Unit

Federal Battery

9th New York Infantry, Company K

"Whiting's Battery"
Organized: New York City, NY; mustered in 4/23/1861

Commanding Officer:
Capt. James R. Whiting

Statistics for Maryland Campaign
Initial Strength: 96

Arms:
5 Naval Howitzer

These were: 2 Rifled, 3 smoothbore.

Map Showing this Unit:
   Detail Map #10: Rodman's Division Crosses at Snavely's Ford

Battlefield Tablets for this Unit:
   Tablet #56: Ninth Army Corps - 15 Sep, 7 AM to 16 Sep, 3 PM
   Tablet #122: Army of the Potomac - 17 Sep, 10 AM to 17 Sep, 6 PM
   Tablet #70, cont: Ninth Army Corps - 17 Sep, 3 PM to 17 Sep, 5 PM
   Tablet #65: Rodman's Division, Ninth Army Corps - 17 Sep, 5 AM to 17 Sep, 5 PM
   Tablet #70: Ninth Army Corps - 17 Sep, 7 AM to 17 Sep, 3 PM
   Tablet #57: Ninth Army Corps - 17 Sep, 7 AM to 17 Sep, 5 PM

This Battery's Chain of Command:
  Army - Army of the Potomac
  Corps - Ninth (IX) Army Corps
  Division - 3rd Division, IX Corps
  Brigade - 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, IX Corps

History of the Unit:
Actually part of the 9th NY Infantry (Hawkins' Zouaves), Company K was Capt Whiting's Battery of Artillery.

The battery was one of only two units in the Maryland Campaign (the other was Grimes' Confederate battery) armed with Naval Howitzers. The 9th had 5 12-pounders, 2 rifled and 3 smooth-bored. These were also known as "boat howitzers" because they were usually used in small Navy vessels. They were fitted with special wrought iron carriages for field use.

In the Antietam Campaign:
The battery was present with the IX Corps, and acted in support to the infantry crossing at Snavely's Ford on the late morning of September 17th.

"... Rodman moved from his position on the high ridge at 10.30 a.m., crossed the Rohrersville road about 1000 yards below the bridge, marched some 500 yards after crossing the road, and halted opposite the great bend in the Antietam, where the course of the stream changes from due south to west. Whiting's five guns were put in position to shell the wooded bluff opposite the ford by which it was proposed to cross, and shelled the road and woods on the opposite side of the creek, driving the enemy from their positions. This fire of Whiting's enfiladed the line of Georgians, at and below the bridge, and the annoyance it caused them is referred to in some of their reports. Meanwhile skirmishers had gone down to the creek and Rodman had come to the conclusion that this ford was not one that could be crossed and directed Colonel Harland to make further reconnaissance. "

"... [Rodman's reconnaissance] found a practicable ford, and the column, Fairchild's Brigade in advance, marched down to it. Whiting's Battery, supported by the 8th Connecticut, was put in position on a hill just below the ford to cover the crossing. Much time had been lost and it was nearly 1 o'clock... "

"Harland followed Fairchild and while the latter was making his difficult way up the bluff, on the right, the 4th Rhode Island crossed the creek under fire of the enemy behind the stone fence, filed to the left on open ground, then one company to the front and one to the left as skirmishers, and advancing drove the enemy from the stone fence and formed behind it, and almost immediately received a musketry fire from the left, which was almost immediately silenced by Whiting's guns across the creek.
(quoted from Carman)

References, Sources, and other Notes:
Source: Carman, Ezra Ayres, Antietam Manuscript (unpublished), Chapter 21, excerpted online.

We have one individual in the AotW database for this unit:

Co.	Rank	Name	Casualty?	Details*
--	Capt	Whiting, James R

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