Draw the Sword

Tidball’s Battery

Location: Chambersburg Pike

Order of Battle: Cavalry Corps, Assigned to 1st Division

Number Engaged: 80 men; 6 Ordnance Rifles; 12 wounded

Commander: Lt. John H. Calef (1841-1912)

Raised: It was enlisted from New York City and Hamilton County, Ohio. Originally organized in 1821, it was serving at Fort Pickens prior to being assigned to the Army of the Potomac.

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
CAVALRY CORPS
SECOND BRIGADE HORSE ARTILLERY
BATTERY A SECOND U. S. ARTILLERY
SIX 3 INCH RIFLES
Lieut. John H. Calef Commanding

June 30. Arrived in the evening from Emmitsburg and took position on the Chambersburg Pike.

July 1. Advanced with the First Division Cavalry Corps the right and left sections on the Chambersburg Pike. The centre section under Sergt. Chas. Percel posted here with the First Brigade First Division Cavalry Corps and assisted in repulsing an attack of the Confederate Infantry. This section having been withdrawn joined the Battery in the rear and again advanced with left section and relieved Battery B First Maine Artillery on Chambersburg Pike in the afternoon but was soon compelled by a front and enfilading fire to retire. Rejoined the Battery in position with the Cavalry on the left in front of Cemetery Ridge and remained during the night.

Casualties Wounded 12 Men

13 Horses Killed

Other Monuments and Memorials: There is a second marker for the other section of the battery located along South Reynolds Avenue. It reads,

ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
CAVALRY CORPS
SECOND BRIGADE HORSE ARTILLERY
BATTERY A SECOND U. S. ARTILLERY
SIX 3 INCH RIFLES
Lieut. John H. Calef Commanding

June 30. Arrived in the evening from Emmitsburg and took position on the Chambersburg Pike.

July 1. Advanced with the Cavalry went into position with right section on right of the road left section on the left and centre with Col. Wm. Chamble’s Brigade on the right of Fairfield Road. The first Union gun of the battle was fired from right section and the positions held under a severe fire until the First Corps arrived about 10 A. M. The Battery was then relieved by Capt. J. A. Hall’s 2D Maine Battery and after being supplied with ammunition returned about 3 P M. but under a front and enfilading fire it retired to a line in front of Cemetery Ridge and towards night moved to the left about a mile and bivouacked for the night near theThird Corps.

July 2. A. M. marched with the First Brigade of Major General John Buford’s Division to Taneytown en route to Westminster.

Casualties Wounded 12 Men

Lost 13 Horses Killed

Supplemental Materials: After Action Report of Lieut. John H. Calef (will open a pop up window).

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

At Washington, D.C., January, 1861. Expedition to relief of Fort Pickens, Fla., and return to Washington. Attached to Blenker’s Brigade, Miles’ Division, McDowell’s Army of Northeast Virginia, June to August, 1861. Heintzelman’s Brigade, Division of the Potomac, to October, 1861. Blenker’s Brigade, Division of the Potomac, to October, 1861. Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac, to May, 1862. 1st Brigade, Horse Artillery, Artillery Reserve, 5th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to September, 1862. Artillery, Cavalry Division, Army of the Potomac, to February, 1863. Artillery Reserve, attached to 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1863. 2nd Brigade, Horse Artillery, attached to 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, to May, 1865. Dept. of Washington, 22nd Corps.

SERVICE.–Advance on Manassas, Va., July 16-21, 1861. 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. Near Williamsburg May 4. Mechanicsville May 23-24. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Mechanicsville June 26. Gaines’ Mill June 27. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison’s Landing until August 16. Cog’s Point July 31-August 1. Moved to Fortress Monroe, thence to Alexandria August 16-24. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Sugar Loaf Mountain September 11-12. Boonsborough September 15. Battle of Antietam September 16-17. Shepherdstown Ford September 19. Upperville and Bloomfield November 2-3. Snicker’s Gap November 3-4. Markham Station November 4. Amissville November 10. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. Operations at Rappahannock Bridge and Grove Church February 5-7, 1863. Stoneman’s Raid April 29-May 8. Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3. Emmettsburg, Md., July 4. Williamsport and Hagerstown July 6. Boonsborough July 8. Old Antietam Forge July 10. Falling Waters July 14. Chester Gap July 21-22. Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13-17. Culpeper Court House September 13. Raccoon Ford September 14-16. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Groveton October 17-18. Gainesville and Buckland Mills October 19. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. New Hope Church November 27. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7, 1864. Barnett’s Ford February 6-7. Rapidan Campaign May 4-June 12. Wilderness May 5-7. Spotsylvania Court House May 8-21. Cold Harbor June 1-7. Gaines’ Mill, Salem Church and Haw’s Shop June 2. Sheridan’s Trevillian Raid June 7-24. Trevillian Station June 11-12. Black Creek or Tunstall Station and White House or St. Peter’s Church June 21. St. Mary’s Church June 24. Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond June 29, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Lee’s Mills July 12, 1864. Demonstration north ½ of the James River July 27-29. Deep Bottom July 27-28. Malvern Hill July 29. Lee’s Mills July 30. Demonstration north of the James August 13-20. Gravel Hill August 14. Deep Run August 16. Strawberry Plains August 16-18. Dinwiddie Road, near Ream’s Station, August 23. Ream’s Station August 23-25. Poplar Grove Church September 29-October 2. Arthur’s Swamp September 30-October 1. Boydton Plank Road October 27-28. Reconnaissance toward Stony Creek November 7. Stony Creek Station December 1. Warren’s Expedition to Weldon Railroad December 7-12. Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Dinwiddie Court House March 30-31. Five Forks April 1. Namozine Church April 3. Payne’s Cross Roads April 5. Amelia Springs April 5. Sailor’s Creek April 6. Appomattox Station April 8. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Expedition to Danville April 23-29. Moved to Washington, D.C. Grand Review May 23. Duty at Washington, D.C.