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Smith's Independent Battery, 4th New York Artillery arrived at Gettysburg with the 3rd. Corps on the morning of July 2 with six 10lb. Parrott Rifles and 135 men to serve them. That afternoon the battery was posted on the hill above Devil's Den with the 4th. Maine Infantry in support to meet and slow Confederate General Hood's assault on the Union left. This position deemed vital to the outcome of the battle, Union chief of artillery, General Henry Hunt posted the battery himself, explaining to Smith the importance of the position and went on to say he expected Smith to lose his entire battery that day, but to hold as long as possible before spiking the guns and abandoning them, getting his men away to fight another day.
Smith understood his mission was to buy time for the Union Army to get men and guns to the area to stop the Confederate assault and save the Union left from disaster. Smith could post four guns atop Devil's Den, the remaining two he posted to his right. The battery opened fire on Hood's men as they came into view, a witness described the scene as a ''giant billiard table'' as some of Smith's shells smacked huge rocks ricocheting and tumbling to another rock before exploding, ''CLACK-CLACK-BOOM!'' A Confederate soldier described the battery's fire as, ''very effective''. Smith's four lower guns held until about 5 PM when his support withdrew due to their ammunition being expended. Smith's men tried withdrawing by prolong, (firing as they withdrew, the gun tied to the limber) but the assault overpowering them. The guns were spiked and three were left on the field. The two remaining guns to the right continued fighting for another hour before withdrawing to another battery.
Smith's losses were few compared with his accomplishment, three guns lost, two men killed, ten wounded, and one missing. Eleven horses killed and 240 rounds of ammunition expended. The battery would indeed live to fight another day.
Smith's Battery Memorial atop of Devil's Den
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