CONTENTS.
| Chapter I. | |
| Page. | |
|---|---|
| Formation of Battery H—Camp Mauran—On to Washington—Camp Barry | [1]–10 |
| Chapter II. | |
| Camp Barry—Artillery Drill—March to Fairfax Station—First Death in the Battery—Union Mills | [11]–14 |
| Chapter III. | |
| Battles of Chancellorsville and Salem Heights—Battery H Ordered to Chantilly and Afterwards to Fairfax Court House—Return to Camp Barry—Picket Duty at Fairfax Seminary—Moved to Vicinity of Fort Scott | [15]–27 |
| Chapter IV. | |
| Again in Camp Barry—Batteries Reviewed by President Lincoln—Battery H Assigned to the Ninth Corps | [28]–34 |
| Chapter V. | |
| Battery H with the Ninth Corps Moves towards Fairfax Court House—March to the Rapidan—Battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania—Battery Ordered to Washington | [35]–46 |
| Chapter VI. | |
| Life at Fort Richardson—Moved to Fort Smith and Stationed there—Battery Equipped again and sent to City Point | [47]–52 |
| Chapter VII. | |
| Battery H Proceeds to Petersburg and Encamps near Fort Tracy—Life in the Trenches—Rebel Attack on Fort Stedman Repulsed | [53]–61 |
| Chapter VIII. | |
| Forward Movement of the Army of the Potomac—Capture of Petersburg and Richmond—Pursuit of Lee’s Army—Battle of Sailor’s Creek | [62]–72 |
| Chapter IX. | |
| Pursuit of Lee’s Army still continued—Surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House—Sixth Corps March to Danville | [73]–84 |
| Chapter X. | |
| Return to City Point—March to Richmond—From thence to Washington—Returning Homeward—Muster-out | [85]–95 |
| Memoirs | [97]–156 |
| Roster | [157]–192 |
| Roster of Temporarily Attached Men | [193]–196 |
| Mortuary Record | [197]–199 |
ILLUSTRATIONS.
| Page. | |
|---|---|
| Capt. Jeffrey Hazard | [Frontispiece.] |
| Map of Washington and its Defences | On page [10] |
| Lieut. Charles F. Mason | Opposite page [12] |
| Brevet Lieut.-Col. Crawford Allen, Jr. | Opposite page [28] |
| Lieut. Benjamin H. Child | Opposite page [34] |
| First Sergt. George Messinger | Opposite page [47] |
| Lieut. Hezekiah Potter | Opposite page [50] |
| Capt. Elmer L. Corthell | Opposite page [110] |
| Lieut. George Lewis | Opposite page [117] |
| Company Clerk George Messinger | Opposite page [120] |
| First Sergt. John P. Campbell | Opposite page [125] |
| Corp. Earl Fenner | Opposite page [127] |
| Corp. Franklin E. Paul | Opposite page [130] |
| Corp. John P. Campbell, 2d | Opposite page [132] |
| Horace F. Floyd | Opposite page [135] |
| Edwin Northrop | Opposite page [147] |
CHAPTER I.
Formation of Battery H—Camp Mauran—On to Washington—Camp Barry.
Rhode Island enjoys the distinction of sending to the field in the War of the Rebellion a regiment of volunteer light artillery which ranked second to none in the service. The State was fortunate in having at the commencement of the conflict a battery of light artillery, which was widely known for its efficiency throughout the length and breadth of the land. It was originally chartered as an independent organization in 1801, and was composed of seafaring men, the officers being members of the Providence Marine Society, from whence its name was derived. It was equipped with heavy guns, adapted for coast defence. Subsequently muskets were used, and with old style field pieces it took part in the expedition to Acote’s Hill in 1842. In the year 1847 it was equipped as a light battery with four guns and caissons, battery wagon and forge. The first parade was made at a training on Smith’s Hill, in Providence, Oct. 17, 1847, and it was known as “flying artillery,” being the first light battery ever organized in the United States outside the regular army.
In 1852 it made an excursion to Boston, with four guns, battery wagon and forge, and encamped on the Common. By its novel and interesting evolutions of “light artillery,” and firing six-pounder cannon with rapidity, which had never before been witnessed by the people of that city, it so excited their wonder and admiration that a movement was inaugurated to organize a similar battery there. Accordingly a delegation of gentlemen was chosen to proceed to Providence, who were instructed in the light artillery drill by Colonel Balch, of the Marine Artillery. Therefore it is justly claimed that this famous corps is not only the mother of Rhode Island batteries in the Civil War, but also of Massachusetts batteries, and through them of all volunteer light artillery.
From this battery sprang the men who subsequently won renown in the light artillery branch of the service during the war. Indeed, Governor Sprague himself commanded this battery for several years prior to the Rebellion, and had spared neither time nor money to raise it to a high standard of discipline and efficiency. Is it a marvel, then, that when the call to arms resounded through the land, this battery furnished from its membership officers and men who were a credit to their State and country, and were enabled to send at once a battery to the field fully manned and equipped for the service.
On the 13th of September, 1861, Governor Sprague received authority from the War Department to increase the number of Rhode Island batteries to eight, the whole to be known as the First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery. In May, 1862, although seven batteries had already been furnished for the regiment, yet when one more battery was required to complete the number it was promptly recruited and forwarded to the seat of war.