Pennsylvania Independent Battery D

United States Regiments & Batteries > Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Independent Battery D lost 1 officer and 2 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 21 enlisted men to disease in the Civil War. It is honored by a monument at Antietam.

1861
Recruited in Berks and Bucks Counties and organized at Doylestown under Captain George W. Durell and First Lieutenants Lemueal Greis and Howward McIlvaine
September 24 Mustered in
November 5 Left State for Washington, D.C., where it was armed with four 10-pound Parrott Rifles and equipment for six guns.
November Duty at Kalorama Heights, Defenses of Washington, D.C. attached to McDowell’s Division, Army of the Potomac
November 14 At East Capital Hill
December 18 At Munson’s Hill. Two additional Parrott Rifles were added,
1862
March 10-15 Advance on Manassas, Va. assigned to 1st Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
April 9-19 McDowell’s advance to Falmouth assigned to King’s Division, Dept. of the Rappahannock
April 18 Capture of Fredericksburg
May 29-June 21 Expedition to Thoroughfare Gap and operations against Jackson
June At Falmouth, Attached to Artillery, 1st Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of Virginia
August 16-September 2 Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia, assigned to Artillery, 2nd Division, 9th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
August 21
Kelly’s Ford

In action for the first time, firing about 40 rounds.
August 22-23 Near Warrenton supporting Buford’s Cavalry.
August 27 Kettle Run or Bristoe Station
August 29-30
Second Battle of Bull Run

Stationed to the right and front of the Stone Hospital until the end of the day, when the advancing enemy dismounted one gun, killed 2 horses and and wounded one man, The battery was pulled back, and retired to Centreville.
September 1
Chantilly

One of only two batteries engaged
September 2 Refitted from Washington Arsenal
September 6-24
Maryland Campaign

The battery was armed with four 10-pounder Parrott Rifles.
September 14
Battle of South Mountain

Fired around 250 rounds, silencing and driving off an enemy battery
September 16-17
Battle of Antietam

After crossing Burnside’s Bridge the battery was engaged for over two hours, and was withdrawn when its ammunition was exhausted. Three enlisted men were wounded, and Private John Sherwood died of his wounds.
September-October At Pleasant Valley
October 25-
November 19		 Movement to Falmouth, Va.
November 15
Warrenton or Sulphur Springs

Lieutenant McIlvaine was mortally wounded and one enlisted man badly wounded. Fired over 300 rounds.
December 2 Berryville
December 12-15
Battle of Fredericksburg
1863
January 20-24 “Mud March”
February 7 Moved to Newport News
March 23-April 1 To Cynthiana, Ky. and assigned to the Army of the Ohio
April At Paris, Mt. Sterling, Richmond, Lancaster, Crab Orchard and Stanford, Ky.
June 3-14 Movement to Vicksburg, Miss. and transferred to the Army of the Tennessee
June 15-July 4

Siege of Vicksburg
July 5-10 Advance on Jackson, Miss.
July 10-17

Siege of Jackson
July At Milldale
August 6-22 Moved to Covington, Ky., Dept. of the Ohio. The battery had suffered heavily in the Vicksburg campaign, losing ten men dead of disease, with another 40 in the hospital, and the loss of half of its horses. Only 20-30 men were fit for duty,
November 12-16 Moved to Johnson’s Island, Lake Erie, Ohio to repel threatened raid to release prisoners, then returning to Covington.
1864
March 21-26 Moved to Annapolis, Md. Recruited to full strength, re-equipped, and assigned to Artillery, 4th Division, 9th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
May-June

Rapidan (Overland) Campaign
May 4-June 16 Guarded supply trains through the Wilderness and to James River
June 16-18
Siege of Petersburg begins
June 29 Provate Daniel Armel died at City Point, Virginia of wounds received at Petersburg
July 30
Mine Explosion, Petersburg
August 25
Ream’s Station, Weldon Railroad
September 30-October 1
Peeble’s Farm, Poplar Grove Church
September 23 Captain Durell and other old members mustered out. Lieutenant Rhoads promoted to captain and took command of the battery.
1865
March 25
Defence of Fort Stedman
April 2
Fall of Petersburg
April 20 Moved to City Point, Virginia
April 25-27 To Alexandria, Virginia
May 23 Grand Review
June 13 Mustered out