Union monuments at Gettysburg > Ohio
“Dilger’s Battery”
The main monument to Battery I, First Ohio Light Artillery is north of Gettysburg on Howard Avenue. (Howard Avenue West tour map) A tablet on Baltimore Pike near the Evergreen Cemetery Gatehouse shows the battery’s position after the evening of July 1. (National Cemetery tour map)
The battery was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Captain Hubert Dilger, a German artillery officer who took a leave of absence to come to America when the Civil War broke out. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Chancellorsville.
The monument is just over thriteen feet tall and is made of Quincy granite. It was dedicated by the State of Ohio on September 14, 1887.
From the front of monument:
Ohio
Dilger’s Battery
Battery I
First Ohio
Light Artillery
Artillery Brigade
Eleventh Corps
Captain Hubert
Dilger
July 1, 2 & 3, 1863
Fidus Et Audax*
Erected by
The State of Ohio
*Faithful and bold
From the right side of the monument:
This Battery, Captain Huber Dilger Commanding, marched with the 11th Corps from Emmittsburg to Gettysburg July 1. At once upon arriving it advanced rapidly to the Carlisle Road and having taken position near this spot, immediately engaged the enemy. See left panel.
From the left side of the monument:
Reenforced by Wheeler’s New York Battery Captain Dilger advanced twice from this position. Retired with the 11th Corps, but halted and again engaged the enemy before crossing the bridge into the town. During the remainder of the battle the Battery held the extreme right of Maj. Osborn’s line on Cemetery Hill. Loss 13 wounded.
From the rear of the monument:
Principal engagements
Bull Pasture Mountain, Strasburg,
Cross Keys, Cedar Mountain,
Freeman’s Ford, Warrenton-
Sulphur Springs, Groveton,
Chancellorsville, Gettysburg,
Wauhatchie, Mission Ridge,
Buzzard Roost, Resaca, New Hope
Church, Kenesaw Mountain,
Marietta, Peach Tree Creek
Atlanta
Location of the main monument
The monument to Ohio’s Battery I is north of Gettysburg on the south side of Howard Avenue about 300 yards west of Carlisle Road. (39°50’30.9″N 77°14’01.9″W)
Tablet and markers on Cemetery Hill
Battery I’s left flank marker on Howard Avenue
From the battery’s left flank marker on Howard Avenue:
Left
Battery I
1st. O.L.A.
Four guns were posted 3 yards in rear of this tablet
right flank marker on Howard Avenue with the left flank marker of the 119th New York Infantry
From the right flank marker:
Right
Battery I
1st. O.L.A.
2 guns were posted 100 yds. in rear of this tablet
Marker in the National Cemetery showing the position of the battery on July 2 and 3
From the marker in the National Cemetery:
Battery I First Ohio Artillery
Six 12 pounders.
Captain Hubert Dilger commanding
July 1. Arrived at Gettysburg before noon and went unto position west of the Carlisle Road. Engaged with two Confederate batteries which were finally silenced with a loss of five gun carriages. A Confederate rifled battery having opened fire Wheeler’s Thirteenth New York Battery was added to the command of Capt. Dilger and a fierce artillery duel ensued. About 4 p.m. retired to take position on Cemetery Hill. One section was posted on Baltimore Street above the square in town to cover the retreating infantry until relieved by two pieces of Battery G Fourth U.S. Artillery. At 5 p.m. took position in the Cemetery next the Baltimore Pike facing westerly. Remained there until the close of the battle. One gun disabled.
Casualties wounded 13 men. 28 horses killed.
Marker in the National Cemetery showing the position of Battery I on July 2 and 3. The Evergreen Cemetery gatehouse is in the right distance.
Location of the marker on Cemetery Hill
The marker is on the northeastern edge of the National Cemetery, near the Evergreen Cemetery gatehouse.
See more on history of Battery I, First Ohio Light Artillery in the Civil War