Confederate Artillery Batteries
“Latham’s Battery”
The monument to the Branch Artillery is south of Gettysburg on South Confederate Avenue. (South Confederate Avenue tour map) The battery was commanded at the battle of Gettysburg by Captain Alexander C. Latham.
The two 10 pounder Parrotts that the marker talks about being substituted on July 2nd were captured from the Fourth New York Independent Battery during fighting at the Devils Den.
Looking past the marker directly at Little Round Top in the distance
From the marker:
Army of Northern Virginia
Longstreet’s Corps Hood’s Division
Henry’s Battalion Latham’s Battery
The Branch Artillery
Three Napoleons
One 12 Pounder Howitzer
One 6 Pounder Bronze Gun
July 2. Took position here 4 P. M. and actively engaged until night. The Howitzer and Bronze gun were disabled and two captured 10 pounder Parrotts substituted.
July 3. Engaged in firing upon the Union lines within range. About 5 P. M. aided in repelling cavalry under Brig. Gen. Farnsworth which had charged into the valley between this point and Round Top.
July 4. Occupied position near by and west of this until 6 P. M. Then withdrew from the field.
Latham’s Battery supported Longstreet’s attack on the Union flank on July 2nd. This view looks east from South Confederate Avenue. Big Round Top is on the right behind the buildings of the Bushman Farm. The cleared slope of Little Round Top is on the left not quite one mile away.
See more on the history of Latham’s Battery (Branch Artillery) in the Civil War.