Confederate Headquarters Markers > Ewell’s 2nd Corps > Johnson’s Division
The monument to Latimer’s Artillery Battalion of the Army of Northern Virginia is east of Gettysburg on Benner’s Hill. (Benner’s Hill tour map)
Monument to Latimer’s Artillery Battalion of the army of Northern Virginia at Gettysburg
From the monument
C. S. A.
Army of Northern Virginia
Ewell’s Corps Johnson’s Division
Latimer’s Battalion
Brown’s Carpenter’s Dement’s Raine’s Batteries
Two 20 Pounder Parrotts
Five 10 Pounder Parrotts
Three 3 Inch Rifles
Six Napoleons
July 1. After dark crossed Rock Creek and encamped on this ridge.
July 2. At 4 P. M. the Battalion except the 20 pounder Parrotts took position here and was engaged more than two hours in a heavy cannonade with the Union artillery on Cemetery Hill Steven’s Knoll and Culp’s Hill. Ammunition exhausted and losses severe the guns were withdrawn except four to cover the advance of Johnson’s infantry against Culp’s Hill. In the renewed firing Major S. W. Latimer was mortally wounded. In the cannonading the 20 pounder Parrotts in position half a mile north took an active part.
July 3. The 20 pounder Parrotts took part in the great cannonade while the other batteries were in reserve.
July 4. The Battalion withdrew and began the march to Hagerstown.
Losses Killed 10 Wounded 40 Horses killed 30.
About Joseph W. Latimer
The battalion was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Major Joseph W. Latimer, a Virginia Military Institute student who had studied under “Stonewall” Jackson and who at age 19 was known as the “Boy Major.” Latimer was mortally wounded in the artillery duel on the afternoon of July 2nd, and would die on August 1st. Captain Charles I. Raine took over the battalion when Latimer fell.
Confederate Major Joseph W. Larimer, mortally wounded on July 2
Location of the monument
The monument is about 0.4 mile east of the edge of Gettysburg of the west side of Benner’s Hill Drive. It is about 800 feet south of the intersection with Hanover road.