The First United States Artillery Battery I is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.
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 Woodruff’s Regular 1st Artillery, July 2-3, 1864, during Battle of Gettysburg
How is it inscribed? The monument reads,
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
SECOND CORPS
ARTILLERY BRIGADE
BATTERY I FIRST U. S. ARTILLERY
Six 12 Pounders
Lieut. George A. Woodruff Commanding
Lieut. Tully McCrea Commanding
July 2 & 3. Arrived and took position in Ziegler’s Grove on the left of Evergreen Cemetery actively engaged and assisted in repelling Longstreet’s assault. Lieut. Woodruff was mortally wounded on the 3D and the command devolved on Lieut. Tully McCrea.
Casualties Killed 1 Man Wounded 1 Officer and 23 Men
When was this photograph taken? April 14, 2011.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. Located in Ziegler’s grove, east side of Hancock Avenue.
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
At Gettysburg
The 1st United States Artillery, Battery I was also known as Rickett’s Battery. During the battle of Gettysburg, it served as a member of Hazard’s Brigade in the Second Corps, Army of the Potomac.
Commander: Lt. George A. Woodruff (1840-1863). Born in Marshall, Michigan. USMA 1861. Mortally wounded on July 3, dying the following day.
Number Engaged: 6 Napoleons and 113 men
Casualties: 1 killed, 24 wounded
Officers Killed at Gettysburg:
- 1st Lieutenant George A. Woodruff, commanding, USMA 1861, mortally wounded on July 3, of Marshall, Michigan, aged 23
Soldiers Buried in the United States Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:
- Pvt. Patrick McGuinity, D-19
- Pvt. Thomas Padgett, B-6
General Information
Raised: The unit was organized in 1821 from recruits from New York City and Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Stationed at Fort Pickens, Fla., January to May, 1861. Moved to Fort Hamilton, N.Y. Harbor, May 13-26, thence to Washington, D.C., July 8. At Arlington Heights, Va., until July 16. Attached to Richardson’s Brigade, Tyler’s Division, McDowell’s Army Northeast Virginia, to August, 1861. Richardson’s Brigade, Division Potomac, to October, 1861. Artillery Reserve, Army Potomac (temporarily attached to Batteries “E” and “K,” 1st Artillery, February, 1862), to May, 1862. 2nd Brigade, Artillery Reserve, 5th Army Corps, Army Potomac, to September, 1862. Artillery, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps, to October, 1862. Artillery, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps, to May, 1863. 2nd Regular Brigade, Artillery Reserve, Army Potomac, to June, 1863. 2nd Brigade, Horse Artillery, Army Potomac, to June, 1864.
SERVICE.–Reconnaissance from Alexandria on Fairfax, Richmond and Mt. Vernon Roads July 14. Advance on Manassas, Va., July 16-21. Occupation of Fairfax Court House July 17. Blackburn’s Ford July 18. Battle of Bull Run July 21. Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C., until March, 1862. Moved to the Virginia Peninsula. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. Battle of Fair Oaks, Seven Pines, May 31-June 1. Seven days before Richmond June 26-July 1. Golding’s Farm June 27. Savage Station and Peach Orchard June 29. White Oak Swamp and Glendale June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison’s Landing until August 16. Moved to Fortress Monroe, thence to Centerville August 16-28. Pope’s Campaign in Virginia August 28-September 2. Battles of Groveton August 29. Bull Run August 30. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Crampton’s Pass September 14. Battle of Antietam September 16-17. Shepherdstown Ford September 19-20. At Sharpsburg, Md., until October 30. Movement to Falmouth October 30-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 11-15. At Falmouth until April, 1863. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-6. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Aldie June 17. Middleburg June 19. Upperville June 20-21. Ashby’s Gap June 21. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Shepherdstown July 16. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Custer’s Raid into Albemarle County February 28-March 1. Near Charlottesville February 29. Stannardsville March 1. Rapidan Campaign May 4-June 5. Wilderness May 5-7. Spotsylvania May 8-21. Milford Station May 21. Chesterfield May 23. North Anna May 23-26. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Machump’s Creek May 31. Cold Harbor June 1-5. Sharp’s Farm June 3. Moved to Washington, D.C., June 18, and garrison duty at Forts Willard and Strong, Defenses of Washington, 22nd Corps, to October, 1865.
United States Regular Army at Gettysburg
Infantry Units :: 2nd Infantry :: 3rd Infantry :: 4th Infantry :: 6th Infantry :: 7th Infantry :: 8th Infantry :: 10th Infantry :: 11th Infantry :: 12th Infantry :: 14th Infantry :: 17th Infantry :: Artillery Units :: 1st Artillery E&G :: 1st Artillery H :: 1st Artillery I :: 1st Artillery K :: 2nd Artillery A :: 2nd Artillery D :: 2nd Artillery G :: 2nd Artillery B&L :: 2nd Artillery M :: 3rd Artillery C :: 3rd Artillery F&K :: 4th Artillery A :: 4th Artillery B :: 4th Artillery C :: 4th Artillery E :: 4th Artillery F :: 4th Artillery G :: 4th Artillery K :: 5th Artillery C :: 5th Artillery D :: 5th Artillery F :: 5th Artillery I :: 5th Artillery K :: Cavalry Units :: 1st Cavalry :: 2nd Cavalry :: 5th Cavalry :: 6th Cavalry :: Other Units :: Engineer Battalion :: Signal Corps
6 Comments
Jenny,
Battery I, 1st US has an unfortunate CW history. The battery, with which young T. J. Jackson won his brevets in Mexico, was under Ricketts’ command at First Bull Run while facing, among others, Jackson’s command. Ricketts was severely wounded in that battle. Woodruff took over the battery later in 1861, but relinquished command to Edmund Kirby. They switched off command as they alternated illnesses, with Kirby eventually “winning out”. He was mortally wounded at Chancellorsville, and while under the care of Mrs. Ricketts received a deathbed promotion to Brigadier General from Lincoln himself.
Thank you for the more detailed history of Battery I, Harry. I greatly appreciate when people can add some good information to the basic sketches of the units I have provided.
Doing research on Tully McCrea, part of Battery I.
Hey all,
Just found your posts.. I am a re-enactor in Minnesota.. We portray a detachment of Battery I, 1st U.S. Artillery and I have come up with some very interesting factoids about them.. Unfortunately, so much has been lost but you might find it intersting.
Check out our website at
batteryi.org
I would love to communicate with anyone doing research on this historic battery as you probably have info I do not.
Our contact information is on the website.
Best Regards and thanks to all for helping keep this history alive !!!
Bill
Hello, I also just found your post, I’m currently doing some research on the battery’s action and location during the battle. I am also a re-enactor in Minn. with Bill Dalin (Hi ya Sarge) Any more info would be appreciated by me and the battery, so please visit our website if you haven’t yet at:
batteri.org.
And like Bill said, Thanks for all your hard work keeping this history alive.
Tony
Here’s an interesting report from Lt. Woodruff after Antietam:
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that about 10 a. m. on the 17th instant, in obedience to an order from Major Clarke, chief of artillery of General Sumner’s corps, I moved to the front with Light Company I, First U. S. Artillery, and took a position in an open field, in front of which, at a distance of about 300 yards, was a piece of woods occupied by the enemy in force. At the time when we came up, our line of infantry had been broken, and was retreating rapidly and in great disorder. Coming in battery, we opened fire with canister at once, and though entirely without infantry supports, succeeded in checking the advance of the enemy. They still, however, remained in the woods, and we continued our fire, using spherical case or canister according to their distance at different times. At the end of about half an hour, a small body of cavalry advanced from the woods toward our right, but were broken up and driven back a few rounds of canister at 200 yards. A few minutes later, a large body of the rebels were seen forming in the woods and behind a small school-house or church opposite the left of the battery. At them I at once directed a fire of solid, with apparently consider-able effect.
A heavy mass of rebel infantry soon moved to our left in such a way as to be almost entirely cove red from our fire by the peculiar nature of the ground. A change of front was impracticable from the want of time, and the fact that while protecting one flank we should expose the other. Being still without supports, our only course was to retire, and accordingly I fell back about 200 yards to the edge of the woods, where we were supported on the right and could protect our left. After firing from this position a few rounds, the rebels, who by this time had met some of our infantry, were again driven back. Immediate danger being now over, Major Clarke directed me to retire and replace the ammunition we had expended, relieving us with a battery not before engaged.
We were not again in position until about 5 p. m., when Colonel Colburn, of General McClellan’s staff, directed me to select a position for the battery on the right of our line, if needed there, otherwise to go farther to the left and get into the action as soon as possible. This I proceeded to do, but, while placing my pieces near the right, I received another order from the general commanding to go toward the left and report to General Hancock. This I did, and was placed by him on a hill on the right of his left brigade, with orders not to fire except in reply to a rebel battery or in case of an attack by them. Here we remained until 2 O’clock p. m. the following day, but without having occasion to fire. At this time we were relieved by one of the batteries belonging properly to General Hancock’s division.
During the engagement we expended 168 rounds of canister, 75 rounds spherical case, and 27 rounds of solid shot. Two horses were killed and two wounded. The accuracy of the fire and our success generally are due in a very great measure to Lieutenants French, McCrea, and Egan, of the First Artillery, commanding sections, who throughout the engagement behaved with great coolness and gallantry. The conduct of the enlisted men, both those belonging to the company and those temporarily attached, was all that could have been wished. To mention an individual is almost an injustice to the rest, but I will name Sergt. Peter Blanchard, who, though too lame to ride his horse, rode on his caisson, and commanded his piece during the whole fight in the most creditable manner.