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The monument to the 2nd Pennsylvania Provisional Heavy Artillery is just west of The Crater at Stop Eight on the driving tour. Flank markers are located about 125 feet north and south of the main monument.
The 2nd Pennsylvania Provisional Heavy Artillery was commanded at the Battle of the Crater by Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin G. Barney. When Barney was wounded Captain James W. Haig took command.
The regiment had served since early 1862 in the defenses of Washington. Although highly trained at firing the heavy siege artillery of the forts around Washington, none of the men had seen combat. By April of 1864 the regiment had grown to over 3,300 men, the largest regiment in the United States Army and far more than the legal limit.
Grant’s new campaign would need front line soldiers, and it was decided the “Heavies” would go to war as infantry. First the regiment was split in half, with the ‘new’ regiment to be referred to as the Second Pennsylvania Provisional Heavy Artillery. Even then, both resulting regiments were several times the size of veteran regiments in the field.
The Second Provisional was moved south to the battle front and attached to the First Division of the Ninth Corps. It took part in the battles of the Overland Campaign, operating as infantry. The inexperienced men took heavy casualties at Cold Harbor and in the initial assault on Petersburg, but especially at The Crater where almost two thirds of the regiment was lost.
Learn more about the Battle of the Crater
At the end of August the regiment had lost a thousand casualties. It disbanded and was reabsorbed by the parent 2nd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, which had itself lost half of its 1,800 men.
View of the top of the monument
From the top of the monument:
The Advance Position 2nd Pa.
Vet. Heavy Art. July 30, 1864.
From the front of the monument:
Went into action July 30, 1864, 780
men – answered roll call. After
battle 286 men; Lost killed and
wounded 494 men, including 8
officers.
See more about the Second Pennsylvania Provisional Heavy Artillery in the Civil War.
