Overview
Independent Pennsylvania Battery E (also known as Knap’s Battery) was a light artillery unit organized in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, during the Civil War. Mustered into United States service for a three-year term at Point of Rocks, Maryland, the battery served with distinction in both the Eastern and Western Theaters. It was recognized for its performance in several major campaigns and was commended by commanding generals on multiple occasions.
The battery was attached to various commands, including the 28th Pennsylvania Infantry, the 12th Corps, and later the 20th Corps of the Army of the Cumberland. Its service included participation in significant battles such as Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, and the Atlanta Campaign.
Organization & Service
Battery E was recruited in Pittsburgh and mustered into service at Point of Rocks, Maryland, where it was initially attached to the 28th Pennsylvania Infantry. After being ordered to Washington, D.C., for equipment, the battery returned to Point of Rocks in November 1861. In March 1862, it was posted at Salem and Front Royal along the Manassas Gap Railroad. In May 1862, a detachment at Front Royal was attacked and forced to retire to Winchester.
The battery was closely engaged at the Battle of Cedar Mountain in August 1862, where it was compelled to withdraw from an exposed position. At Antietam in September 1862, Battery E was active, but it did not arrive in time to participate in the Battle of Fredericksburg. The unit spent the winter at Acquia Creek and took part in the Chancellorsville Campaign in the spring of 1863, performing effective service.
During the Gettysburg Campaign, Battery E was attached to the 12th Corps and was actively engaged in the battle. Following Gettysburg, the battery moved with the 11th and 12th Corps to join the Army of the Cumberland at Chattanooga, Tennessee, arriving in late October 1863. It was attacked at Wauhatchie Junction and suffered significant losses. The battery participated in the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge before wintering at Wauhatchie.
In January 1864, many members reenlisted, and the battery continued as a veteran organization. As part of the 20th Corps under General Sherman, Battery E took part in the Atlanta Campaign, the March to the Sea, and operations in North Carolina. At Raleigh, the battery was detached and sent to Washington, D.C. It was mustered out at Pittsburgh on June 14, 1865.
Research This Regiment Further
If you’d like to explore this unit’s history in more depth, regimental histories and Civil War reference works offer valuable detail.
Engagements & Campaigns
- Front Royal (May 1862)
- Cedar Mountain (August 1862)
- Antietam (September 1862)
- Chancellorsville Campaign (Spring 1863)
- Gettysburg (July 1863)
- Wauhatchie Junction (October 1863)
- Lookout Mountain (November 1863)
- Missionary Ridge (November 1863)
- Atlanta Campaign (May–September 1864)
- March to the Sea (November–December 1864)
- Carolinas Campaign (Early 1865)
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for Independent Pennsylvania Battery E are not consistently reported in primary sources. The battery suffered losses in several engagements, notably at Wauhatchie Junction. For precise numbers, consult the Pennsylvania Adjutant General’s reports and Dyer’s Compendium.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Captain Joseph M. Knap
- Captain Charles A. Atwell
- Captain James D. McGill
- Captain James A. Dunlevy
- Captain Thomas S. Sloan
Regimental Roster
The complete roster of soldiers who served in Independent Pennsylvania Battery E (Three Years’ Service) is available on the regiment’s roster page. This includes officers, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted men, along with available service details.
To view the full roster, visit the Independent Pennsylvania Battery E Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes
- Pennsylvania Adjutant General’s Report, annual volumes (1861–1865)
- Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- Fox, William F., Regimental Losses in the American Civil War
- The Union Army, Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Volume 1