"Cannoneers, To Your Posts!" - Piatek

James H. Cooper's Battery B exemplified the courage for which it was famous. This is also the story of one of its members as a captive and parolee. "Impressive..." [BLUE & GRAY MAGAZINE]

"CANNONEERS, TO YOUR POSTS!": JAMES H. COOPER'S BATTERY B, FIRST PENNSYLVANIA LIGHT ARTILLERY AT GETTYSBURG, 2006 by Frank J. Piatek. More than a detailed rendition of a federal artillery unit's service in one of the most famous battles of the Civil War, "CANNONEERS, TO YOUR POSTS!" is also the story of one of its members whose experiences as a captive and parolee provide a sometimes humorous and lasting appreciation of the personal sacrifices made during this epic conflict. Composed of men from a small rural community in western Pennsylvania, Battery B engendered the pride and spirit of that community long after the war was over as it honored the veterans who gave so much to preserve the nation. It was a record of service that resulted in its sustaining the highest number of deaths in battle of any Federal voluntary light artillery unit in the entire war, having participated in numerous engagements where its tenacity and dedication to duty was self-evident. Led by a young captain whose bravery was unquestioned, Battery B at Gettysburg exemplified the courage for which it was famous, participating in all three days of that battle throughout various portions of the field. "The author chronicles Battery B in detail, explaining its movements and activities on each day of the battle, and even hour by hour sequences. Mr. Piatek...uses an impressive array of both primary and secondary historical sources to support his presentation with precision and accuracy," writes Andy Waskie of BLUE & GRAY MAGAZINE.* Illustrated with both period and modern photographs, this study also contains explanatory notes that critically examine and evaluate extant sources, making it a valuable contribution to Civil War historiography. "Readers with interest in Civil War artillery, Pennsylvania volunteers, Gettysburg, as well as the postwar memorial period and peacetime careers of several principal veterans, will be rewarded by this study." [*See entire book review in BLUE & GRAY MAGAZINE, Spring 2007 issue.] 51 pages, 8 1/2 x 11 Softbound ISBN 978-0-9760563-6-2 LOC 2006925968 About the Author: Frank J. Piatek is a graduate of Geneva College where he received a BA in history with work in economics and also Duquesne University School of Law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he received his Juris Doctorate degree in 1972. His interest in Civil War history began as a youngster and today involves speaking engagements for organizations on Civil War-related topics and living history presentations for the National Park Service at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Mr. Piatek is the author of CANNONEERS, TO YOUR POSTS!: THE STORY OF JAMES H. COOPER'S BATTERY B, 1st PA LIGHT ARTILLERY AT GETTYSBURG, a unit from his home area in Lawrence County. Additionally, he has been published in Gettysburg Magazine and is on the book review staff of the Civil War News. A member and past-president of the Mahoning Valley Civil War Roundtable in Youngstown, Ohio, he is also an active member of several reenacting units. Mr. Piatek has also performed with recreated Civil War brass bands and fife and drum groups. In conjunction with the Lawrence County Historical Society, of which he had been a Board member, he sponsored a fund-raiser to restore and preserve the monument to the 100th Pennsylvania (Roundhead Regiment) at the Antietam battlefield. Mr. Piatek is married with two adult children and resides near New Castle, Pennsylvania. He spends his free time away from the practice of law reading Civil War history, playing the drums, and listening to his collection of jazz recordings when he and his wife are not participating in Civil War-era Victorian dance and living history events.