Pulaski (Georgia) Battery

Confederate Regiments & Batteries * Georgia

1861
Winter Created in the field on the Virginia Peninsula by converting Company K, 10th Georgia Infantry Regiment to artillery. It was under the command of Captain John Postell Williamson Read, the former Savannah chief of police. Temporarily assigned to 1st Virginia Artillery Regiment.
1862
March 27 Formally established as an indepedent battery, the Pulaski Light Artillery.
April
Siege of Yorktown

Assigned to Griffith’s Brigade, Magruder’s-McLaws’s Division, Department of Northern Virginia.
May-June Assigned to Cabell’s Artillery Battalion, Magruder’s Command, Army of Northern Virginia.
June Assigned to Cobb’s Brigade, Magruder’s Division, Magruder’s Command, Army of Northern Virginia.
June-July Assigned to Lee’s Artillery Battalion, Magruder’s Command, Army of Northern Virginia. Equipped with two 6 pounder smoothbores and two 12 pounder howitzers.
June 25-July 1
Seven Days Battles
July-August Assigned to Kershaw’s Brigade, McLaws’s Division, Longstreet’s Command, Army of Northern Virginia.
September-July Assigned to Artillery Battalion, McLaws’s Division, 1st Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.
September 14
Battle of South Mountain
September 17
Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam)

The battery was commanded at Sharpsburg by Captain Read. It brought 78 men to the field, losing four men killed and 10 men wounded. It was equipped with four guns, each of a different type and using different ammunition: one 10 pounder Parrott Rifle, one 3″ Ordnance Rifle, one 6 pounder gun, and one 12 pounder howitzer. The Ordnance Rifle broke an axle before it could go into action.
October-July Assigned to Cabell’s Battalion, 1st Corps Artillery, Army of Northern Virginia.
December 13
Battle of Fredericksburg
1863
May 1-4
Battle of Chancellorsville (Salem Church)
July-September Assigned to Cabell’s Battalion, 1st Corps Artillery, Army of Northern Virginia
July 1-3
Battle of Gettysburg

The battery was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Captain John C. Fraser, who was mortally wounded on July 2. Second Lieutenant William J. Furlong then took command of the battery. It brought 63 men to the field and was equipped with two 10 Pounder Parrott Rifles and two 3″ Rifles.

From the marker on the Gettysburg battlefield:

July 2. Took position here 3.30 P. M. and opened fire on Peach Orchard and the Union batteries east of it. At 4 P. M. the Rifles were silenced by loss of men. The fire of the Parrotts continued until Peach Orchard was taken.

July 3. The Parrotts were moved to crest north of Peach Orchard in main artillery line took part in the great cannonade aided in checking pursuit after Longstreet’s assault and retired from front after dark. The Rifles were placed under command of Captain Manly of the N. C. Artillery and served by his men in position with his own Rifles.

July 4. In position near here. After night withdrew from the field. Their ammunition was nearly exhausted.

Losses Killed 6 Wounded 13
Horses killed or disabled 18
September Assigned to Cabell’s Battalion, Artillery Reserve, Army of Northern Virginia. When Longstreet and most of the First Corps was sent to the Western Theater Cabell’s artillery was transferred to the Army artillery reserve.
October
Bristoe Campaign
November-December
Mine Run Campaign
1864
April Assigned to Cabell’s Battalion, 1st Corps Artillery, Army of Northern Virginia when Longstreet returned from the Western Theater. Captain Read was promoted to major and took command of Dearing’s Artillery Battalion.
May 5-6
Battle of the Wilderness
May 8-21
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
May 23-26
Battle of North Anna
June 1-3
Battle of Cold Harbor
June
Siege of Petersburg
1865
April
Appomattox Campaign
April 8
Appomattox Station

Captured with Walker’s artillery train by Federal cavalry. Four men escaped to join the main army and Lee’s surrender, which would come the next day.