9th Massachusetts Battery

In July 1863, the battery joined the 1st Volunteer Brigade, Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac and marched to Gettysburg, where it played a prominent role, despite this being its first battle.

In December 1863, the battery was assigned to the 2nd Volunteer Brigade, Artillery Reserve, to April, 1864.

The 9th Massachusetts Battery mustered out of service June 6, 1865, at Gallops Island in Boston Harbor.

Moved to Centreville, Virginia, April 17; thence to Fairfax C. H. and Edward's Ferry June 25.

On the 2d of July it marched to Gettysburg and took part in its first battle, being placed in support of the Third Corps at the left of the Union lines.

As that corps was forced back in the battle of the afternoon, it was among the last of the artillery to retire, and on reaching the angle of two stone walls was ordered to hold the position to the last moment to give time for the formation of a line in the rear.

In effect, Captain Bigelow was ordered to sacrifice his battery to save the others, and nobly responded to the demand.

The guns had been fired by prolonge till this point was reached, when a Confederate brigade having closed in on both flanks and 59 of the battery horses having been killed, four of the guns were necessarily abandoned, such of the artillerists as could do so extricating themselves from the enveloping lines of the foe.

The battery was left with but one commissioned officer and one sergeant for duty: yet it was engaged the following day on Cemetery Hill, meeting a further loss of five horses.

[4]At the dedication of a monument in later years, Major Bigelow recalled: In three hours' fighting.

You expended over three tons of shot and shell, including ninety-two rounds of canister.

You lost three of your four commissioned officers present; two, Erickson and Whitaker, being killed.

You lost six of the seven sergeants on the field[5] The original muster of enlisted men in the battery was 146 and 77 recruits was added in subsequent years.