Knap's Battery

[frontrank2]

Posted today on Facebook by The Civil War Trust.

This remarkable photo gives a detail with cannon, flag, soldiers and a likely burial crew in the background to the right of the flag. This is Knap's Battery unlimbered at Antietam near a horse carcass on Sept. 20, 1862. This looks northward from near the Maryland Monument toward the Cornfield. Imagine what these men and these fields had just seen.
The ground at Antietam is an irreplaceable part of our nation's history. Because of the support of our members and donors, we have been able to save 307 acres on this remarkable battleground over the years. Learn more about our efforts and find our how you can get involved by looking here:http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/antietam.html
The full image can be viewed at:
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cwpb.01117/?co=civwar

 

[Yankeedave]

Knapp's Battery Battle of Cedar Mt.

 

[Mr. King]

50% kepi/forage caps
50% civilian slouch hats

In the AoP no less. Nice.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

Posted today on Facebook by The Civil War Trust.


View attachment 93655

This remarkable photo gives a detail with cannon, flag, soldiers and a likely burial crew in the background to the right of the flag. This is Knap's Battery unlimbered at Antietam near a horse carcass on Sept. 20, 1862. This looks northward from near the Maryland Monument toward the Cornfield. Imagine what these men and these fields had just seen.
The ground at Antietam is an irreplaceable part of our nation's history. Because of the support of our members and donors, we have been able to save 307 acres on this remarkable battleground over the years. Learn more about our efforts and find our how you can get involved by looking here:http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/antietam.html
The full image can be viewed at:
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cwpb.01117/?co=civwar

PENNSYLVANIA
INDEPENDENT BATTERIES
(Three Years)

Joseph M. Knap

BATTERY E. - Capts., Joseph M. Knap, Charles A. Atwell,
James D. McGill, James A. Dunlevy, Thomas S. Sloan. This bat-
tery was recruited at Pittsburg and mustered into the U. S.
service for a three years term, at Point of Rocks, Md., where
it was attached to the 28th regiment. Ordered to Washington
for equipment, it remained there until Nov. 24, when it re-
turned to Point of Rocks and in March 1862, it was posted at
Salem and Front Royal on the Manassas Gap railroad. The de-
tachment at Front Royal was attacked in May and forced to re-
tire to Winchester. At Cedar mountain the battery was closely
engaged and finally forced from its exposed position by the
enemy's guns. At Antietam, it was active but did not reach the
field at Fredericksburg in time to share in the battle. Winter
quarters were established at Acquia creek and in the Chancel-
lorsville campaign in the spring of 1863, the battery did ef-
fective service. At Gettysburg, attached to the 12th corps, it
was actively engaged and then proceeded with the 11th and 12th
corps to join the Army of the Cumberland at Chattanooga, Tenn.,
where it arrived on Oct 29. It was attacked at Wauhatchie
Junction, where it was encamped, and suffered heavily. It par-
ticipated in the battles of Lookout mountain and Missionary
ridge and went into winter quarters at Wauhatchie. In Jan.,
1864, a large number of its members reenlisted and the battery
continued in the field as a veteran organization. The 20th
corps, which succeeded the 11th and 12th, was part of Gen.
Sherman's army and with it the battery participated in the bat-
tles on the way to Atlanta, attached to Gen. Geary's division.
It accompanied the 20th corps to Atlanta, then on the march to
the sea, and at Raleigh, N. C., was detached and sent to Wash-
ington. On June 14, 1865, at Pittsburg, Battery E was mustered
out after long and varied duty.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 1

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

Knapp's Battery Battle of Cedar Mt.
View attachment 113245

Cedar Mountain, VA after action report:

No. 13.

Report of Capt. Joseph M. Knap, Battery E, Pennsylvania Light Artillery.

HEADQUARTERS KNAP'S PENNSYLVANIA BATTERY,
Near Culpeper, Va., August 14, 1862.
COLONEL: On Friday, 8th instant, I was ordered by Gen. Crawford,
commanding brigade at Culpeper, to move at 4 p.m. in advance of his
brigade with four guns. We took a position on an eminence to the left of the
Orange road, some 400 yards beyond Cedar Run, and remained there all
night, nothing occurring until 12 m. on Sunday, the 9th instant.

At the time above mentioned the enemy opened upon our advance cavalry
with two batteries, one of which (1 1/4 miles to the front and left of our
position) I was ordered to reply to. A few shots from my battery, together
with two or three from a section of Reomer's Second New York, under my
command, soon silenced the enemy's guns, causing them to change their
position.

At 1.30 p.m. Gen. Geary's brigade arrived and took position on my left,
Lieut. Geary's section of artillery being posted on the right of the
brigade. A section of Capt. Best's battery, Lieut. Cushing, was
assigned to me, and took position on the left of Lieut. Howard's section,
Second New York Battery.

At 2.30 p.m. the enemy opened with two batteries, about a mile distant,
upon our position, and in less than twenty minutes four additional batteries
were unmasked, all apparently concentrating their fire on our artillery. The
enemy's line of batteries extended in a crescent shape for about 2 1/2 miles
on elevated ground, and at distances from our batteries varying from 1,500
to 2,500 yards. A continual fire from both sides was kept up, the enemy
occasionally changing the position of their batteries, until 5.30 p.m., when
our infantry moved forward on the right, charging upon and silencing the
two batteries on the enemy's left, which had produced the most effect upon
our artillery. We were then ordered to devote our attention to the enemy's
right flank, and fire on their infantry whenever it was practicable.

The enemy's artillery ceased firing about dusk, when I was ordered by Capt.
C.L. Best, chief of artillery, to fall back and take another position, my
ammunition, with the exception of canister, having been expended. I took
position about 1 mile to the rear of my first, and remained there all night.
Owing to the nature of the ground I was
unable to shift my position materially during the entire engagement. I was
forced to leave to caissons on the field, empty and disabled, one of which
has been recovered.

My loss in men was 1 killed and 7 wounded, and in horses 14 killed and
disabled.

One gun was disabled late in the action by a cannon-shot, but was brought
off the field. No ammunition fell into the enemy's hands.

In conclusion, it gives me great pleasure to testify to the gallant conduct and
bearing of my men and those of Lieuts. Howard's and Cushing's
sections, temporarily under my command, and to the bravery and skill
displayed by Lieuts. Geary, McGill, Cushing, and Howard, and acting
Lieut. Dunlevy.

The amount of shell expended by my battery (six 10-pounder Parrotts) was
980.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOS. M. KNAP,
Capt. Comdg. Pa. Bat., attached to First Brig., Second Div.

Col. CHARLES CANDY,
Comdg. First Brig., Second Div., Second Army Corps.


Source: Official Records
PAGE 161-16 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV.
[Series I. Vol. 12. Part II, Reports. Serial No. 16.]

***********************************

 

[Pvt.Shattuck]

50% kepi/forage caps
50% civilian slouch hats

In the AoP no less. Nice.

..... and short jackets, not fatigue blouses. Its early war and this is Artillery, but even so, very under represented in the reenacting hobby. Probably has more to do with the rotundity of most reenactors, on whom tight fitting State jackets look rather ridiculous.
Officers had a devil of a time enforcing rules on headgear in camp.

 

[frontrank2]

Knap's Battery, a little further to the left ( as we view it ).

 

[dlavin]

grim looks on those mens' faces. Cant blame them after the carnage there

 

[Rob9641]

What's haunting is how much images like this stay with you when you are there on the field every week, standing where the photographer stood. You can almost still see the men in the photos, still staring at you.

 

[Rob9641]

grim looks on those mens' faces. Cant blame them after the carnage there

You wonder how they ever smiled again, ever.

 

[Private Watkins]

Posted today on Facebook by The Civil War Trust.


View attachment 93655

This remarkable photo gives a detail with cannon, flag, soldiers and a likely burial crew in the background to the right

View attachment 93655

This remarkable photo gives a detail with cannon, flag, soldiers and a likely burial crew in the background to the right of the flag. This is Knap's Battery unlimbered at Antietam near a horse carcass on Sept. 20, 1862. This looks northward from near the Maryland Monument toward the Cornfield. Imagine what these men and these fields had just seen.
The ground at Antietam is an irreplaceable part of our nation's history. Because of the support of our members and donors, we have been able to save 307 acres on this remarkable battleground over the years. Learn more about our efforts and find our how you can get involved by looking here:http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/antietam.html
The full image can be viewed at:
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cwpb.01117/?co=civwar

Really a fantastic image... thank you for posting it...!!

 

[JohnnyClair]

You wonder how they ever smiled again, ever.

From what I hear, what has been passed down, not sure my ancestor ever did.

 

[EJ Zander]

In the first pic horse all the way on right appears to have a god bit of swelling on his right front leg. It looks to be effecting entire limb.

 

[kholland]

Knap's Battery, a little further to the left ( as we view it ).

View attachment 113267

According to Frassanito's classic book "Antietam: The Photographic Legacy of America's Bloodiest Day" this photo was taken looking due north and the road in the rear is the Smoketown Road. And if the photographer turned to his left he would be looking at the Dunker Church.

Here is another photo that appears to show the dead horse (and this is the horse laying on his right side with what looks like some sort of post in front of him in both photos) looking in the opposite direction which would be toward the Sunken Lane. The photo you showed is at position 1 at the bottom of the map (and noted below the Dunker Church text)