Union monuments - New York Artillery & Cavalry

5th New York Independent Battery
"First Excelsior Light Artillery"

The monument to the Fifth New York Independent Battery is southeast of Gettysburg in the National Cemetery (above and center right). A marker stands among three 20 pounder Parrott Rifles nearby along Balimore Pike just in front of Evergreen Cemetery (lower right and below). see map

The Ffith New York Independent Battery was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Captain Elijah D. Taft, and brought 146 men to the field. Their name was from the battery originally being formed as part of Daniel Sickles' Excelsior Brigade.

The 20 pounder Parrott Rifles were used by both armies, and were the heaviest artillery pieces on the field of Gettysburg. They had a bad reputation for bursting, which one of the battery's pieces did on July 3.

From the front of the monument:

Fifth New York
Independent Battery
(Taft's)
2d Brigade, Artillery Reserve

From the rear:

This battery
held this position from
5 p.m. July 2nd to
5th, 1863
----
casualties
1 killed, 2 wounded

From the marker:

Army of the Potomac,
Artillery Reserve,
Second Voluntteer Brigade.
Fifth New York Light Artillery
Six 20 pounder Parrotts,
Captain Elijah D. Taft Commanding.

July 2. Arrived and halted in park about 10:30 a.m. Moved to the cemetery at 3:30 p.m. and engaged from 4 p.m. until dark. Four guns south of and facing Baltimore Pike firing on a Confederate battery on Benner's Hill. Two guns firing westwardly.

July 3. Engaged at intervals in same position until 4 p.m. One gun on Baltimore Pike having burst, the other three relieved the section firing westwardly. Remained in this position until close of battle.

Casualties killed 1 man wounded 2 men. Ammunition expended 1114 rounds.

See more about the 5th New York Independent Battery during the Civil War