The
5th New York Independent Light Artillery was organized in
Brooklyn, New York on August 15, 1861. Elijah Taft was commissioned its commander as a
captain later in the year. The battery was intended to serve with the
Excelsior Brigade on BG
Daniel Sickles. The 5th New York Battery sometimes was called the First Excelsior Light Artillery. The 5th New York was mustered into the federal service on November 8, 1861. It departed for
Washington, D. C. eight days later and stayed there, encamped near the Capitol, until March 1862. Then the gunners left for the
Peninsula Campaign of MG
George B. McClellan. It was assigned to the Reserve Artillery of the
Army of the Potomac under Col
Henry J. Hunt. The battery's equipment not having arrived, Taft, his officers and men served with other batteries at the
Battle of Yorktown, the
Battle of Seven Pines and the
Seven Days Battles. The 5th New York sailed from Harrison's Landing on August 9, 1862, arriving at
Falmouth, Virginia. Fully equipped, the battery joined the Reserve Artillery attached to
V Corps under Col
William Hays, The battery was engaged at the
Battle of Antietam, firing from two different positions against Confederate guns on the other side of Antietam Creek, one near the Middle Bridge and one farther to the left. Taft's battery next served in the Reserve Artillery under Col Hays at the
Battle of Fredericksburg. It was one of the batteries lined up overlooking the
Rappahannock River to support the federal army's crossing of the river. In the Chancellorsville campaign he served under Cpt
William M. Graham and BG
Robert O. Tyler. In May 1863 his battery fired across the river not far from where it was positioned in December to cover the crossing of
VI Corps at the beginning of the
Second Battle of Fredericksburg. After Chancellorsville, the Reserve Artillery was reorganized into brigades. Taft was assigned command of the Second Volunteers brigade, composed of four batteries:
1st Connecticut Heavy, Battery B: Capt Albert F. Brooker; 1st Connecticut Heavy, Battery M: Capt Franklin A. Pratt; 2nd Connecticut Light Battery: Capt John W. Sterling; 5th New York Independent Battery under Taft. During the
Gettysburg campaign, two batteries were left in the rear areas of the army. The other two, led by Capt Taft, arrived on the Gettysburg battlefield. At the
Battle of Gettysburg, Taft's batteries arrived on July 2 about 10:30 A.M. and were held in reserve until they moved into position. The 5th New York was sent to the Evergreen Cemetery at about 3.30 P.M. This was part of Gen Hunt's effort to cover all Confederate angles of approach to Cemetery Hill.The guns were engaged from 4:00 P.M. until dark. Four guns of the battery were south of the Baltimore Pike firing at Confederate batteries on Benner's Hill. Two guns fired westward. The battery remained in place on the morning of July 3. One gun on Baltimore Pike burst, but the other three relieved the section firing westward against the Confederate guns on Seminary Ridge. They remained in that position until the close of the battle. The 5th New York lost 1 man killed and 2 wounded. The battery's monument stands in the
Gettysburg National Cemetery.[http://www.virtualgettysburg.com/exhibit/monuments/pages/sr194.html The 2nd Connecticut Battery under Capt. John W. Sterling reinforced the
III Corps line until late in the day on July 2. Later it retired and on July 3 formed line under Ltc
Freeman McGilvery on the left of
II Corps on Cemetery Ridge. After Gettysburg, Taft command his reserve artillery brigade in the
Bristoe Campaign and at the
Battle of Mine Run. At the beginning of the
Overland Campaign of 1864, Major
John A. Tompkins took command of the brigade, and consequently Taft resumed command of his battery. The battery participated in the
Battle of the Wilderness and the
Battle of Spotsylvania in the Reserve Artillery, but it was assigned to V Corps at the
Battle of Cold Harbor. The 5th New York was sent to the defenses of Washington on May 19, 1864. It was in
XXII Corps in July 1864; and in the artillery brigade of VI Corps in August. Next Taft was sent with his guns to serve in the
Army of the Shenandoah under MG
Philip H. Sheridan. In the
Valley Campaigns of 1864, Taft's battery was assigned to
XIX Corps. He commanded the Artillery Reserve of the corps at the
Third Battle of Winchester and the
Battle of Fisher's Hill. When Maj Albert W. Bradbury took command of the Reserve, Taft resumed command of his battery, which was assigned to the first division of the corps. The battery fought at the
Battle of Cedar Creek under Capt Taft. Thereafter the battery remained, with Taft as commander, in the
Department of West Virginia. The 5th New York was mustered out of service at Hart's Island near
New York City on July 16, 1865. Taft received
brevet rank of major to date from March 13, 1865. ==Post-War==