1st United States, Battery K

1st United States Artillery, Battery K was attached to the 1st Division of the Cavalry Corps. Originally formed in 1838, the unit was stationed at Fort Taylor in Key West, Florida at the start of the Civil War.

The unit was made up of 122 men and 6 Ordnance Rifles. It suffered three casualties. Their commander was Capt. William M. Graham (1834-1916), a nephew on his mother’s side to General Meade. Graham was a professional soldier and an astronomer born in Washington D.C.

Battery K’s monument is located on the South Cavalry battlefield along the Emmitsburg Road.

1st United States, Battery K

Horse Artillery

Engaged: 122 men and 6 Ordnance Rifles; 2 killed, 1 wounded

Monument: South Cavalry Battlefield

1st Vermont Cavalry

The 1st Vermont Cavalry was raised from the counties of Chittenden, Addison, Bennington, Franklin, Lamoille, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, and Windham in November 1861.

It was a large regiment, numbering just under 700.

It’s commander at Gettysburg was Lt. Col. Addison W. Preston (1830-1864), a farmer from Danville. Preston was killed at the battle of Haw’s Shop on June 3, 1864.

The regimental monument is rather simple in design. It is located in the “D shaped field” on the Slyder Farm, west of Big Round Top (it can be viewed from a distance from Confederate Avenue). It was dedicated in October 1889.

The monument marks the position where the regiment fought in an ill-advised charge on July 3. Near this spot, General Elon J. Farnsworth was killed leading his brigade in that charge. Also nearby is a monument to Maj. William Wells, a Medal of Honor winner from this regiment.

1st Vermont Cavalry

Cavalry Corps, 3rd Division, 1st Brigade

Lt. Col. Addison W. Preston (1830-1864)

Engaged: 687; 13 killed, 25 wounded, 27 missing

Monument: Slyder Farm

4th United States Artillery Battery E

4th U.S. Artillery, Battery E, was known as “Clark’s.” It was a horse artillery battery.

The original unit was recruited in 1821; the men mainly came from New York City and St. Louis, Missouri. When Fort Sumter was fired upon, this battery was located at Fort Randall in the Nebraska Territory.

The battery was made up of 4 Ordnance Rifles under the command of Lt. Samuel S. Elder (1830-1885), a teacher and regular soldier from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The unit had 64 men. The monument is located on a hill southwest of Big Round Top and requires a walk down a single track trail to reach.

4th United States Artillery Battery E

Cavalry Corps (attached to 3rd Division)

4 Ordnance Rifles, 64 men; 1 killed

Monument: Near Big Round Top, accessible off Confederate Avenue

6th United States Cavalry

The monument to the 6th U.S. Cavalry is located on what is known as the “South Cavalry Battlefield” — a short distance down the Emmitsburg Road south of Confederate Avenue.  This plot of land contains the monuments for Merritt’s Brigade of Buford’s Division.  The unit was recruited mainly from Pennsylvania, western New York, and Ohio.

The commander of the 6th United States Cavalry at Gettysburg was Maj. Samuel H. Starr. The Regiment engaged the enemy in a sharply fought action near Fairfield on July 3, 1863.

6th United States Cavalry

Cavalry Corps, 1st Division, 3rd (Reserve) Brigade

Maj. Samuel H. Starr

Monument: South Cavalry Battlefield, Emmitsburg Road

5th New York Cavalry

One of the least accessible monuments at Gettysburg belongs to the 5th New York Cavalry.  The 11 companies were raised from New York City and the counties of Essex and Tioga.  Known as the “First Ira Harris Guard,” Company I was in Washington during the battle.

The back of this monument features a plaque detailing the unit’s service.  The front contains an excellent relief carving of a calvary man mounted upon his horse.  The New York seal is also featured.

The monument is stained green from the trees around it.  It is nearly impossible to keep it clean for a long time.

One of the circa 1890s bronze Park Service signs points out the single track path to this monument and an associated battery of United States artillery (E - 4th US Horse).  The path takes the visitor back through the woods and up part of Big Round Top.  This monument is probably one of the least visited at Gettysburg.

The commander of the 5th New York Cavalry at Gettysburg was Maj. John Hammond (1827-1889), a iron manufacutuer in Crown Point who later served in Congress during  1879 to 1883.

5th New York Cavalry

Cavalry Corps, 3rd Division, 1st Brigade

Maj. John Hammond (1827-1889)

Engaged: 468; 1 killed, 1 wounded, 4 missing

Monument: knoll southwest of Big Round Top.  Accessible via South Confederate Avenue

Major William Wells

Located on South Confederate Avenue, this monument is a staute of Major William Wells, who won a Medal of Honor, for his role in the futile charge of Farnsworth on the afternoon of July 3, 1863.

Costing $6,000.00, the monument was sculpted by  J. Otto Schweizer.  Schweizer took care to use several of Wells’ possessions (including his uniform, hat, revolver, boots, and belt) to make the monument more authentic and true to life.  The larger-than-life memorial stands at 8′ high.  An exact replica of this monument was erected in Battery Park in Burlington, so pleased were the friends of Wells with the likeness.

The monument was also meant to honor the men of the 1st Vermont Cavalry who had participated in the charge.  To that end, an additional $2,000.00 was raised.

The bronze plaque’s faces are actually modeled after photographs of men who participated in the charge.  Wells is depicted out in front of the charge, with sword drawn.  Next to him, General Farnsworth falls mortally wounded.

(The First Vermont Cavalry has a monument located not far away from this which will be featured as a future monument study.)

The monument to Wells was dedicated on July 3, 1913.