Imboden's Confederate Artillery

Position held by John Imboden's Confederate artillery on Henry Hill

NPS/Hassler

“Come on boys, let us silence that battery—come strike for your country and your God.” 

–Colonel Henry W. Slocum, 27th New York Infantry 

The four cannons of Capt. John Imboden's Staunton Artillery were positioned on the north-west corner of Henry Hill. Imboden later described the action: “the enemy’s battery—six long-rifle 10-pounder Parrott guns, [which] opened on us with elongated cylindrical shells. They passed a few feet over our heads, and very near the General and his staff in our rear and exploded near the top of the hill. We instantly returned the compliment…they at first over-shot us and burst their shells to our rear, but at every round improved their aim and shortened their fuse.” 

  Over the next two hours, Imboden’s battery suffered heavily from the Federal artillery fire on the hills to the north and northwest. With the retreat of the Confederate infantry from Matthews Hill, renewed pressure from Federal infantry and artillery, and running low on ammunition, Imboden determined the time had come to leave this exposed position.