Draw the Sword

Howe’s Battery

Location: Barlow’s Knoll.

Order of Battle: 11th Corps Artillery Brigade

Number Engaged: 6 Napoleons, 122 men; 2 killed, 11 wounded, 4 missing

Commander: Lt. Bayard Wilkenson (1844-1863)

Raised: The original unit was organized in 1821. The men came mainly from Cook County, Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri. At the outbreak of the Civil War, this unit was stationed at Fort Randall in the Nebraska Territory.

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: Reads,

ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
ELEVENTH CORPS
ARTILLERY BRIGADE
BATTERY G FOURTH U. S. ARTILLERY
Six 12 Pounders
Lieut. Bayard Wilkeson Commanding

July 1. Arrived at Gettysburg about 11 A. M. Advanced and took position two sections on Barlow’s Knoll the left section detached near Almshouse. Engaged Confederate infantry and artillery on right and left. Lieut. Wilkenson fell early mortally wounded and the command devolved on Lieut. Bancroft. The sections were compelled to change positions several times. Retired about 4 P. M. one section relieving a section of Battery I 1st Ohio on Baltimore Street in covering the retreat. About 5 P. M. took position on Cemetery Hill.

July 2. Moved to rear of Cemetery facing Baltimore Pike. In action at the Cemetery from 4.30 P. M. until 7 P. M.

July 3. About 2 P. M. two sections were engaged in the Cemetery until the repulse of the Confederates.

Casualties Killed 1 Officer and 1 Man Wounded 11 Men Missing 4 Men

Ammunition Expended 1400 rounds 31 Horses Killed

Other Monuments and Memorials: There is a second monument in the National Cemetery. It reads,

ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
ELEVENTH CORPS
ARTILLERY BRIGADE
BATTERY G FOURTH U. S. ARTILLERY
Six 12 Pounders
Lieut. Eugene A. Bancroft Commanding

July 1. Arrived at Gettysburg about 11 A. M. Advanced and took position two sections on Barlow’s Knoll the left section detached near Almshouse. Engaged Confederate infantry and artillery on right and left. Lieut. Wilkeson fell early mortally wounded and the command devolved to Lieut. Bancroft. The sections were compelled to change positions several times. Retired about 4 P. M. one section relieving a section of Battery I 1st Ohio on Baltimore Street in covering the retreat.

July 2. Moved to rear of Cemetery facing Baltimore Pike. In action at the Cemetery from 4.30 P. M. until 7 P. M.

July 3. About 2 P. M. two sections were engaged in the Cemetery until repulse of the Confederates.

Casualties Killed 1 Officer and 1 Man Wounded 11 Men Missing 4 Men

Ammunition expended 1400 Rounds 31 Horses Killed

Supplemental Materials: After Action Report of Lieut. Eugene A. Bancroft (will open a pop up window).

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

Organized at Cincinnati, Ohio, and Joined McClellan in West Virginia July, 1861. Attached to 3rd Brigade, Army of Occupation, West Virginia, to September, 1861. Cheat Mountain District, West Virginia, to December, 1861. Defenses of Washington, D. C., to March, 1862. Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac, to May, 1862. 2nd Brigade, Horse Artillery, Artillery Reserve, 5th Army Corps, Potomac, to September, 1862. Artillery Reserve, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to November, 1862. Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac, to May, 1863. 1st Regular Brigade, Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1863. Artillery Brigade, 11th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to October, 1863, and Army of the Cumberland to November, 1863. Artillery, 2nd Division, 4th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to March, 1864. 1st Division, Artillery Reserve, Dept. of the Cumberland, to October, 1864.

SERVICE.–West Virginia Campaign July 6-17, 1861. Moved to Cheat Mountain and duty there until December, 1861. Action at Greenbrier River October 3-4. Blue’s Gap January 7, 1862. Moved to Washington, D. C., and duty there until March, 1862. Ordered to the Virginia Peninsula. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Bottom’s Bridge June 28-29. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison’s Landing until August 16. Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Alexandria August 16-23. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Battle of Antietam September 16-17. Shepherdstown Ford September 19. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 30-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-6. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3. Movement to Bridgeport, Ala., September 24-October 3. Reopening Tennessee River October 26-29. Battles of Chattanooga, Tenn., November 23-25; Bushy Knob November 23; Orchard Knob November 23-24; Mission Ridge November 25. Moved to Nashville, Tenn., February, 1864, and post duty thru until October. Transferred to Battery “I” 4th Artillery October, 1864. Remounted as a Battery at Washington, D.C., February, 1865, and duty in the Defenses of that city until August.