The Ninth Massachusetts Artillery Battery is honored by a monument and two position stones (Trostle Farm and at Ziegler’s Grove) at Gettysburg.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? Installed 1885.
What is it made out of? Quincy granite with a bronze plaque.
What size is it? Overall: approx. 9 ft. x 4 ft. 1 in. x 3 ft. 5 in.
Who made it? Bigelow, John, sculptor. Reed, Charles, sculptor. Boston Marble & Granite Company, fabricator.
What does it depict? The monument cost $1,000.00. Rough-hewn monolith contains various relief elements in a recessed area on the front and a long plaque with text describing the events of July 2, 1863 on the rear. Decorative elements include a palm frond and the State Seal. Monument is a 3.10×3.1 foot granite monolith with bronze inscription tablet on the north side and dedicatory inscriptions, and a relief and coat of arms on the south face. Overall height is 8.5 feet.
What does it honor? It indicates the first position held by the 9th Massachusetts Battery on July 2, 1863, before being forced to withdraw in the face of the assault by Barksdale’s Confederates. Marks position held by Bigelow’s Battery when they shelled Confederates at Rose Farm pm of July 2, 1863.
How is it inscribed? NINTH MASS./BATTERY,/CAPTAIN BIGELOW/JULY 2, 1863/KILLED, WOUNDED 2 OFFICERS 1/3 NON. COM. OFFICERS 6/5 ENLISTED MEN 13/10 [illegible]20/80 HORSES
When was this photograph taken? March 18, 2007.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Wheatfield Avenue, north side, between the two Sickles Avenues, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325.
Is this monument located along the NPS Auto Tour route? Yes.
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: Position Marker at the Trostle Farm. Second Position Marker.
Photographed: June 4, 2011.
Location: United States Avenue, Trostle Farmhouse. Located on the north side of United States Avenue west of the Trostle farm house, along the historic farm lane. This monument is marked on the map above by a RED pushpin.
Description: Dedicated 1885. A limber chest of polished granite rests on a rough-hewn stone base. The monument marks the second position held by the Ninth Massachusetts Artillery Battery on July 2, 1863. Monument is a 3.7×1.3 foot block of granite in the form of an artillery limber chest and set on a 4.7×2.2 foot rough hewn base that rests on a large native boulder. The block contains inscriptions. Overall height is five feet.
Monument Title: Position on July 3, 1863.
Photographed: October 5, 2007.
Location: North Hancock Avenue, Ziegler’s Grove. This monument is marked on the map above by a BLUE pushpin.
Description: Dedicated 1885. The monument marks the third position held by the remains of Bigelow’s Battery on July 3, 1863. A rough slab of granite carved with a relief depicting a soldier’s backpack. Monument is a rough cut granite shaft with detail of an artillery ammo pouch and inscriptions. Overall height is 4.8 foot.
At Gettysburg
The 9th Massachusetts Artillery was also known as Bigelow’s Battery. During the battle of Gettysburg, it served as a member of McGilvery’s Brigade in the Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac.
Commander: Capt. John Bigelow (1841-1917). Graduate of Harvard University. Wounded at Malvern Hill and on July 2 at Gettysburg.
Number Engaged: 6 Napoleons 110 men
Casualties: 8 killed, 18 wounded, 2 missing (Battery lost 60 of 86 horses as well)
Officers Killed at Gettysburg:
- 1st Lieutenant Christopher E. Erickson, of Boston, killed after being wounded several times on July 2
- 1st Lieutenant Alexander H. Whitaker, of Roxbury, mortally wounded on July 2
Soldiers Buried in the Massachusetts Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:
- Pvt. John Crossson, A-4
- Pvt. Arthur Murphy, A-1
After Action Report: After Action Report of Lieut. Richard S. Milton (1840-1904) (will open a pop up window).
Medal of Honor Winners: REED, CHARLES W. Rank and organization: Bugler, 9th Independent Battery, Massachusetts Light Artillery. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: ——. Birth: Charlestown, Mass. Date of issue: 16 August 1895. Citation: Rescued his wounded captain from between the lines.
General Information
Raised: Middlesex County
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized at Camp Meigs, Readville, and mustered in August 10, 1862. Left State for Washington, D.C., September 3. Attached to Abercrombie’s Division, Military District of Washington, D.C., to February, 1863. 2nd Brigade, Abercrombie’s Division. 22nd Army Corps, Dept. of Washington, to May, 1863. Barry’s Command, 22nd Army Corps, to July, 1863. 1st Volunteer Brigade, Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac, to December, 1863. 2nd Volunteer Brigade, Artillery Reserve, to April, 1864. 3rd Volunteer Brigade, Artillery Reserve, to May, 1864. Artillery Brigade, 5th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1865.
SERVICE.–Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C., September, 1862, to June, 1863. At Camp Seymour, Capital Hill, September 7-22, 1862; at Camp Chase until October 27; at Camp Barry until November 19; at Forts Ramsey and Buffalo, Upton’s Hill, Va., until April 17, 1863. Moved to Centreville, Va., April 17; thence to Fairfax C. H. and Edward’s Ferry June 25. To Frederick City, Md., June 27; to Middleburg June 29; to Tanneytown June 30, and to Gettysburg, Pa., July 1. Battle of Gettysburg July 2-4. Supported 3rd Corps in battle of July 2, and was the last of five Batteries to withdraw, firing by prolong when the Corps was obliged to fall back. After retiring 400 yards it was ordered to make a stand close to the Trostle house and hold that point at all hazards, until a line of Artillery could be formed. It was immediately charged by Col. Humphrey’s 21st Mississippi Regiment, which entered the Battery and were fought hand to hand by the Cannoneers until they had suffered a loss of 28 men killed and wounded and 65 horses, when it was ordered to fall back, having sacrificed itself for the safety of the line. At Warrenton August 1-September 16, and at Culpeper C. H. until October 11. Bristoe Campaign October 11-22, Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. At Brandy Station December 13, 1863, to May 4, 1864. Rapidan Campaign May-June. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7. Laurel Hill May 8. Spottsylvania May 8-12. Spottsylvania C. H. May 12-21. North Anna River May 23-26, Line of the Pamunkey River 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. Built and occupied Fort Davis June 24 to August 14, 1864. Weldon Railroad August 18-21. Garrison Fort Duschene and Fort Howard until October 27. Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28. Warren’s Raid on Weldon Railroad December 7-12. Garrison Fort Rice until February 5, 1865. Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7. Fort Stedman March 25. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2. Duty at City Point until May 3. Moved to Washington, D.C., May 3-13. Grand Review May 23. Mustered out at Gallop’s Island, Boston Harbor, June 6, 1865. Battery lost during service 2 Officers and 13 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 4 Enlisted men by disease. Total 19.
Massachusetts at Gettysburg
1st Infantry :: 1st Company Sharpshooters :: 2nd Infantry :: 2nd Company Sharpshooters :: 7th Infantry :: 9th Infantry :: 10th Infantry :: 11th Infantry :: 12th Infantry :: 13th Infantry :: 15th Infantry :: 16th Infantry :: 18th Infantry :: 19th Infantry :: 20th Infantry :: 22nd Infantry :: 28th Infantry :: 32nd Infantry :: 33rd Infantry :: 37th Infantry :: 1st Cavalry :: 1st Light A :: 3rd Light C :: 5th Light E :: 9th Light
