11th Massachusetts Battery | |
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Active | August 25, 1862 – May 29, 1863 January 2, 1864 – June 16, 1865 |
Country | United States |
Branch | Union Army |
Type | Field artillery |
Size | Battery |
Part of | Second term: Artillery Brigade, IX Corps |
Engagements | American Civil War |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Captain Edward J. Jones |
The 11th Massachusetts Battery (or 11th Battery Massachusetts Light Artillery) was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was formed in response to President Abraham Lincoln's August 1862 call for 300,000 men to serve for nine months. Several months after completing their first term of service, the battery was reorganized for a second term of three years (though the war ended before they could complete this term). It was recruited by Captain Edward J. Jones of Boston and consisted almost entirely of men from that city. The battery served a largely uneventful first term as garrison troops mostly in Centreville, Virginia. During their second term they were involved in heavy combat being part of the Army of the Potomac during Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign.
The 11th Massachusetts Battery trained for their nine-month term of service at Camp Meigs in Readville, Massachusetts in August 1862. The unit was mustered into federal service on August 25. [1] It was the only Massachusetts unit of artillery mustered in under the nine-months call, the other 18 Massachusetts nine-months units being infantry regiments. [2] The men were recruited in Boston and mostly came from that city and the immediate vicinity. [3] The unit left Boston by train on October 3, 1862 and reported to Washington, D.C., on October 6. For their first two months of service, they served garrison duty as part of the defenses of Washington at Camp Barry and later at Hall's Hill in Arlington, Virginia. [3] On November 28 they were transferred to the brigade commanded by Francis Randall garrisoned in Centreville, Virginia. During the winter and early spring of 1864, the unit was frequently used as cavalry, conducting picket and reconnaissance duty between Centreville and Union Mills, Virginia. [3] In April the battery was transferred to the brigade commanded by Daniel Sickles and conducted garrison duty at Fort Ramsay in Arlington County, Virginia and Fort Buffalo, Virginia, both part of the defenses of Washington. [4] At the close of their term of service, the unit departed Washington on May 23, 1863 and arrived in Boston on May 28. They were mustered out on May 29. The unit did not have any men killed in action or by disease during its first term. [4]
The battery was reorganized during December 1863 to serve a new term of three years. Reenlisted members of the 11th Massachusetts Battery formed the core of the new iteration. They were joined by new recruits to fill out the ranks. Capt. Edward Jones again served as commanding officer. [5] The members of the battery were mustered in on January 2, 1864, trained at Camp Meigs, and departed Massachusetts on February 5. Reaching Washington, the battery was attached to the Second Division (commanded by Major General Robert B. Potter) of the IX Corps, assigned to the Army of the Potomac. [4] The battery took part in the major battles of the Overland Campaign, though they were not heavily engaged until moved to the front lines on June 19 during the start of the Siege of Petersburg. [5] On August 21 and 22, the battery took part in the Battle of Weldon Railroad while temporarily attached to the II Corps. The battery was in action at various points on the siege line at Petersburg during the fall and winter. On March 25, 1865, the battery played an important role during the Battle of Fort Stedman. [5] As Confederate troops overtook Fort Stedman and temporarily broke through Union siege lines, the 11th Massachusetts Battery, posted in nearby Fort Friend, rendered key service in pushing back the assault. [6] When the Confederates abandoned Petersburg and retreated towards Appomattox Court House, the 11th Massachusetts Battery joined other elements of the Army of the Potomac in pursuit. They were present for the surrender at Appomattox and were detailed with other artillery units to take charge of surrendered Confederate cannons. [6]
The 11th Massachusetts Battery took part in the Grand Review of the Armies in Washington after the close of the war. In June they were ordered home to Boston and were mustered out at Camp Meigs on June 16, 1865. The battery lost three men killed in action and twelve by disease. [7]
The 3rd Massachusetts Volunteer Heavy Artillery Regiment was a unit that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was organized from already mustered unattached companies of heavy artillery raised for the defenses of the Massachusetts coast.
The 1st Battalion of Massachusetts Volunteer Heavy Artillery was a unit that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was organized from several unattached companies of heavy artillery already raised and mustered into a three-year service for the defenses of the Massachusetts coast.
The 16th Massachusetts was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War formed of volunteers from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The 3rd Massachusetts Battery, was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 9th Massachusetts Battery was a field artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 5th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia was a peacetime infantry regiment that was activated for federal service in the Union army for three separate tours during the American Civil War. In the years immediately preceding the war and during its first term of service, the regiment consisted primarily of companies from Essex County as well as Boston and Charlestown.
The 6th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia was a peacetime infantry regiment that was activated for federal service in the Union army for three separate terms during the American Civil War (1861-1865). The regiment gained notoriety as the first unit in the Union Army to suffer fatal casualties in action during the Civil War in the Baltimore Riot and the first militia unit to arrive in Washington D.C., in response to President Abraham Lincoln's initial call for 75,000 troops. Private Luther C. Ladd of the 6th Massachusetts is often referred to as the first Union soldier killed in action during the war.
The 42nd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was a regiment of infantry that served two tours in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The unit was first formed in September 1862 in response to President Abraham Lincoln's call for 300,000 men to serve for nine months.
The 3rd Battalion Massachusetts Rifles was an infantry unit created at the start of the American Civil War and activated for federal service in the Union army for a term of ninety days. It consisted of three companies of prewar militia and one newly recruited company together organized under the command of Major Charles Devens. The term "rifles" was a designation frequently given to antebellum militia companies which trained in the use of rifled muskets—a relatively new innovation at the time—as opposed to smoothbore muskets. Only minor differences in training and tactics differentiated such units from a typical infantry company of the time. During the 1840s, "rifle" companies were often expected to train and serve as skirmishers in open order, however by the Civil War, United States army tactics manuals made no distinction between a company of "rifles" and a typical infantry company.
The 1st Massachusetts Battery was a peacetime militia artillery battery that was activated for federal service in the Union army for two separate tours during the American Civil War. Prior to the war and during its first term of service, the unit was sometimes known as "Cook's Battery" after its commanding officer, Capt. Asa M. Cook. During its first term, the battery primarily served garrison duty in Baltimore, Maryland. Almost immediately after mustering out, the unit began preparing for a second term, this time volunteering to serve for three years. The battery was attached to the VI Corps of the Army of the Potomac during its second term and took part in some of the largest battles of the war including the Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign in the spring of 1864.
The 2nd Massachusetts Battery was an artillery battery that served in the Union army during the American Civil War. The unit was initially known as "Cobb's Light Artillery" for its first commander, Major Moses Cobb. An experienced officer of the Massachusetts militia, Cobb was selected to organize and command the battery on April 20, 1861, however he did not go with the unit when it departed for the field. The unit was later known as "Nim's Battery" after its subsequent commanding officer, Capt. Ormand F. Nims. It was one of the Massachusetts regiments organized in response to President Abraham Lincoln's call on May 2, 1861, for volunteer troops to serve a term of three-years. The 2nd Massachusetts Battery was the first unit of artillery to be recruited in Massachusetts for three-years service. The battery trained at Camp Adams in Quincy, Massachusetts, and was mustered into federal service on July 31, 1861.
The 4th Massachusetts Battery was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The unit was sometimes known as "Manning's Battery" after its commanding officer, Capt. Charles H. Manning. It was one of the Massachusetts regiments organized in response to President Abraham Lincoln's call on May 2, 1861 for volunteer troops to serve a term of three-years. The core of the unit was a peace-time militia company known as the Salem Light Artillery. The battery trained at Camp Chase in Lowell, Massachusetts. It was assigned to the Department of the Gulf under Major General Benjamin F. Butler and departed Boston by steamship on November 20.
The 5th Massachusetts Battery was an artillery battery that served in the Union army during the American Civil War. It was one of the Massachusetts regiments organized in response to President Abraham Lincoln's call on May 2, 1861 for volunteer troops to serve a term of three-years. The battery trained at Camp Shouler in Lynnfield, Massachusetts and Camp Massasoit in Readville, Massachusetts. It departed Boston by steamship on December 25, 1861.
The 6th Massachusetts Battery was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The unit was one of the Massachusetts regiments organized in response to President Abraham Lincoln's call on May 2, 1861 for volunteer troops to serve a term of three-years. The battery trained at Camp Chase in Lowell, Massachusetts. It was assigned to the Department of the Gulf under Major General Benjamin F. Butler and departed Boston by steamship on February 8, 1862. At that time, the unit comprised 145 men armed with two rifled and four smoothbore six-pounder field guns.
The 7th Massachusetts Battery was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The original core of the unit was a company of infantry known as the Richardson Light Guard. The company initially served provost duty at Fortress Monroe, was eventually trained in light artillery drill, and reorganized on March 17, 1862 as the 7th Massachusetts Battery.
The 12th Massachusetts Battery was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The unit was organized at Camp Meigs near Boston during the fall of 1862. Its members were mustered in at various times over the fall and the officers mustered into federal service on December 8, 1862. It was assigned to the Department of the Gulf under Major General Nathaniel P. Banks and departed Massachusetts by steamship on January 3, 1863.
The 13th Massachusetts Battery was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The unit was organized at Camp Meigs near Boston during the fall of 1862. Its members were mustered in at various times over the fall and the officers mustered into federal service on November 3, 1862. It was assigned to the Department of the Gulf commanded by Major General Nathaniel P. Banks and departed Massachusetts by steamship on January 20, 1863.
The 14th Massachusetts Battery was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was organized during the winter of 1863 - 1864 at Camp Meigs just outside of Boston. It was commanded by Captain Joseph W. B. Wright of Boston and consisted mostly of men from that city. The enlisted men were mustered into federal service on February 27, 1864. They departed Massachusetts on April 4, 1864, arrived at Annapolis and then moved to Camp Marshall in Washington, D.C. On April 22 and 24 they were outfitted with field guns and horses but had virtually no time to train in light artillery tactics before they were assigned to the IX Corps of the Army of the Potomac and joined Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign.
The 15th Massachusetts Battery was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The unit was organized partly at Camp Chase in Lowell, Massachusetts and partly at Fort Warren during the winter of 1862-1863. The majority of its members were mustered into federal service on February 17, 1863. It was assigned to the Department of the Gulf commanded by Major General Nathaniel P. Banks and departed Massachusetts by steamship on March 9. During its term, the unit suffered from a large number of desertions and gained an unfortunate reputation despite the service of its many loyal members.
The 16th Massachusetts Battery was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The last battery of light artillery sent by Massachusetts, it was organized during the late winter of 1864 at Camp Meigs just outside of Boston. The battery was commanded by Captain Henry D. Scott of New Bedford, Massachusetts. The majority of enlisted men and officers were mustered into federal service on March 11, 1864. They departed Massachusetts on April 19, 1864, arriving at Washington of April 21. The unit was directed to Camp Barry just outside Washington and was there outfitted with 3-inch field guns and horses. It was assigned to the XXII Corps in the defenses of Washington. Serving primarily in the fortifications around Washington, the battery never saw active combat.