Union monuments - Ohio

Battery I, 1st Ohio Light Artillery

The monument to Battery I, First Ohio Light Artillery is north of Gettysburg on Howard Avenue. see map It was dedicated by the State of Ohio in 1887. A marker also shows the battery's position in the National Cemetery.

The battery was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Captain Hubert Dilger. Known as "Leatherbreeches," he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Chancellorsville.

From around the base of the monument:

From the front of monument:

Battery I
First Ohio
Light Artillery
Artillery Brigade
Eleventh Corps
Captain Hubert
Dilger
July 1, 2 & 3, 1863

Fidus Et Audax*
Erected by
The State of
Ohio

*Faithful and bold

From the right side of the monument:

This Battery
Captain Huber Dilger Commanding
marched with the 11th Corps
from Emmittsburg to Gettysburg
July 1. At once upon arriving it
advanced rapidly to the Carlisle
Road and having taken position
near this spot, immediately
engaged the enemy.
See left panel

From the left side:

Reenforced by Wheeler's
New York Battery Capt-
ain Dilger advanced twice
from this position. Retired
with the 11th Corps, but halted
and again engaged the enemy
before crossing the bridge into
the town. During the remainder of
the battle the Battery held the
extreme right of Maj. Osborn's
line on Cemetery Hill.
Loss 13 wounded.

From the rear:

Principal engagements
Bull Pasture Mountain, Strasburg,
Cross Keys, Cedar Mountain,
Freeman's Ford, Warrenton-
Sulphur Springs, Groveton,
Chancellorsville, Gettysburg,
Wauhatchie, Mission Ridge,
Buzzard Roost, Resaca, New Hope
Church, Kenesaw Mountain,
Marietta, Peach Tree Creek
Atlanta

From the battery's left flank marker on Howard Avenue:

Left
Battery I
1st. O.L.A.
Four guns were posted
3 yards in rear of this tablet

From the right flank marker:

Right
Battery I
1st. O.L.A.
2 guns were posted
100 yds. in rear of
this tablet

From the marker in the National Cemetery:

Battery I First Ohio Artillery
Six 12 pounders.
Captain Hubert Dilger commanding

July 1. Arrived at Gettysburg before noon and went unto position west of the Carlisle Road. Engaged with two Confederate batteries which were finally silenced with a loss of five gun carriages. A Confederate rifled battery having opened fire Wheeler's Thirteenth New York Battery was added to the command of Capt. Dilger and a fierce artillery duel ensued. About 4 p.m. retired to take position on Cemetery Hill. One section was posted on Baltimore Street above the square in town to cover the retreating infantry until relieved by two pieces of Battery G Fourth U.S. Artillery. At 5 p.m. took position in the Cemetery next the Baltimore Pike facing westerly. Remained there until the close of the battle. One gun disabled.

Casualties wounded 13 men. 28 horses killed.

See more about Battery I, First Ohio Light Artillery during the Civil War