Cobb's Battery

Last updated
1st Kentucky Artillery
Flag of Breckinridge's Corps.svg
Breckinridge Corps Flag
Active1861–1865
CountryFlag of the Confederate States of America (1865).svg  Confederate States of America
AllegianceFlag of Kentucky.svg  Kentucky
BranchBattle flag of the Confederate States of America (1-1).svg  Confederate States Army
Role Artillery
Size Battery
Nickname(s)Cobb's Battery
Engagements American Civil War
Decorations1865
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Hylan B. Lyon (first)
Robert L. Cobb (second)
Frank P. Gracey (third)
Major Robert Cobb CSA Major Robert Cobb.jpg
Major Robert Cobb

The 1st Kentucky Artillery (also known as Cobb's Battery) was an artillery battery that was a member of the Orphan Brigade in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought in several engagements throughout the Western Theater, including the battles of Shiloh, Baton Rouge, Siege of Jackson, Sulphur Trestle, Resaca, Murfreesboro, Jonesborough, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and Johnsonville. Following the end of the Atlanta Campaign, Cobb's Battery was detached from the Orphan Brigade and reassigned to defend Mobile, Alabama.

Contents

Formation

The battery was organized at the very outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861 at Mint Springs, Kuttawa, Kentucky. Former United States Army Officer, Hylan B. Lyon—who had resigned his commission when war became inevitable—was elected the first Captain of the battery. However, due to Kentucky's official policy of neutrality during the early days of the conflict, Captain Lyon found that he could not train and drill his battery properly in Mint Springs. Consequently, the battery moved to Clarksville, Tennessee and enlisted as a group to join the Confederate States Army. At Camp Boone the battery was trained in artillery, and from this point forward was known either as the 1st Kentucky Artillery or Cobb's Kentucky Battery.

Following Lyon's promotion to General, Robert H. Cobb was made Captain of the battery; under his command the unit moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky, and was officially brought into John C. Breckinridge's 1st Kentucky Brigade, later to gain fame as the "Orphan" Brigade.

Confederate 12-Pounder "Napoleon" CW Arty Confederate Napoleon.jpg
Confederate 12-Pounder "Napoleon"
12-pounder howitzer similar to the ones used by the battery 12 pounder mountain howitzer on display at Fort Laramie in eastern Wyoming.jpg
12-pounder howitzer similar to the ones used by the battery

Armament

The battery started its service with four M1841 6-pounder smoothbore guns and two 12-pounder M1841 mountain howitzers. By July 1863 it had acquired four M1857 12-pounder Napoleon Guns, and, by the Atlanta Campaign, it had acquired a total of six 12-pounder Napoleon Guns. Three of the Napoleon Guns were named by the battery after Orphan Brigade commanders' wives, "Lady Breckinridge," "Lady Buckner," and "Lady Helm." [1]

Battles

Shiloh

The battery, listed on the Confederate Order of Battle as Lyon's Battery, took part in the Battle of Shiloh on 6 April 1862. Designated a reserve unit along with the remainder of Gen. Breckinridge's Division, the six-gun battery engaged the Federal Army at about 11:30 a.m., and its position was overrun by about noon, with all guns captured. The guns were subsequently recaptured by Confederate forces, but four removed from the field were not used again during the battle. [2] The Shiloh National Military Park Marker also states that all horses were killed when the Federals overran the position, but another report indicates that horse belonging to Frank Gracey escaped death. That same report states that 34 members of the battery were killed in action during the combat. [3] The battery could very well have been misnamed by Brig. Gen. Daniel Ruggles in his official report, calling the battery, "Captain Trabue's Kentucky," [4] (which according to another Shiloh Military Park Marker, is a unit that is not mentioned another time in the Official Records, [5] and Shiloh Military Park's Marker Finder attributes the location to "Cobb's Company." [6] ) which was used later in the day to reinforce the Confederate line, and also allowed Ruggles' Division to push further into the Federal line. [4]

Baton Rouge

During the Battle of Baton Rouge, 5 August 1862, Cobb's Battery was a participant only at the beginning of the battle. The battery was ordered to the rear while the battle was still being fought, [7] and was able to escape the Battle of Baton Rouge without a single casualty due to enemy fire. [8] However, while in the swampland between Vicksburg, Mississippi and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the entire Orphan Brigade was hit hard by malaria, to the point that by 11 August 1862, Cobb's Battery had dropped from 117 men fit for duty to only 36. [9]

Chickamauga

Cobb's Battery, along with Slocomb's Battery and the residue of the Orphan Brigade under the brigade command of Brig. Gen. Benjamin H. Helm, and making up a portion of Breckinridge's Division, was deployed across Glass' Ford with two cannons on 19 September 1863. During the ensuing artillery duel, the commands of Cobb, Slocomb, and Helm suffered 22 wounded or dead, which equaled the Union losses during the battle. On the following day, a portion of the battery was sent to Brig. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest to assist in repelling the Union advance. [10]

Missionary Ridge

The battery, still in Breckinridge's Division, was set on the left flank of Bragg's Army of Tennessee, and was credited by Bragg with causing "much confusion before the enemy reached musket range." [11] However, following the collapse of the Confederate defensive line on the ridge, guns "Lady Buckner" and "Lady Breckinridge" were captured by forces under Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan. [12]

Reenactment

There is a Cobb's Battery unit, serving in the Washington Civil War Association. [13] And another in Alabama Division of Reenactors http://www.alabamadivision.com

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Chickamauga</span> American Civil War battle

The Battle of Chickamauga, fought on September 18–20, 1863, between the United States Army and Confederate forces in the American Civil War, marked the end of a U.S. Army offensive, the Chickamauga Campaign, in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia. It was the first major battle of the war fought in Georgia and the most significant US defeat in the Western Theater, and it involved the second-highest number of casualties after the Battle of Gettysburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Lookout Mountain</span> Battle of the American Civil War

The Battle of Lookout Mountain also known as the Battle Above the Clouds was fought November 24, 1863, as part of the Chattanooga Campaign of the American Civil War. Union forces under Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker assaulted Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga, Tennessee, and defeated Confederate forces commanded by Maj. Gen. Carter L. Stevenson. Lookout Mountain was one engagement in the Chattanooga battles between Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's Military Division of the Mississippi and the Confederate Army of Tennessee, commanded by Gen. Braxton Bragg. It drove in the Confederate left flank and allowed Hooker's men to assist in the Battle of Missionary Ridge the following day, which routed Bragg's army, lifting the siege of Union forces in Chattanooga, and opening the gateway into the Deep South.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Stones River</span> Major battle of the American Civil War

The Battle of Stones River, also known as the Second Battle of Murfreesboro, was fought from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, in Middle Tennessee, as the culmination of the Stones River Campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. Of the major battles of the war, Stones River had the highest percentage of casualties on both sides. The battle ended in Union victory after the Confederate army's withdrawal on January 3, largely due to a series of tactical miscalculations by Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg, but the victory was costly for the Union army. Nevertheless, it was an important victory for the Union because it provided a much-needed boost in morale after the Union's recent defeat at Fredericksburg and also reinforced President Abraham Lincoln's foundation for issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, which ultimately discouraged European powers from intervening on the Confederacy's behalf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Perryville</span> 1862 battle of the American Civil War

The Battle of Perryville, also known as the Battle of Chaplin Hills, was fought on October 8, 1862, in the Chaplin Hills west of Perryville, Kentucky, as the culmination of the Confederate Heartland Offensive during the American Civil War. Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg's Army of Mississippi initially won a tactical victory against primarily a single corps of Maj. Gen. Don Carlos Buell's Union Army of the Ohio. The battle is considered a strategic Union victory, sometimes called the Battle for Kentucky, since Bragg withdrew to Tennessee soon thereafter. The Union retained control of the critical border state of Kentucky for the remainder of the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Missionary Ridge</span> Battle of the American Civil War, 1863

The Battle of Missionary Ridge, also known as the Battle of Chattanooga, was fought on November 25, 1863, as part of the Chattanooga campaign of the American Civil War. Following the Union victory in the Battle of Lookout Mountain on November 24, Union forces in the Military Division of the Mississippi under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant assaulted Missionary Ridge and defeated the Confederate Army of Tennessee, commanded by Gen. Braxton Bragg, forcing it to retreat to Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander P. Stewart</span> Confederate general, mathematician and philosopher

Alexander Peter Stewart was a Confederate military officer during the American Civil War and a college professor. He fought in many of the most significant battles in the Western Theater of the war and briefly took command of the Army of Tennessee in 1865.

The Orphan Brigade was the nickname of the First Kentucky Brigade, a group of military units recruited from Kentucky to fight for the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. The brigade was the largest Confederate unit to be recruited from Kentucky during the war. Its original commander was John C. Breckinridge, former United States vice president, and Kentucky's former senator, who was enormously popular with Kentuckians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Baton Rouge (1862)</span> Battle of the American Civil War

The Battle of Baton Rouge was a ground and naval battle in the American Civil War fought in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, on August 5, 1862. The Union victory halted Confederate attempts to recapture the capital city of Louisiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Ruggles</span> American Confederate brigadier general

Daniel Ruggles was a Brigadier General in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He was a division commander at the Battle of Shiloh.

The 19th Tennessee Infantry Regiment, or Nineteenth Tennessee Volunteer Infantry Regiment, was an infantry regiment in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The 19th Tennessee fought in every major battle and campaign of the Army of Tennessee except the Battle of Perryville. First Lieutenant Robert D. Powell of Company K, killed at the Battle of Barbourville, Kentucky, is believed to be the first soldier killed during the Civil War in that state.

Byrne's Battery was a light artillery battery in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. It fought exclusively in the Western Theater and suffered among the highest casualties of Confederate batteries at the Battle of Stones River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graves' Battery</span> Confederate States Army artillery unit

Graves' Artillery Battery, also known as [Kentucky] Issaquena Artillery Battery, was organized as a Confederate States Army artillery battery from Mississippi and Kentucky on November 8, 1861. During its formation, as a still understrength battery, the first commander was Captain Selden Spencer. In December, at Bowling Green, Kentucky, then Confederate Army Brigadier General (CSA) John C. Breckinridge chose Captain Rice E. Graves, Jr., as captain of the new battery to be attached to the 2nd Kentucky Infantry Regiment and assigned to his division. The unit was first assigned to Reserve, 1st Geographical Division, Department #2. Then the regiment was assigned to the Kentucky Brigade, Army of Middle Tennessee, Department #2 in October–November 1862. In November 1862, the regiment was assigned to the Kentucky Brigade, Breckinridge's Division, 1st Corps, Army of Tennessee in November 1862, nicknamed the "Orphan Brigade".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">S. A. M. Wood</span> American politician

Sterling Alexander Martin Wood commonly referred to as S.A.M. Wood, was an American lawyer and newspaper editor from Alabama. He served as a Confederate general during the American Civil War until 1863, and resumed practicing law, served as a state legislator, and later taught law.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chattanooga campaign</span> 1863 series of battles of the American Civil War

The Chattanooga campaign was a series of maneuvers and battles in October and November 1863, during the American Civil War. Following the defeat of Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans's Union Army of the Cumberland at the Battle of Chickamauga in September, the Confederate Army of Tennessee under Gen. Braxton Bragg besieged Rosecrans and his men by occupying key high terrain around Chattanooga, Tennessee. Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant was given command of Union forces in the West which was now consolidated under the Division of the Mississippi. Significant reinforcements also began to arrive with him in Chattanooga from Mississippi and the Eastern Theater. On October 18, Grant removed Rosecrans from command of the Army of the Cumberland and replaced him with Major General George Henry Thomas.

The 6th Kentucky Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It was formed from Nelson, Barren, and surrounding counties. It was also part of the First Kentucky Brigade.

The 7th Kentucky Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rice E. Graves</span> American artillery officer (1838–1863)

Rice Evan Graves Jr. was an artillery officer in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He was killed in the Battle of Chickamauga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benjamin Hardin Helm</span> Confederate Army general

Benjamin Hardin Helm was an American politician, attorney, and Confederate brigadier general. A son of Kentucky governor John L. Helm, he was born in Bardstown, Kentucky. He attended the Kentucky Military Institute and the West Point Military Academy and then studied law at the University of Louisville and Harvard University. He served as a state legislator and the state's attorney in Kentucky. Helm was offered the position of Union Army paymaster by his brother-in-law, President Abraham Lincoln, a position which he declined. Helm joined the Confederate States Army. As a brigadier general, Helm commanded the 1st Kentucky Brigade, more commonly known as The Orphan Brigade. He died on the battlefield during the Battle of Chickamauga.

Trigg's Arkansas Battery (1861–1862) was a Confederate Army artillery battery during the American Civil War. the unit is also known as the Austin Artillery, Auston's Artillery, Austin's Artillery, and Company B, of Shoup's Artillery Battalion. This battery is distinguished from a later organization, the 9th Arkansas Field Battery, which was also commanded by Captain John T. Trigg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helena Artillery</span> Military unit

The Helena Artillery (1861–1865) was a Confederate Army artillery battery during the American Civil War. The unit was known by several other designations during the war including Clarkson's Battery, Company A, Shoup's Artillery Battalion, Calvert's Battery, and Key's Battery. The unit was occasionally assigned to artillery battalions from other states, so the Arkansas unit was at various times designated as Company C, 20th Alabama Light Artillery Battalion and later as Company H, 28th Georgia Artillery Battalion.

References

  1. Walden, Geoff. "Weapons of the Orphan Brigade" . Retrieved 22 September 2006.
  2. "Shiloh National Military Park Marker #450". Archived from the original on 3 January 2009. Retrieved 3 February 2007.
  3. Gracey, Julian F. "Cobb's Battery, 1st Kentucky Brigade". Archived from the original on 5 January 2007. Retrieved 3 February 2007.
  4. 1 2 "Brig. Gen. Daniel Ruggle's Shiloh Report". Archived from the original on 3 February 2007. Retrieved 3 February 2007.
  5. "Shiloh Military Park Marker #453" . Retrieved 3 February 2007.
  6. "Shiloh Marker 453 wide view". Archived from the original on 1 January 2009. Retrieved 22 September 2006.
  7. Buckner, John. "Buckner's Report on the Battle of Baton Rouge". The war of the rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies, Volume 15. 1. p. 84.
  8. Smith, T.B. "T.B. Smith's Report of Baton Rouge". The war of the rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies, Volume 15. 1. p. 82.
  9. Thompson, J.W. "Letter to John C. Breckinridge". The war of the rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies, Volume 15. 1. p. 1126.
  10. Breckinridge, John C. "Breckinridge's Report of Chickamauga". Archived from the original on 7 October 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2006.
  11. Bragg, Braxton. "Bragg's Report of Chattanooga". Archived from the original on 7 October 2006. Retrieved 22 September 2006.
  12. Sheridan, Philip H. "Sheridan's Report of Chattanooga". Archived from the original on 6 October 2006. Retrieved 22 September 2006.
  13. "WCWA - The Washington Civil War Association - Confederate". Archived from the original on 5 January 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2013.