On May 25, 1986, Battery B was officially reactivated into the Rhode Island Militia by then Rhode Island Governor Edward D. DiPrete. Five years later, Rhode Island Governor Bruce Sundlun reaffirmed the reactivation of Battery B into the Rhode Island Militia and authorized "the raising, by voluntary enlistment, of troops to fill this battery of artillery." The Battery prides themselves in the authenticity of dress and military behavior in camp and on the field. With the help of the Associate Unit, aspects of civilian as well as military life are recreated. The Battery represents the State of Rhode Island across the country at many different encampments, reenactments, and living history demonstrations.

Battery B arrived at Gettysburg, Pa., about 10:00 on the morning of July 2, 1863, and was assigned position in battery on the left of the 2nd Corps line on Cemetary Ridge. During the afternoon, they were hotly engaged; 3 men were killed, and 1st Lt. T. Fred Brown, comanding the battery, and many more wounded. On July 3, the battery was able to man but 4 guns due to severe losses in men and horses the day before. 1st Lt. William S. Perrin was in command. About 13:00 commenced the terrific cannonade preceeding Pickett's charge. It was during this cannonade that this gun, the fourth piece of Battery B, was disabled. No. 1, William Jones, had stepped to his place in front, between the muzzle of the piece and wheel on the right side, and, having swabbed the gun, stood with sponge staff reversed waiting for the charge to be inserted by No. 2. Alfred G. Gardner, No. 2, had stepped to his place, between the muzzle of the piece and the wheel on the left side, and, taking the ammunition from No. 5, was in the act of inserting the charge when a shell struck the face of the muzzle, left side of the bore, and exploded. William Jones was killed instantly by a shell fragment, which cut the top, left side of his head completely off. He fell with his head toward the enemy, while the sponge staff was thrown two or three yards beyond him.

Alfred G. Gardner was struck in the left shoulder, tearing off his arm and shoulder. He lived but a few minutes, and died shouting, "Glory to God! Hallelujah! Amen! Amen!" Sargeant Albert Straight, in command of the gun, Gardner's tentmate and friend, ran to his side to catch his dying message, and described the scene in the following words in a letter to Mrs. Gardner: "He died at his post as only the true soldier dies. He lived a few minutes after he received his wound. He requested me to send you this Bible, which he had in his pocket at the time, and tell you he died happy. We shook hands and bade a good-bye. My duties were such that I could not remain with him, as we were having a terrible battle. His left arm and shoulder were torn off by cannon shot, also taking off the head of another man at the same time. I am Sargeant of the piece Mr. Gardner was assigned to. He faithfully performed his duties and flinched not when the missiles of death flew thick about us."

Compare the dying exclamation of Alfred G. Gardner with what he wrote in a letter to a friend in November, 1862: "If I fall in battle, Amen! If I return to my family, Amen! Whatever is my duty as I know it, that will I do with all my might. May the good Lord save us all in heaven where there will be no more war, but happiness forever and evermore."

Sargeant Straight, with George R. Matteson and the remaining cannoneers, tried to reload the piece, but in placing a charge in the muzzle of the gun they found it impossible to ram it home, although Sgt. Straight drove it in with an axe, but their efforts were futile. As the gun cooled, the shot became firmly fixed in the gun's muzzle, where it has remained ever since.

During the battle, this piece was struck three times by shot or shell before they exploded, and 39 times by musket balls. Soon after the piece was disabled, another shell exploded near the trail, mortally wounding John Green. He died in a field hospital, July 16. The gun, being unserviceable, was ordered to be taken off the field.

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