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4th United States Artillery Battery K Monument
Monument

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4th United States Artillery Battery K Monument

Birth
Death
unknown
Monument
Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania, USA Add to Map
Plot
Emmitsburg Road, South of Klingel Farmhouse
Memorial ID
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This monument marks the area where Battery K, 4th United States Artillery, commanded by 1st Lieutenant Francis W. Seeley, was positioned when the Union III Corps was extended to Emmitsburg Road around 4PM on July 2, 1863. For the next hour and a half after its movement, the battery fought a continuous artillery duel with Confederate batteries on and around Seminary Ridge, being supported by the 2nd Brigade of the 2nd Division of the III Corps. When the Confederates under General James Longstreet attacked in force on the Union line, the area came under heavy infantry fire. Lt. Seeley kept his position in front of Klingel Farmhouses until being severely wounded in the chest by enemy gunfire and the command of the Battery went to 2nd Lieutenant Robert James. Lt. James then kept firing his rounds into the advancing Confederates, being supported for a time by the 5th New Jersey Infantry, who took a severe pounding while defending the Battery. The battery, then the 5th NJ, was withdrawn when the III Corps positions as destroyed, and most of the surviving Union troops began falling back to Cemetery Hill. The Battery first re-deployed 400 yards to the right of its original positions, but was again compelled to retreat further by the Confederate troops. Lt. James withdrew his battery another 1,200 yards. On July 3rd, he deployed only 4 of his 6 guns, due to the fact that he lost too many men from the previous days fighting to utilize all of his cannons. The Battery then dueled with Confederate artillery and sharpshooters until it exhausted his ammunition. It finally was retired to the Artillery Reserve area, where it spent the remainder of the Third Day of the Battle of Gettysburg. The artillery unit lost 4 men killed, 17 men wounded (including Lt. Seeley) and 2 men missing. In addition, it lost 25 horses.
This monument marks the area where Battery K, 4th United States Artillery, commanded by 1st Lieutenant Francis W. Seeley, was positioned when the Union III Corps was extended to Emmitsburg Road around 4PM on July 2, 1863. For the next hour and a half after its movement, the battery fought a continuous artillery duel with Confederate batteries on and around Seminary Ridge, being supported by the 2nd Brigade of the 2nd Division of the III Corps. When the Confederates under General James Longstreet attacked in force on the Union line, the area came under heavy infantry fire. Lt. Seeley kept his position in front of Klingel Farmhouses until being severely wounded in the chest by enemy gunfire and the command of the Battery went to 2nd Lieutenant Robert James. Lt. James then kept firing his rounds into the advancing Confederates, being supported for a time by the 5th New Jersey Infantry, who took a severe pounding while defending the Battery. The battery, then the 5th NJ, was withdrawn when the III Corps positions as destroyed, and most of the surviving Union troops began falling back to Cemetery Hill. The Battery first re-deployed 400 yards to the right of its original positions, but was again compelled to retreat further by the Confederate troops. Lt. James withdrew his battery another 1,200 yards. On July 3rd, he deployed only 4 of his 6 guns, due to the fact that he lost too many men from the previous days fighting to utilize all of his cannons. The Battery then dueled with Confederate artillery and sharpshooters until it exhausted his ammunition. It finally was retired to the Artillery Reserve area, where it spent the remainder of the Third Day of the Battle of Gettysburg. The artillery unit lost 4 men killed, 17 men wounded (including Lt. Seeley) and 2 men missing. In addition, it lost 25 horses.

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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Added: Jan 15, 2001
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19522/4th_united_states_artillery_battery_k_monument: accessed ), memorial page for 4th United States Artillery Battery K Monument (unknown–unknown), Find a Grave Memorial ID 19522, citing Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.