Donaldsonville Artillery (Louisiana)

Confederate Regiments & Batteries * Louisiana

The battery mustered about 158 men during the Civil War, of whom 16 died in battle and 20 of disease. Also known as Company B, Richardson’s Battalion Light Artillery.

1861
August Formed from a state militia company in Ascension Parish under Captain Victor Auguste Maurin
September 5 Arrived in Richmond with three 6-pounder guns and assigned to Department of the Peninsula. Three rifled cannon were supplied, and the battery was moved to Yorktown.
1862
January Assigned to Rains’ division, Department of the Peninsula
April Assigned to Longstreet’s Division, Army of Northern Virginia
April
Siege of Yorktown

The battery occupied Wynn’s Mill
May 5
Battle of Williamsburg

The battery’s three 6-pounder guns defended Fort Magruder.
May 31-
June 1
Battle of Seven Pines (Fair Oaks)
June Assigned to Pryor’s Brigade, Longstreet’s Division, Army of Northern Virginia
June 25 Seven Days Battles
June 27-28
Battle of Gaines’ Mill

The battery lost 1 man killed and 3 wounded
June 30
Battle of Frayser’s Farm (Glendale)
August Assigned to Pryor’s Brigade, Wilcox’s Division, Army of Northern Virginia. The battery was armed with two 10-pounder Parrott rifles, on 3″ Ordnance Rifle, and three 6-pounder smoothbore howitzers.
August 23 A section of the battery was involved in a skirmish at Beverly Ford and Rappahannock Station, suffering no casualties
August 28-30
Second Battle of Manassas
September 17
Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam)

Commanded by Captain Victor Maurin and attached to Saunders’ Artillery Battalion of Richard Anderson’s Division. Armed with two 10-pounder Parrott Rifles, one 3″ Ordnance Rifle, and three six-pounder guns. The battery fought on the high ground south of the Sunken Road and east of the Hagerstown Pike. It suffered no casualties on the 17th.
September 18-19
Battle of Shepherdstown

One Parrott Rifle and caisson were abandoned in the retreat near Shepherdstown, and another caisson was destroyed by a shell. One man was killed and two wounded, and 20 horses were also lost.
September Assigned to Artillery Battalion, Anderson’s Division, Longstreet’s Command, Army of Northern Virginia
December 13
Battle of Fredericksburg

The battery occupied earthworks immediately to the left of the Plank Road on Marye’s Heights. Claudius Linossier was killed, 6 men were wounded, and one gun was disabled.
1863
May 1-4
Battle of Chancellorsville

The battery was not engaged
June 1 Assigned to Garnet’s Artillery Battalion of Heth’s Division in the newly-created Third Corps of A.P. Hill
July 1-3
Battle of Gettysburg

The battery was armed with one 10-pounder and two 3″ Rifles. It lost two men wounded out of the 114 men engaged.

From the marker at Gettysburg

July 1. About 3.30 R M. relieved some of Pegram’s guns whose ammunition was exhausted on the ridge west of Herr’s Tavern and from that time took an active part in the conflict.

July 2. In position here all day but not actively engaged until 3 P.M. when it opened and maintained a steady fire on Cemetery Hill until near sunset and vigorously renewed it at dusk for the purpose of diverting the fire of the Union artillery from the Confederate infantry then assaulting East Cemetery Hill.

July 3. Ordered to a position south of McMillan’s Woods and held in reserve sometimes fired upon but not returning the fire.

July 4. Withdrew about 8 A.M. and marched to Cashtown to reinforce the cavalry escorting the wagon train.

Losses not reported in detail.

July 6 Skirmish at Williamsport
July Assigned to Garnett’s Battalion, 3rd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
October
Bristoe Campaign
November-December
Mine Run Campaign
1864
May 5-6
Battle of the Wilderness
May 8-21
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
May 23-26 North Anna
June 1-3
Battle of Cold Harbor
June 16
Petersburg siege begins
July 11 Captain Maurin promoted to major. Lieutenant Renaud Jacques Prosper Landry promoted to captain.
December 28 Armed with two 12-pounder Napoleons and and two 10-pounder Parrott Rifles.
1865
April 2 Petersburg Final Assault and Fort Gregg
April 9
Appomattox Court House

Three lieutenants, 64 enlisted men and 4 servants surrendered under the command of Captain R. Prosper Landry. Sergeant Oscar Demesme of Company D was killed in some of the final fighting and is buried in the small Confederate Cemetery at Appomattox.