United States Regiments & Batteries > U.S. Regulars
Battery C is honored by a monument at Gettysburg and a marker at Antietam.
1861
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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
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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 GlendaleFirst 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 AntietamThe 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
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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 GettysburgThe 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
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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
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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 HouseSurrender 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 |