6th Corps Artillery Continued - The Regular Army Guns

2nd US Battery D at Fredericksburg

 There were 3 United States Regular Army Batteries in the 6th Corps of the Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg.  They were the 2nd US Battery D, the 2nd US Battery G, and the 5th US Battery F.

The 2nd United States Battery D didn't arrive at Gettysburg until 3 July 1863.  They brought four 12 pound Napolanes to the field.

This unit was under the command of Lieutenant Edward B Williston.  Williston was born 15 July 1837 in Norwich, Vermont.  He attended Norwich University from 1851 through 55, but did not graduate [he was given a degree from the University in 1865].  He was working on his brother's ranch in San Diego, California at the outbreak of the war.

Lieut Williston

Battery D remained south of the Battlefield on the Taneytown Road [where they have a monument].  The unit was held in reserve and weren't engaged.

2nd US Battery G

The 2nd United States Battery G arrived late on 2 July 1863 and were placed in reserve.  Under the command of Lieutenant John H Butler; Battery G had 113 men to handle the six Napoleons they brought to the field.

Following the repulse of Pickett's Charge this unit was moved to Ziggler's Grove.  This is where their monument is located.

The 5th United States Battery F also arrived in Gettysburg on 3 July 1863 and was initially held in reserve.  They were armed with six 10 pound Parrots and were commanded by Lieutenant Leonard Martin.  Martin was a West Point graduate of the class of 1861.

Lieut Martin

During the bombardment that preceded Pickett's Charge the unit was ordered to limber up and report to the front.  At about 4pm they were ordered to occupy a position in Ziggler's Grove to the south of the 2nd US Battery G.  They were not engaged.

Battery F's monument has moved around over the years.  In the 1960's the Park Service had the monument moved to make room for the erection of the old Cyclorama Building in Ziggler's Grove.  The Cyclorama Building was demolished in 2013 in an attempt to restore the look of the Battlefield.  On 24 September 2014 the monument to the 5th US Battery F was returned to it original location on the field.

We will continue with the 6th Corps Artillery tomorrow...

The Great Test

View from near Peace Light, morning of test

So it's been almost a week since 97 hearty souls sat for the test to become a Licensed Battlefield Guide at the Gettysburg National Military Park.  December 2nd dawned bright and clear, with a bit of frost and a glorious sunrise.  Some few of the would be guides made the trip up Little Round Top, to rub old Colonel Patrick O'Rourke's nose for luck.  I chose to spend a little time in reflection at the Eternal Light Peace Memorial.

The parking lot at HACC [Harrisburg Area Community College ] quickly filled up.  Each of in our own nervous way, we filtered up to the door, where we stood in the cold waiting to be invited into the lobby.  We talked about those last few minutes of panicked studying that morning.  Those of us who had been through this before, we're offering up our tidbits of test wisdom. Not really believing any of that wisdom.

Finally the doors opened and we pushed inside.  We received instructions about the check in process.  Make sure you have your government id [yes just like getting on a plane], no cell phones, no study aids.  They are good enough to let us bring coffee or water.  We got into lines, checked in and received our number [from this point forward we are known as that number].  Each of us off to our assigned room.  Some final instructions.  Those last burst of nerves, and it's 9am.  For the next three hours you are just trying to pull answers from the deep recesses of your brain.

After a short break for lunch, we all mostly return for another three hours of essay writing.  If you didn't return, your morning part of the testing was to be thrown out.  We had; I believe, two in our room who apparently found the morning to much for them and didn't return.  Six essays to write longhand, isn't just taxing on the brain, but it is physically hard on your hand too.

At 4:30 the torture stopped.  We all drifted slowly and perhaps a bit dazed into the parking lot.  Most taking the first big deep breath we had taken in weeks.  After a few last words we all drifted off, some to spend much need time with family, some for a drink with friends, myself I went for a moonlit walk with my thoughts across Pickett's Charge [what can I say, it's my happy place].

I would like to take a minute to thank another group of people who gave up their Saturday.  Guides already carrying that licenses, that we are hoping to earn. You all arrived early, stayed late, and throughout where encouraging to each and everyone of us.  I hope to someday to able to say I am a member of such a wonderful group of people.

And so to wrap this up, the 97 of us now wait.  Sometime in late December [I'm assuming here, based on past years], we will get letters let us know if we move forward to the next tier of testing.  Good luck to all. [By the way, I must give credit for the last 2 photos to Fred Hawthorne. I stole them off his FaceBook page].

The Men From Minnesota

About 200 surviving members of the 1st Minnesota with family and friends converged on Gettysburg in 1897, for the dedication of their monuments on Hancock Ave.  The 1st Minnesota Monument is located near where the Regiment began their charge on 2 July 1863.

The 1st Minnesota was organized in April 1861 at Fort Snelling, MN.  Minnesota's Governor Alexander Ramsey having been in Washington, DC when Fort Sumter was fired upon, went to President Lincoln and is supposed to have been the first Governor to promise troops.  The first action these men from the west experienced was at First Manassas.

On 2 July the 1st Minnesota was posted as support of Thomas' Battery C, 4th US artillery, when Major General Winfield Hancock came looking for troops to plug a hole in the line, toward which the Confederates were advancing.  Hancock ordered them forward and the Minnesota men ran into the fight without firing a shot until they reached Plum Run.  The fight there only lasted about 15 minutes, but it bought the time needed to hold the Union line.  The unit had about 82% casualties in this fight, including their Colonel, William Colvill.

The fight wasn't over for the men from Minnesota.  What was left of the regiment was posted along the wall on 3 July, near their second monument.  Here they helped in the repulse of Pickett's Charge.  There were 17 more casualties here, including Captain Nathan Messick, who had taken over command of the Regiment after Colville's wounding.  The end of the fighting left 232 casualties within this small 330 man regiment, 50 of whom were killed

In 1887 the Minnesota State government voted to give $20,000 for a monument to place on the field at Gettysburg.  A commission was set up to locate a place on the field, and approve a design for the monument.  Three veterans of the Regiment, William Lochren, Christopher Heffelfinger, and Matthew Marvin picked a spot for their monument, and contracted Minneapolis sculpture Jacob Fjeld.  The final monument was placed on ground in 1893, it included a charging 9 ½ foot tall bronze soldier on top of a Barre, VT granite base.

In 1897 the State of Minnesota chartered a train to take the Veterans and their family and friends to Gettysburg for a dedication of the monument.  About 200 men took the trip.  Most of the dignitaries stayed the night of 1 Jul 1897 in the Eagle Hotel on Washington Street.  The dedication was held the next day.  As a special guest, Tillie Pierce was introduced.  Her family had taken care of William Colvill after his wounding on 2 July 1863.