The First Ohio Artillery Battery K is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? Sept. 14, 1887.
What is it made out of? Sculpture: polished Quincy granite; Base: Quincy granite.
What size is it? Sculpture: approx. H. 9 ft. 6 in.; Marker: approx. 6 ft. 10 in. x 3 ft. x 9 ft.; Base: approx. W. 8 ft. x D. 5 ft.
Who made it? Frederick & Field, fabricator.
What does it depict? Square marker with a saddle finial stands on a rough-hewn base. The front and rear faces of the marker bear inscriptions and reliefs appear on the two sides. The relief on the right side is a wheel with crossed rammers and the relief on the left side is a wreath with crossed swords. There is a relief of the corps insignia of a crescent on the front and upward facing cannon pilasters on the corners. Overall height ten feet. Flanking marker is 1×2 feet.
What does it honor? The monument marks the location, now Gettysburg College near Huber Hall, of Captain Lewis Heckman’s Battery astride Carlisle Pike on July 1, 1863 as they repulsed the enemy. They were ordered to hold position while the 11th Corps retreated.
How is it inscribed? BATTERY K/FIRST OHIO LIGHT ARTILLERY/ARTILLERY BRIGADE 11TH CORPS/ARRIVING ABOUT NOON JULY 1, 1863./THIS BATTERY/CAPT. LEWIS HECKMAN COMMANDING/WENT INTO POSITION HERE IN RESERVE/WHEN THE 11TH CORPS BEGAN TO RETIRE,/ENGAGED THE ENEMY WITH GREAT GALLANTRY./WITH SEVERE LOSS IT WAS WITHDRAWN/CASUALTIES:/2 KILLED, 11 WOUNDED, 2 MISSING.
When was this photograph taken? May 30, 2009.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Corner of Carlisle and Lincoln Streets, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. Located at the corner of Carlisle and Lincoln Streets on the campus of Gettysburg College.
Is this monument located along the NPS Auto Tour route? No.
Has this monument been moved or changed? This monument has not been changed or materially altered.
Monument Details, Alternative Views, and Contextual Views
At Gettysburg
The 1st Ohio Artillery Battery K was also known as Heckman’s Battery. During the battle of Gettysburg, it served as a member of Osborn’s Brigade in the Eleventh Corps, Army of the Potomac.
Commander: Capt. Lewis Heckman (1823-1872). Born in Germany; lived in Cleveland with occupation “manufacturer of fancy cakes and candies.”
Number Engaged: 4 Napoleons and 118 men
Casualties: 2 killed, 11 wounded, 2 missing
Soldiers Buried in the Ohio Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:
- Pvt. Isaac Johnson, E-12
After Action Report: After Action Report of Capt. Lewis Heckman (will open a pop up window).
General Information
Raised: Cuyahoga and Washington counties.
Notable Facts: This battery was originally organized to be formed in West Virginia but due to lack of recruits it was offered to the state of Ohio.
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized at Cleveland, Marietta and Camp Dennison, Ohio, and mustered in October 22, 1861. Left State for West Virginia February, 1862. Attached to Cheat Mountain District, West Virginia, to March, 1862. Cheat Mountain District, Dept. of the Mountains, to June, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Army Corps, Pope’s Army of Virginia, to September. 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, 11th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1863. Reserve Artillery, 11th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1863. Artillery Brigade, 11th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to September, 1863, and Army of the Cumberland to December, 1863. Garrison Artillery, Bridgeport, Ala., Dept. of the Cumberland, to April, 1864. Unattached Artillery, Dept. of the Cumberland, to May, 1864. Stevenson, Ala., District of North Alabama, Dept. of the Cumberland, to October, 1864. 3rd Brigade, Defences Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad, Dept. of the Cumberland, to March, 1865. Post of Stevenson, Ala., Dept. of the Cumberland, to July, 1865.
SERVICE.–Battle of McDowell May 8, 1862; Franklin May 28. Pursuit of Jackson up the Shenandoah Valley, Strasburg and Staunton Road June 1-2. Harrisonburg June 6; Cross Keys June 8; Port Republic June 9: at Middletown until July, and at Sperryville until August. Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Fords of the Rappahannock August 21-23. Freeman’s Ford, Hazel River and Leary’s Ford August 22. Waterloo Bridge August 23-25. Battle of Groveton August 29; Bull Run August 30. Duty in the Defences of Washington, D.C., until December, Expedition from Centreville to Warrenton Junction and Bristoe Station September 25-28. March to Fredericksburg, Va., December 10-16. Burnside’s 2nd Campaign, “Mud March,” January 20-24. 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. Duty on line of the Rappahannock until September. Moved to Bridgeport, Ala., September 24-October 3. Reopening Tennessee River October 26-29. Battle of Wauhatchie October 28-29. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Lookout Mountain November 23-24. Mission Ridge November 25. Assigned to Reserve Artillery and Garrison duty at Bridgeport and Stevenson, Ala., December, 1863, to July, 1865. Ordered home July 3. Mustered out July 17, 1865. Battery lost during service 1 Officer and 5 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 14 Enlisted men by disease. Total 20.
Ohio at Gettysburg
4th Infantry :: 5th Infantry :: 7th Infantry :: 8th Infantry :: 25th Infantry :: 29th Infantry :: 55th Infantry :: 61st Infantry :: 66th Infantry :: 73rd Infantry :: 75th Infantry :: 82nd Infantry :: 107th Infantry :: 1st Cavalry :: 6th Cavalry :: 1st Artillery H :: 1st Artillery I :: 1st Artillery K :: 1st Artillery L
One Comment
I had 2 ancestors fight in that conflict
My GGG Grandfather John A Davidson and my GG Grandfather Bishop Jobes. Were both in Battery K
John Davidson’s 3 Nephews were all in 1st Ohio Artillery Battery A