Infantry :: 137th Infantry :: 140th Infantry :: 145th Infantry :: 146th Infantry :: 147th Infantry :: 149th Infantry :: 150th Infantry :: 154th Infantry :: 157th Infantry :: New York Cavalry :: 2nd Regiment :: 4th Regiment :: 5th Regiment :: 6th Regiment :: 8th Regiment :: 9th Regiment :: 10th Regiment :: Oneida Company :: New York Artillery :: 1st Artillery B (14th attached) :: 1st Artillery C :: 1st Artillery D :: 1st Artillery G :: 1st Artillery I :: 1st Artillery K (11th attached) :: 1st Artillery E&L :: 1st Artillery M :: 1st Independent :: 3rd Independent :: 4th Independent :: 5th Independent :: 6th Independent :: 10th Independent :: 13th Independent :: 15th Independent
