July 1-2, 1863 - Gettysburg: Benner's Hill
July 1-2, 1863
Gettysburg: Benner's Hill
Adams County, PA
Meade > Union artillery (24 Union guns on Cemetery Hill, Culp’s Hill and Stevens’ Knoll)
vs.
Lee > Ewell's II Corps: Lieutenant Colonel Elijah V. White's 35th Virginia Battalion of Cavalry; 19-year-old VMI cadet Maj. Joseph Latimer commands the battery and chose their positions; eventually three brigades of Major General Edward “Allegheny” Johnson’s Second Corps pass by
* In the summer of 2025 Garfield Camp #1 of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and I met up in a largely forgotten corner of the Gettysburg battlefield to learn about the artillery action here and mortal wounding of the South's "Boy Major." Although it was a Saturday in July, we saw almost no tourist the whole time.
* We are just East of and overlooking the town. Culp's Hill is not far - this was a staging area and artillery platform for its assault.
* Latimer's position is easily outgunned. He gets hit with shrapnel, crushed under his falling horse, and dies...but much later (3 weeks later in Harrisonburg,VA). Also killed here - many, many horses.
* More Details? Don't ask me, but Kristopher White (who guided my recent tour of the Wheatfield with Gary Adelman) has always got them: "Latimer commanded sixteen guns in his battalion. Those were the guns of the Chesapeake (Maryland) Artillery (four 10-lb. Parrott Rifles), Alleghany (Virginia) Artillery (two 3-Inch Ordinance Rifles and two 12 Pounder Napoleons), 1st Maryland Battery (four 12 Pounder Napoleons), Lee (Virginia) Battery (two 20-lb. Parrott Rifles, one 10-lb. Parrott Rifle, one 3-Inch Ordinance Rifle). Latimer was also loaned the Rockbridge Artillery (four 20-lb. Parrott Rifles) from Capt. Willis Dance’s Second Corps artillery reserve battalion." All confirmed by the following markers.
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| https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=196109 |
An Unequal Contest
July 2, 4:00 pm
—Gettysburg National Military Park—
Confederate artillery, here on Benner's Hill, anchored the left flank of the Confederate battle line. Confederate Major Joseph Latimer's 14 guns opened fire on Union positions on Cemetery Hill, one mile to your front. Union Colonel Charles Wainwright said it was, "the most accurate fire I have yet seen from their artillery." Forty-one Union guns returned heavy fire with a vengeance from Cemetery Hill; Culp's Hill to the far left; and Stevens' Knoll, midway between. For two hours this unequal contest continued, decimating the Confederate position—caissons exploded, guns were disabled, and gunners killed or wounded. Latimer's men returned fire as best they could, but were forced to withdraw.
Major Joseph Latimer, 19, mortally wounded near the end of the day, died on August 1. One of his officers wrote Latimer, "was most gallant, showing the greatest coolness and bravery under the most trying circumstances."
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| https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=10983 |
Graham's Battery - Dance's Battalion
Artillery Reserve - Ewell's Corps
—Army of Northern Virginia—
Army of Northern Virginia
Ewell's Corps - Artillery Reserve
Dance's Battalion - Graham's Battery
Four 20 pounder Parrotts
July 1 The Battery arrived on the field too late to participate in the engagements of the day. Was ordered to report to Lieut-Colonel H.P. Jones commanding Artillery Early's Division and moved into position on the left to the south and east of town.
July 2 Remained in position on the left firing occasionally
July 3 Remained in position during the day and rejoined the Battalion during the night.
July 4 Took up line of march to Hagerstown.
Ammunition expended 439 rounds - Losses not reported in detail
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| https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=10933 |
Brown's Battery - Latimer's Battalion
Johnson's Division - Ewell's Corps
—Army of Northern Virginia—
Army of Northern Virginia
Ewell's Corps - Johnson's Division
Latimer's Battalion - Brown's Battery
The Chesapeake MD. Artillery
Four 10 Pounder Parrotts
July 2 Took position here about 4 p.m. and was engaged for over two hours in a severe conflict with the Union Batteries on East Cemetery Hill and Stevens Knoll. Capt. Brown being severely wounded one of his guns disabled and his ammunition almost exhausted the Battery was withdrawn by order of Gen. Johnson.
July 3 Remained in reserve and not engaged.
July 4 Withdrew from the field with the Battalion.
Losses - Killed 4 - Wounded 12 - Horses killed 9
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| https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=10923 |
Latimer's Battalion
Johnson's Division - Ewell's Corps
—Army of Northern Virginia—
C.S.A.
Army of Northern Virginia
Ewell's Corps - Johnson's Division
Latimer's Battalion
Brown's Carpenter's Dement's and Raine's
Batteries
Two 20 Pounder Parrotts, Five 10 Pounder Parrotts
Three 3 inch Rifles and Six Napoleons
July 1 After dark crossed Rock Creek and encamped on this ridge.
July 2 At 4 p.m. the Battalion except the 20 pounder Parrotts took position here and was engaged more than two hours in a heavy cannonade with the Union Artillery on Cemetery Hill, Stevens Knoll, and Culp's Hill. Ammunition exhausted and losses severe the guns were withdrawn except four to cover the advance of Johnson's Infantry against Culp's Hill. In the renewed firing Major S.W. Latimer was mortally wounded. In the cannonading the 20 pounder Parrotts in position half a mile north took an active part.
July 3 The 20 pounder Parrotts took part in the great cannonade while the other Batteries were in reserve.
July 4 The Battalion withdrew and began the march to Hagerstown.
Losses - Killed 10 - Wounded 49 - Horses killed 30
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| https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=10927 |
Carpenter's Battery
Latimer's Battalion
Johnson's Division - Ewell's Corps
—Army of Northern Virginia—
Army of Northern Virginia
Ewell's Corps - Johnson's Division
Latimer's Battalion - Carpenter's Battery
The Allegheny Artillery
Two Napoleons and Two 3 inch Rifles
July 2 The Battery took a prominent part in the cannonade against the Union Artillery on East Cemetery Hill and other points which began about 4 p.m. and continued over two hours. Some of the Union guns on the left enfiladed the Battalion and caused the Battery to suffer severely and having exhausted its ammunition it was ordered to withdraw.
July 3 Remained in reserve and not engaged.
July 4 Withdrew from the field with the Battalion.
Losses - Killed 5 - Wounded 24 - Horses Killed 9
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| https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=10877 |
Raine's Battery - Latimer's Battalion
Johnson's Division - Ewell's Corps
—Army of Northern Virginia—
Army of Northern Virginia
Ewell's Corps - Johnson's Division
Latimer's Battalion - Raine's Battery
The Lee Battery
Two 20 pounder Parrotts - one 10 pounder Parrott
and one 3 inch Rifle
July 2 The 10 pounder Parrott and 3 inch Rifle took position here about 4 p.m. and were engaged in the severe cannonade that lasted over two hours. They also aided in supporting the attack of Johnson's Infantry on Culp's Hill and did not retired to the rear until dark. The 20 pounder Parrotts took an active part in the cannonade from their position some distance in the rear of the other guns.
July 3 The 20 pounder Parrotts were actively engaged in the great cannonade
July 4 Withdrew from the field with the Battalion.
Losses - Wounded 8 - Horses killed 3
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| https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=10895 |
Dement's Battery
Latimer's Battalion
Johnson's Division - Ewell's Corps
—Army of Northern Virginia—
Army of Northern Virginia
Ewell's Corps - Johnson's Division
Latimer's Battalion - Dement's Battery
First Maryland Battery
Four Napoleons
July 2 In position here about 4 p.m. and took part in the cannonade against the Union Batteries on East Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill which continued over two hours. When the Battalion was withdrawn two guns of the Battery were left here to aid in repelling any attack. Soon afterward they reopened fire in support of the attack of Johnson's Infantry on Culp's Hill which drew from the Union Guns a heavy responsive fire by which Maj. Latimer was mortally wounded.
July 3 Remained in reserve and was not engaged.
July 4 Withdrew from the field with the Battalion.
Losses - Killed 1 - Wounded 4 - Horses killed 9
One caisson exploded and one disabled
*
Rather than crowd the already-overflowing page for Gettysburg proper, here's a couple markers I caught on the way to Benner's Hill. They are from East Cavalry Field, another spot I previously failed to visit, and one I will have to give more attention (and maybe even its own page!) in the future.
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| https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=9172 |
Batteries E & G First U.S. Artillery
Cavalry Corps
— Army of the Potomac —
Army of the Potomac
Cavalry Corps
Batteries E & G First U.S. Artillery
Four 12 pounders
Captain Alanson M. Randol Commanding
July 1 & 2 With First Brigade Second Cavalry Division. Not engaged.
July 3 One section under Lieut. James Chester was ordered to Second Brigade Third Cavalry Division and took position west of the Low Dutch Road and with Brig. Gen. Custer's Second Brigade Third Division Cavalry Corps was hotly engaged in repelling the attack of Major General Stuart's Confederate Cavalry Division. The one section under Lieut. Ernest L. Kinney remained near the Hanover Road.
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| https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=9170 |
Second Brigade
Horse Artillery - Cavalry Corps
— Army of the Potomac —
Army of the Potomac
Cavalry Corps Horse Artillery
Second Brigade
Capt. John C. Tidball
1st U.S. Batteries E and G
Capt. Alanson M. Randol
July 2d and 3d with cavalry on right under Brig. Gen. D. McM. Gregg
1st U.S. Battery K
Capt. William M. Graham
July 3d with the Reserve Cavalry Brigade on extreme left
2d U.S. Battery A
Lieut. John H. Calef
July 1st with First Brigade First Division on the right and left of Chambersburg Pike
July 2d in front of Little Round Top
3d U.S. Battery C
Lieut. William D. Fuller
With Second Brigade Second Division at Manchester. Not engaged
Casualties Killed 2 men Wounded 13 men Total 15
https://emergingcivilwar.com/2016/03/01/gettysburg-off-the-beaten-path-benners-hill/
https://gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/battlefield-terrain/benners-hill-terrain/
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