The American Civil War 

9th Massachusetts Light Artillery

The 9th Massachusetts Light Artillery spent its first year of service in the defenses of Washington, D.C. and in areas near the capital. As Confederate forces moved across Maryland and into Pennsylvania in General Robert E. Lee's 1863 invasion of the North, the battery was rushed into the ranks of the Federal army that confronted the Confederates at Gettysburg. They found the Northern army fortifying a defensive position outside of town after being driven back in defeat on the first day of the battle.

A Glorious Stand

At four o'clock on July 2, the battery was ordered into line with other artillery in support of General Daniel E. Sickles' III Corps. Without orders, Sickles had deployed his troops forward of the main Federal line to the Emmitsburg Road.
When Lee launched his massive attack on the Federal left. Sickles' exposed corps took the brunt of the assault, and after fierce fighting was forced to retreat. The supporting artillery also retired, but the 9th Massachusetts, commanded by Captain John Bigelow, was ordered to make a stand near the Trostle house. Although the battery had no infantry support and was exposed to a Confederate cross-fire, the artillerymen were ordered to hold their line "at all hazards" until the Federals could redeploy troops and artillery.
The 9th Massachusetts held back the onrushing Confederates and gained crucial time for the Federal defenders. After enduring hand-to-hand fighting, the Massachusetts artillerymen were ordered to withdraw. The battery sustained heavy casualties and at least 45 horses lay dead beside the Trostle house. Ferocious fighting raged at the Peach Orchard, the Wheat Field, Devil's Den and Little Round Top, but the Federal forces withstood the Confederate assault — thanks in part to the valiant stand made by the 9th Massachusetts Light Artillery original flag.

Organized at Camp Meigs in Readville, Massachusetts, the 9th Massachusetts Light Artillery was mustered into Federal service on August 10,1862, under Captain Achilles deVecchi. It was later commanded by Captain John Bigelow and became known as Bigelow's Battery. On September 3,1862, the battery left Massachusetts and was posted to the defenses of Washington, D.C. as part of the U.S. XXII Army Corps. The 9th Massachusetts remained on duty near Washington — at Camp Seymour, Camp Chase, Camp Barry, Fort Ramsey and Fort Buffalo — until April of 1863. It was transferred in April to Centreville, Virginia, then to Fairfax Court House and Edward's Ferry, Virginia, where the battery was posted when ordered northward to join the Federal campaign against Lee's invasion.

Ordered to Hold at All Hazards

At the Battle of Gettysburg, on July 2,1863, the 9th Massachusetts Light Artillery was placed in support of the U.S. Ill Corps during the Confederate assault on the Federal left. The battery made a courageous stand at the Trostle house, holding off the Confederate assault to allow Federal forces to redeploy. Finally, the bloodied battery was ordered to withdraw, "having sacrificed itself for the safety of the line." Recalled Lieutenant Richard S. Milton: "This position, without infantry support and under an enfilading artillery fire, we were ordered to hold at all hazards. The rebel line of battle could not be checked, although its center was badly broken by our canister fire. Its flanks closing in on either side of us, obtained a cross-fire, which silenced the four pieces on my right, and prevented their withdrawal from loss of officers, men, and horses. Under orders from Lieutenant Colonel McGillery, to whom I then reported, I withdrew...."
After Gettysburg, the battery returned to northern Virginia, where it was posted to Culpepper Court House. It participated in the Bristoe Campaign and the Mine Run Campaign in the fall and winter of 1863, and was engaged at the Battle of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor in 1864. The battery was also involved in General Ulysses S. Grant's siege of Petersburg. The battery served in Grant's army in the Appomattox Campaign that ended with Lee's surrender on April 9,1865. After Appomattox, the battery was moved back to its original post — Washington, D.C. — and there participated in the grand review of Northern armies on May 23,1865. On June 6,1865, the 9th Massachusetts Light Artillery was mustered out of Federal service at Boston Harbor — after distinguishing itself in some of the fiercest fighting of the Civil War.