** ** 5th United States Artillery, Battery D
Posted to the Project on 28 Nov 07
Known as “Griffin’s” or “The West Point Battery,” 5th U.S. Battery D was commanded at Gettysburg by Lt. Charles E. Hazlett (1838-1863), a native of Zanesville, Ohio. Hazlett was a graduate of the West Point class of 1859. Hazlett was killed as the fighting closed on Little Round Top on the afternoon of July 2.
Lt. Benjamin F. Rittenhouse (1839-1915), a clerk from Washington, took command from Hazlett.
Enlisted from New York City and Suffolk County, Massachusetts, the battery was raised in January 1861 by then Lt. Charles Griffin (future commander of the Fifth Corps) at West Point. The marker is located where Hazlett fell; the 91st Pennsylvania monument a few feet away also is reputed to be that spot.
5th United States Artillery Battery D
5th Corps Artillery Brigade
Lt. Charles E. Hazlett (1838-1863)
Engaged: 6 Parrotts and 124 men; 7 killed, 6 wounded
Monument: Little Round Top
Monument Specifications: Granite monument with bronze descriptive plaque affixed to front.
Dedication Date: 1907-1908.
Main Inscription:
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
FIFTH CORPS
ARTILLERY BRIGADE
BATTERY D FIFTH U. S. ARTILLERY
Six Rifled 10 Pounders
Lieut. Charles E. Hazlett Commanding
July 2. Marched to the left of the Union line about 4.30 P. M. and in rear of Brig. General J. Barnes’ First Division Fifth Corps. Immediately upon taking position here at 5.45 opened fire upon the Confederates who were engaging the Division. The Battery kept up a continuous fire until after dark. Lieut. Hazlett was mortally wounded and the command devolved upon Lieut. Benjamin F. Rittenhouse.
July 3. Remained in position and in the afternoon did effective service on the lines of infantry engaged in Longstreet’s assault.
Casualties Killed 1 Officer and 6 Men Wounded 6 Men
Other Monuments & Markers: None.
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
Attached to Porter’s Division, Army Potomac, October, 1861, to March, 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army Potomac, to May, 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps, Army Potomac, to May, 1863. Artillery Brigade, 5th Army Corps, to December, 1863. Camp Barry, Washington, D.C., 22nd Army Corps, to March, 1864. Artillery Brigade, 5th Army Corps, to November, 1864. Consolidated with Battery “G” November, 1864. Artillery Reserve, Army Potomac, to June, 1865. Dept. of Washington, D.C., 22nd Army Corps, to ?.
SERVICE.–Rockville Expedition June 10-July 7, 1861. Duty in the Defenses of Washington until March, 1862. Lewinsville, Va., September 11, 1861. Reconnaissance to Lewinsville September 25. Edward’s Ferry October 22. Ordered to the Virginia Peninsula March, 1862. Howard’s Mills April 4. Warwick Road April 5. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. Hanover Court House May 27. Operations about Hanover Court House May 27-29. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Mechanicsburg June 26. Gaines Mill June 27. Turkey Bridge June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison’s Landing until August 16. Moved to Fortress Monroe, thence to Alexandria August 16-23. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Battle of Antietam September 16-17. Shepherdstown Ford September 19. Reconnaissance to Smithfield, W. Va., October 16-17. Kearneysville and Shepherdstown October 16-17. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. Expedition from Potomac Creek to Richards and Ellis Fords, Rappahannock River, December 29-30. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3. 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. At Camp Barry, Washington, D.C., until March, 1864. Rapidan Campaign May 4-June 12. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spotsylvania Court House May 8-21; North Anna River May 22-26. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Bethesda Church June 1-3. Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Weldon Railroad August 18-21, 1864. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9, 1865. Junction of Quaker and Boydton Roads and Lewis’ Farm March 29. White Oak Road March 31. Battle of Five Forks April 1. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Moved to Washington, D.C., May. Grand Review May 23. Duty at Washington, D.C..