Artillery of The Wheatfield - Gettysburg

The position held by Captain George Winslow's Battery D, First New York Light Artillery, is marked in The Wheatfield at Gettysburg. Operating in the restricted space of a farmer's field hemmed in by trees, Winslow's guns helped slow the Confederate attacks on the second day. But in the back-and-forth fighting of The Wheatfield they were forced back. "All of my pieces could not have been brought off had my men been less brave," Winslow reported. (Click image for larger view).

Artillery on Little Round Top - Gettysburg

Cannons of Battery L, First Ohio Artillery, point toward Confederate positions from the rocky north end of Little Round Top at Gettysburg. Artillery hastily brought by hand to the rough ground here helped solidify the crumbling Union line on the second day of fighting. "So rapidly were the guns worked that they became too hot to lay the hand on," reported Capt. Frank C. Gibbs. He continued: "But for the position of the battery, and the gallantry with which it was handled by the men, I have no doubt the enemy would have accomplished his purpose of breaking our lines at this point, and possibly changed the fortunes of the day." (Click image for larger view).

The "Fiery Inferno" - Gettysburg

The monument to the 2nd Pa. Cavalry stands on the back side of Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg near the headquarters to Union Major General George Meade - and his equestrian monument at the crest. The 2nd Pa. was assigned to his headquarters, a place that suddenly became one of the most dangerous on the field during the cannonade preceding Pickett's Charge as artillery rounds intended for the main Union line found the immediate rear instead. Meade was forced from his location as his headquarters "seemed to be the point of all others where the rebels' fire converged all around us." (Click image for larger view).

Artillery at the Peach Orchard - Gettysburg

The monument to Hampton's Battery, 1st Pennsylvania Artillery, stands over the Peach Orchard in one of the more prominent monuments in that sector, where fighting raged on the second day. The unit was actually combined with cannoneers and guns from Thompson's Battery, both having been depleted in earlier campaigns, and operating at Gettysburg under the command of Captain James Thompson. Both Pittsburgh-based units placed monuments at the Peach Orchard despite their combined arrangement. (Click image for larger view).

3rd Michigan - the Peach Orchard

The 3rd Michigan Infantry monument depicts two soldiers at work where they skirmished near The Peach Orchard on the second day. Later, as the fight thickened, they formed a regular line before being forced back among the other troops trying in vain to hold the salient on the Emmitsburg road. (Click image for larger view).