Smith's New York Battery

On July 2, Capt. James E. Smith, commander of the 4th New York Battery, hauled four of his battery's six 10-pounder Parrotts onto this craggy ridge and placed them along the crest. At about 3:30 p.m., Confederate cannon about a mile away opened fire on the position, and Smith's guns answered. Within an hour, Confederate infantry advanced toward the ridge, and Smith fired case shot and shell so effectively that the attackers believed they faced twice as many cannon. When the Confederates came within 300 yards, he switched to canister, but they found cover behind a stone wall at the base of the field below and poured rifle fire onto the gun crews. Smith begged the supporting infantry to save his guns, yet after a long struggle the Confederates seized the ridge and captured three of them.

Pennsylvania · United States