Battery A, 2nd U.S. Artillery

Light Battery A, 2nd Regiment, United States Artillery
Active	1821–1901
Country	United States
Allegiance	United States (Union)
Branch	United States Army
Engagements	Second Seminole War Mexican-American War Utah War American Civil War Indian Wars Baltimore railroad strike of 1877 Spanish-American War

Company A, 2nd Regiment, United States Artillery, formerly Company M, 2nd Battalion, Corps of Artillery, was an artillery unit organized in March 1821 at West Point, New York. The company was a part of the newly-established Second Regiment of Artillery, one of four artillery regiments authorized by the Congressional Act of March 2, 1821.

Company A was among the Army's first dedicated field artillery batteries, designated "Battery A" or "Light Battery A" and serving continuously as a mounted artillery battery between 1839 and 1901. As a result, it was often on the cutting edge of emerging field artillery tactics, under such famous officers as James Duncan in the Mexican-American War and later William F. Barry, who would serve as Chief of Artillery for the Union Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War.

Heavily engaged in numerous wars and famous battles (including claiming the distinction of firing the first artillery shot at the Battle of Gettysburg), and with its roll of officers and enlisted men including such famous artillerists as Henry J. Hunt, John Sedgwick, Charles Griffin, James M. Robertson, John C. Tidball, Alexander C.M. Pennington, Henry Benson, and John I. Rodgers (Chief of Artillery in Cuba during the Spanish-American War), Battery A, 2nd U.S., remains one of the most prolific American field artillery units in the history of the service.

Early History (1821–1835)

In March 1821, the United States Congress passed legislation reorganizing the United States Army organization, including the introduction of a new regimental artillery system. The former organizations, the Corps of Artillery and Regiment of Light Artillery, were abolished and reorganized into four regiments of artillery. Company A, 2nd U.S., was formed from the old Company M, 2nd Battalion, Corps of Artillery, at West Point, New York, in March 1821; the company remained in garrison at the United States Military Academy until November 1827.

In November 1827, the Second Regiment was transferred to the American Southeast; Company A was assigned to duty at Oglethorpe Barracks, Georgia, until April 1828, and thereafter at Fort Monroe, Virginia.

When sectional politics created increased tensions in the South, much of the regiment was transferred to South Carolina in November 1828. Company A occupied Fort Moultrie in Charleston Harbor, where it remained until February 1832, and thereafter at Castle Pinckney, until June 1832.

The battery was garrisoned at Camp Armistead in the Cherokee Nation in 1832, and at Augusta Arsenal during most of 1833.

The company spent some time in the Creek Nation between 1833 and 1834, following the ratification of the Treaty of Cusseta, tasked with the dual purpose of removing tribal members from the land and keeping interloping white settlers out.

In late 1833 and 1834, the company was garrisoned at Fort Mitchell, Alabama, and thereafter at Fort Wood, Louisiana, until December 1835.

Second Seminole War (1835–1842)

In December 1835, much of the Second Regiment was deployed to Florida in response to the outbreak of the Second Seminole War.

Company A was in garrison at Fort Brooke, Florida, arriving in December 1835; the company was posted to Fort Brooke during the same time as Company C, 2nd U.S., which was virtual annihilated at the Dade Massacre the same month.

Like the other companies in the regiment, Company A was variously engaged in the field during expeditions against the Seminoles. It remained in the garrison at Fort Brooke until December 1836, then was briefly in the field, at Fort Foster, Florida, in March 1837, and then back into the garrison at Fort Brooke between June 1837 and September 1837; thereafter, it was transferred to Fort Pike, Louisiana, where it remained until May 1838.

In May 1838, the Second Regiment was posted briefly in the Cherokee Nation during treaty enforcement (which once again consisted mostly of removal of natives from lands ceded by treaty with the Federal government).

In September 1838, the Second Regiment was transferred to postings in the Old Northwest; Company A arrived in Buffalo, New York, in September, and in November 1838 was assigned to the garrison at Fort Niagara, New York, until July 1839.

Interwar Light Battery Service

In July 1839, Company A was sent to a camp of instruction at Camp Washington, near Trenton, New Jersey; there, pursuant to a directive by the Secretary of War, it was reorganized and mounted as a battery of light artillery, representing the Second Regiment. Referred to thereafter as "Light Battery A", it served as the permanent field artillery company of the regiment.

Battery A returned to garrison duty at Buffalo Barracks, New York, from October 1839 until August 1841; at Fort Hamilton, New York, from August 1841 until June 1842; at Fort Adams, Rhode Island, from June 1842 until August 1843, and; at Fort Hamilton, New York, from August 1843 until August 1845.

Mexican-American War (1846–1848)

On the eve of the Mexican-American War, Battery A embarked for Texas from Fort Hamilton, New York, in August 1845. Upon arrival at Aransas Bay in September, it entered General Zachary Taylor's Army of Occupation at Corpus Christi. In May 1846, it was engaged in the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. Remaining active on the campaign during most of the war under command of Captain James Duncan, Battery A was present and engaged at the battles of Monterrey, Cerro Gordo, Churubusco, Chapultepec, and Mexico City, as well as the siege of Veracruz.

Following the end of the war, the battery returned to the United States with the regiment in June 1848, assigned to posts in the Northeast. Battery A was assigned to the garrison of Fort McHenry, Maryland.

Antebellum (1848–1861)

Upon returning to the United States, Battery A remained in garrison at Fort McHenry, Maryland, from October 1848 until April 1851. From there, it was transferred to garrison duty at Fort Monroe, Virginia, from April 1851 until November 1852, and then returned to Fort McHenry from November 1852 until September 1857.

During the civil unrest which resulted from the issue of statehood and slavery in the territory of Kansas, Battery A was transferred with the majority of the Second Regiment to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in September 1857; It was briefly detached to the West during the Utah War in 1858.

American Civil War (1861-1865)

Officers of Battery A, 2nd U.S., near Fair Oaks, Virginia, ca. May 1862: (Left to Right) Lt. Robert Clarke, Cpt. John C. Tidball, Lt. W. Neil Dennison, Lt. Alexander C.M. Pennington, Jr.

Fort Pickens Expedition to Bull Run

In January 1861, Battery A was transferred to the defenses of Washington, D.C. From there, it joined the Federal expedition to relieve Fort Pickens, Florida, besieged by pro-Confederate forces in April 1861, just prior to the commencement of hostilities at Fort Sumter, South Carolina.

Returning to Washington, D.C., in July 1861, the battery arrived in time to be attached to the First Brigade, Fifth Division of the Union Army of Northeastern Virginia; it was present and engaged at the First Battle of Bull Run, under the command of Captain John C. Tidball.

Following the battle and the army's retreat to Washington, D.C., Battery A was attached to the Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac, and posted in the defenses of the city until March 1862.

Peninsula Campaign

In March 1862, the Army of the Potomac embarked upon the invasion of Virginia during the Peninsula Campaign. Battery A landed near Fort Monroe, Virginia, and soon entered the siege of Yorktown.

In May 1862, the battery was attached to the Horse Artillery Brigade, a new organization within the Artillery Reserve. With all battery personnel traveling mounted, and equipped with lightweight 3-inch Ordnance rifles, the batteries of the Horse Artillery Brigade were intended to be highly-mobile and nimble units that could accompany cavalry in the field.

Battery A was engaged at the Battle of Williamsburg in May 1862, and accompanied the Army of the Potomac to the vicinity of Richmond, Virginia, where it stalled in June. Upon the eruption of the Seven Days Battles, during which the Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee counterattacked, Battery A was engaged at the battles of Beaver Dam Creek, Gaines' Mill, and Malvern Hill.

Maryland and Fredericksburg Campaigns

Following the Seven Days Battles, the Union Army of the Potomac was encamped at Harrison's Landing, Virginia, until August 1862. From there, it was ordered to withdraw from the Peninsula. Battery A marched to Fort Monroe, and from there was embarked for Alexandria, Virginia, toward the end of August.

In September 1862, the Horse Artillery Brigade was attached to the Cavalry Division of the Army of the Potomac, and engaged on the Maryland Campaign at the battles of Boonsboro, Antietam, and Shepherdstown.

Continuing onto the Fredericksburg Campaign, the battery was engaged at the battles of Piedmont, Amissville, and in reserve at Fredericksburg.

Chancellorsville and Gettysburg Campaigns

During the Chancellorsville Campaign, the Horse Artillery Brigade was attached to the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, attempting to draw Confederate cavalry away from the Army of the Potomac during the Chancellorsville operations. The battery participated in General George Stoneman's raid against Richmond, Virginia.

During the Gettysburg Campaign, Battery A was attached to newly-formed Second Brigade, Horse Artillery, and in the field with Brigadier General John Buford's First Division, Cavalry Corps, during the first day at Gettysburg. Under command of Lieutenant John Calef, the battery had the distinction of firing the first artillery shots during the Battle of Gettysburg.

Following the Battle of Gettysburg, the battery accompanied the Cavalry Corps in pursuit of Lee's retreating army.

In late 1863, Battery A participated in the Bristoe and Mine Run Campaigns.

Overland Campaign

In May 1864, Battery A joined Lieutenant General Ulysses Grant's Overland Campaign. With the Cavalry Corps, now under the aggressive command of Major General Philip Sheridan, the battery was fiercely engaged on the campaign, and in action at the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, and Trevilian Station.

Siege of Petersburg and the Appomattox Campaign

During the siege of Petersburg, Battery A remained with the Cavalry Corps and was engaged in numerous battles, including Deep Bottom, Boydton Plank Road, Weldon Railroad, Stoney Creek, and Hatcher's Run.

During the Appomattox Campaign, the battery was engaged at numerous battles, including Dinwiddie Court House, Five Forks, Sailor's Creek, and Appomattox Station. It was present with the Union Army at Appomattox Court House during the surrender of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.

At the end of the war, Battery A was transferred to the defenses of Washington, D.C., in May 1865, where it remained until October 1865.

Postbellum (1865–1898)

In September 1865, the Second Regiment was transferred to the West Coast of the United States. Battery A was in garrison at the Presidio in San Francisco, California, until April 1869.

The Army intended to create a school of instruction for the light artillery batteries, and Battery A was briefly transferred to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1869; however, due to the the emergence of hostilities between the government and the Plains Indians, Battery A was transferred to Fort Riley, Kansas. From there, it was on frequent duty in the field against the Cheyenne during the Indian Wars in 1869 and 1870.

In May 1871, the battery rejoined the regiment on the West Coast, and was in the garrison at the Presidio in San Francisco, California, until November 1872.

The regiment returned to the Southeast United States in November 1872, and Battery A was posted in the garrison at Fort McHenry, Maryland, until 1881. From there, it was on detached service to Baltimore, Maryland, and Martinsburg, West Virginia, during the railroad labor riots of 1877. It was transferred to Washington Barracks, D.C., between 1881 and 1885.

In June 1885, the Second Regiment was transferred to the Lower South of the United States. Battery A was sent to the garrison at Little Rock Barracks, Arkansas, until May 1889, and then Fort Riley, Kansas, from 1889 to 1896, and finally at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, until the outbreak of the Spanish-American War in 1898.

Spanish–American War (1898)

Upon the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, most of the light batteries of the artillery regiments were prepared for field service. In May 1898, Battery A was sent to the military staging area at Chickamauga National Military Park, Georgia, and from there to Tampa, Florida. The battery was initially attached to the First Battalion, Light Artillery Brigade; in June 1898, four batteries of the brigade, comprising a battalion under the command of Major John W. Dillenback, were deployed to Cuba with the V Corps. After landing at Daiquiri, Battery A was present and engaged at the Battle of San Juan Hill and the siege of Santiago. When the majority of U.S. Army forces withdrew from Cuba in August 1898, Battery A remained in the occupation forces around Havana. The battery remained in garrison in the vicinity of the city, chiefly at Camp Columbia, until February 1901.

Artillery Corps (1901)

In February 1901, the United States Congress abolished the regimental organization of the artillery service. The seven regiments of United States Army artillery were reorganized into the United States Artillery Corps, consisting of Field Artillery and Coast Artillery branches. As a permanent light artillery company, Battery A was administratively dissolved and re-designated the Third Battery, Field Artillery.[1]

List of commanders

The following list includes all permanent captains who held command of Battery A, 2nd U.S. Artillery, between 1821–1901.

• Captain Alexander C.W. Fanning (1821–1822)
• Captain Thomas C. Legate (1822–1837)
• Captain James Green (1837–1842)
• Captain Edmund Schriver (1842–1846)
• Captain James Duncan (1846–1849)
• Captain John Sedgwick (1849–1855)
• Captain Horace Brooks (1855–1858)
• Captain William F. Barry (1858–1861)
• Captain John C. Tidball (1861–1867)
• Captain Joseph G. Ramsay (1867–1879)
• Captain Alexander C.M. Pennington, Jr. (1879–1882)
• Captain John I. Rodgers (1882–1883)
• Captain Frank B. Hamilton (1883–1887)
• Captain William P. Graves (1887–1889)
• Captain Asher C. Taylor (1889)
• Captain Frank C. Grugan (1889–1891)
• Captain George S. Grimes (1891–1899)
• Captain Edward St. J. Greble (1899)
• Captain Lotus Niles (1899–1901)

See also

• Field Artillery Branch (United States)

Sources

• Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Des Moines, Iowa: Dyer Publishing Co., 1908.
• Heitman, Francis B. Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, From its Organization, September 29, 1789 to March 2, 1903. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1903.
• Simpson, William A. “The Second Regiment of Artillery,” in The Army of the United States, eds. William Haskin and Theodore Rodenbough. New York: Maynard, Merrill & Co., 1896.
• War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Washington, D.C.: G.P.O.

External links

• Henry Benson: The Life of a Soldier in the Second Regiment, United States Artillery