15th Massachusetts Battery

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15th Massachusetts Battery
Flag of Massachusetts.svg
ActiveFebruary 17, 1863 – August 4, 1865
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Branch Union Army
Type Field artillery
Size Battery
Part ofIn 1864: Defenses of New Orleans, Department of the Gulf
Engagements American Civil War
Commanders
1st Captain Timothy Pearson
2nd 1st Lt. James W. Kirk
3rd1st Lt. Albert Rowse

The 15th Massachusetts Battery (or 15th Battery Massachusetts Light Artillery) 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. [1] It was assigned to the Department of the Gulf commanded by Major General Nathaniel P. Banks and departed Massachusetts by steamship on March 9. [2] 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. [1]

Contents

The unit arrived in New Orleans on April 9, 1863. Before being issued guns, they made a brief expedition on foot to Brashear City, Louisiana but soon returned to New Orleans. They were assigned to garrison two small forts just outside New Orleans, each armed with four 32-pounder guns mounted in barbettes. One of these was located at Bayou St. John and the other at Gentilly. [3] They remained posted there from June 3 until December 29. [4]

In February 1864, the 15th Massachusetts Battery took part in an uneventful expedition to Madisonville, Louisiana, returning to New Orleans at the end of that month. It was posted at Terrell's Cotton Press in New Orleans from May 5 to October 17. On the latter date, the battery boarded a steamship for an expedition into Arkansas. They reached the mouth of the White River where they remained until November 7, then moved again by steamship up the White River to DeValls Bluff, Arkansas. After 20 days, the unit moved to Memphis, Tennessee remaining there for the month of December 1864. On January 1, 1865, the battery returned to Louisiana. [5]

At the end of February 1865, the battery was transferred to the Second Division of the XIII Corps and embarked for Pensacola, Florida. There it joined in preparations for the Mobile Campaign. The battery was engaged during the Battle of Fort Blakely from April 2 to 9 outside Mobile. After the fall of Mobile, their division was briefly posted in Selma, Alabama but soon returned to Mobile. [4]

On June 30, 1865 at Mobile, the battery turned in its horses and guns. On July 20, they were ordered home to Boston which was reached on August 1. The 15th Massachusetts Battery was mustered out on August 4, 1865. [4] The unit lost one man killed in action and 27 by disease for a total of 28. [3]

See also

Notes

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2nd Massachusetts Battery

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4th Massachusetts Battery

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5th Massachusetts Battery

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6th Massachusetts Battery

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7th Massachusetts Battery

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11th Massachusetts Battery

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12th Massachusetts Battery

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13th Massachusetts Battery

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.

14th Massachusetts Battery

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.

16th Massachusetts Battery

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.

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