United States Regiments & Batteries > U.S. Regulars


Battery C is honored by a monument at Gettysburg and a marker at Antietam.

1861
October Consolidated with Battery A, 4th United States Artillery. Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D. C. attached to Sumner’s Division, Army of the Potomac
1862
March Attached to Artillery, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps
March 28-31 Operations on Orange & Alexandria Railroad
April 5-May 4 Moved to the Virginia Peninsula. Siege of Yorktown.
May 31-June 1 Battle of Fair Oaks, Seven Pines
June 25-July 1 Seven days before Richmond
June 29 Peach Orchard and Savage Station
June 30
White Oak Swamp and Glendale

First Lieutenant Rufus King (son of Brigadier General Rufus King) was breveted captain and later awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the battle. “This officer, when his captain was wounded, succeeded to the command of two batteries while engaged against a superior force of the enemy and fought his guns most gallantly until compelled to retire.”

July 1 Malvern Hill
July-August At Harrison’s Landing
August 16-28 Movement to Alexandria and Centreville
August 28-September 2 Cover Pope’s retreat
September 6-22 Maryland Campaign
September 16-17
Battle of Antietam

The battery was commanded by First Lieutenant Evan Thomas, and brought six Napoleons to the field. From Lieutenant Thomas’ official report:

On the 17th of September, 1862, I received orders to move to the front. I was halted in the woods the enemy had been driven out of that morning, and the right section was ordered into position. The rest of the battery was soon ordered into position, the same occupied by Lieutenant Kirby’s battery, and joined the right section there. I remained there without firing a shot until our left was driven back. I then changed front to fire to the left, and opened an the advancing enemy with spherical case, and then, as they approached nearer, with canister. They came on, and I would undoubtedly have lost my battery had not Franklin’s column come up at that time. I then changed to my original front, and opened with solid shot on a battery to my right, in the opposite woods, which was soon silenced. Another battery opened on me, which I saw was out of my range. A rifled battery coming up at that time, and seeing I could do no good and was only losing horses for nothing, I deemed it prudent to withdraw. I was shortly afterward ordered to the rear, to fill up, where I staid until ordered to my division. All the orders that I received were from Captain Clarke, chief of artillery, Sumner’s Corps.

All my officers and men behaved with great coolness and bravery. Several of Baxter’s Zouaves [72nd PA] helped me considerably in carrying ammunition. One was killed and one wounded. I would state that I had no infantry support during the whole engagement.”

OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, Vol 19, Part 1 (Antietam – Serial 27), Page 284

From the marker at Antietam:

Batteries A and C (consolidated), 4th U.S. Artillery (6 guns) relieved Battery I, 4th U.S. Artillery just north of this point and went into position, the left of the Battery resting on this road, where it remained inactive until Greene’s Division, Twelfth Corps, was driven from the woods around the Dunkard Church, when the Battery changed front to the left, opening fire with spherical case and canister upon the charging Confederates, who, by the aid of Irwin’s Brigade and two Regiments of Hancock’s of the Sixth Corps, were repulsed. The Battery then resumed its original front and opened with solid shot upon the Confederate Artillery in the woods around and north of the Dunkard Church. Late in the day it was relieved and moved to the high ground occupied by Richardson’s Division in its assault upon the Confederates in the Sunken Lane and Piper’s Cornfield, where it remained until the morning of the 18th.

September 22-October 30 At Harper’s Ferry
October 18 Batteries A and C separated
October 30-November 19 Movement to Falmouth, Va.
December 12-15
Battle of Fredericksburg
1863
January-April At Falmouth
April 27-May 6 Chancellorsville Campaign
May 1-5 Battle of Chancellorsville
May Attached to 1st Regular Brigade, Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac
June 11-July 24 Gettysburg Campaign
July 1-3
Battle of Gettysburg

The battery was commanded by First Lieutenant Evan Thomas. It brought six 12 pounders to the field and lost 1 enlisted man killed, and 1 officer and 16 enlisted men wounded..

From the monument:

July 2 Arrived and took position on crest of hill near General Meade’s Headquarters on the left of the Second Corps and was actively engaged in repelling the attack of the Confederates.

July 3 In position near the left of the Second Corps line.

October 9-22 Bristoe Campaign
November 7-8 Advance to line of the Rappahannock
November 7 Rappahannock Station
November Attached to Artillery Brigade, 6th Army Corps
November 26-December 2 Mine Run Campaign
May 4-June 12 Rapidan Campaign
1864
March Attached to Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac
April 11 Consolidated with Battery E, 4th United States Artillery as a Horse Battery and attached to 1st Brigade, Horse Artillery, Army of the Potomac
May 5 Craig’s Meeting House
May 5-6 Todd’s Tavern
May 6-7
Battle of the Wilderness
May 9-24 Sheridan’s Raid to the James River
May 9 North Anna River
May 11 Ground Squirrel Church and Yellow Tavern
May 12 Brook Church, Richmond fortifications and Strawberry Hill
May 26-28 On line of the Pamunkey
May 28-31 Totopotomoy
June 1-12
Cold Harbor
June 3 Totopotomoy
June 12 Long Bridge
June 13 Riddell’s Shop and White Oak Swamp
June 16-August 5 Siege of Petersburg
June 22
Battle of Ream’s Station
June 22-July 1 Wilson’s Raid on Southside & Danville Railroad
June 23 Nottaway Court House
June 25 Staunton River Bridge
June 28-29 Sappony Church, Stony Creek
June 29
Second Battle of Ream’s Station
August 7-November 28 Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Attached to Horse Artillery, Army of the Shenandoah, Middle Military Division
August 31 Lieutenant Thomas promoted to captain
November 28-December 3 Expedition from Winchester into Faquier and Loudoun Counties
December 19-28 Expedition to Gordonsville
December 22 Liberty Mills
December Attached to Horse Artillery Reserve, Army of the Shenandoah
1865
February 27-
March 25
Sheridan’s Raid from Winchester
March 2 Occupation of Staunton and action at Waynesboro
March 8 Duguidsville
March 28-April 9 Appomattox Campaign
March 30-31 Dinwiddie Court House
April 1
Five Forks
April 2 Scott’s Cross Roads
April 4 Tabernacle Church or Beaver Pond Creek
April 6 Sailor’s Creek
April 8 Appomattox Station
April 9
Appomattox Court House

Surrender of Lee and his army.

April 23-29 Expedition to Danville
May March to Washington, D.C. Attached to 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Horse Artillery Brigade
May 23 Grand Review
June-August Duty at Washington