Thoroughfare Gap

Front Royal

The two gun section under Lieutenant Atwell was part of Colonel Kenly’s force which was overwhelmed and destroyed by General Jackson’s surprise attack. The force was able to withdraw from the town across the Shenandoah River, and Atwell’s guns supported the rearguard at the bridges.

From the wayside marker at Guard Hill, north of Front Royal:

Closely pursued by the 8th Louisiana Infantry, Union Col. John R. Kenly’s rear guard occupied Guard Hill just west of here. The two-gun section of Knap’s Battery E, Pennsylvania Light Artillery, commanded by Lt. Charles Atwell, covered part of the peninsula between the North and South Forks of the Shenandoah River as the Confederates surged toward the North Fork Bridge.

As the Confederate forces crossed the South Fork onto the peninsula, Kenly’s Union troops deployed on the Winchester side of the Pike Bridge over the North Fork. The prominence of Guard Hill offered Kenly a good position to slow down the Southern advance. Atwell unlimbered his cannons on the height west of the turnpike near Dr. Kenner’s home, while the Federal infantry dug in on either side of the road to combat any attempt by the Confederates crossing at the bridge.

Atwell’s guns held off the commands of Col. Bradley T. Johnson and Maj. Chatham Roberdeau Wheat for almost an hour, despite being shelled by Capt. John A. Lusk’s Confederate battery from Atwell’s former position on Richardson’s Hill. When Kenly rode forward to check the progress of his bridge-burning orders, he found “the river below the bridges … alive with horsemen (Lt. Col. Thomas S. Flournoy’s 6th Virginia Cavalry), crossing in two different places by fording.” Kenly ordered a retreat, leaving two companies of the 5th New York Cavalry as a rear guard while the infantry and artillery hastened north on the Front Royal Turnpike.

During the retreat to Winchester several men were captured, and just before reaching the town the two guns were spiked and abandoned. They were recovered when Jackson was forced to retreat from Winchester.

Battle of Cedar Mountain

One enlisted man was killed along with a black civilian hired as a servant for the battery who was helping to carry amunition to the guns. Lieutenant Geary was wounded.

Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia

Maryland Campaign

Attached to Artillery, 2nd Division, 12th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac

Battle of Antietam

Pennsylvania Independent Battery E brought 101 men and six 10-pounder Parrott Rifles to the field under the command of Captain Joseph Knap. It lost one enlisted man killed, six wounded and 1 captured.

Chancellorsville Campaign

Battle of Chancellorsville

The battery lost one enlisted man killed and several wounded. Lieutenant Charles Atwell was lightly wounded and Captain Joseph Knap had his horse killed under him.

Gettysburg Campaign

Battle of Gettysburg

Pennsylvania Independent Battery E was commanded by Captain Charles Atwell. It brought six 10-pounder Parrott rifles to the field.

From the monuments on the Gettysburg battlefield:

At 3:30 p.m. July 2nd one gun was placed on Culp’s Hill in the position marked by a monument, and was joined by two others at 5 p.m., when the three guns engaged the enemy’s batteries on Benner’s Hill. These guns were withdrawn when the Infantry was ordered to the left and the Battery went into this position where it remained until the close of the battle.

Present at Gettysburg 4 officers and 135 men. Wounded 3 men.

Wauhatchie, Tenn.

Captain Charles Atwell was mortally wounded and Lieutenant Geary was killed in a rare nightime battle. Lieutenant McGill took command of the battery. In the darkness the Confederates aimed for the muzzle flashes of the artillery, and the battery lost so heavily it could only man two pieces, and only then after borrowing men from the infantry.

Battle of Chattanooga

Lookout Mountain

Mission Ridge

Ringgold Gap, Taylor’s Ridge

Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign

Battle of Resaca

New Hope Church

Gilgal or Golgotha Church

Assault on Kenesaw

Peach Tree Creek

Captain McGill was badly wounded and two enisted men were killed. Lietenant James Dunlevy took command of the battery.

Siege of Atlanta

Lieutenant James Dunleavy resigned due to declining health, dying shortly after. Lieutenant Sloan was promoted to captain.

Occupation of Atlanta

March to the sea

Siege of Savannah

Campaign of the Carolinas

Battle of Bentonville

Bennett’s’ House

Surrender of Johnston and his army.