Branch (North Carolina) Artillery Battery

Confederate Regiments & Batteries * North Carolina

1862
January 30 The Branch (North Carolina) Artillery Battery was organized in Craven County under the command of Captain Alexander C. Latham. Assigned to the District of the Pamlico, Department of North Carolina.
March Assigned to Branch’s Brigade, District of the Pamlico, Department of North Carolina.
March 14
New Bern
April-May Assigned to Branch’s Brigade, Department of North Carolina.
May Moved to Virginia and assigned to Branch’s Brigade, Department of Northern Virginia.
May – June Assigned to Branch’s Brigade, A.P. Hill’s Division, Army of Northern Virginia.
May 27
Hanover Court House
June-July A.P. Hill’s Division was attached to Longstreet’s Command, Army of Northern Virginia.
June 25-July 1
Seven Days Battles
June 30
Malvern Cliff
July Assigned to Artillery Battalion, A.P. Hill’s Division, Jackson’s Command, Army of Northern Virginia.
August 9
Battle of Cedar Mountain
August 24
Warrenton Springs
August 27
Manassas Junction
August 28-30
Second Battle of Manassas (Bull Run)
September 12-15
Harpers Ferry
November 3
Castleman’s Ferry

Equipped with two 6-pounder Smoothbores and two 12-pounder Napoleons.
December 13
Battle of Fredericksburg
1863
February Assigned to Artillery Battalion, Hood’s Division, 1st Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.
April
Suffolk Campaign

Assigned to Artillery Battalion, Hood’s Division, Department of Southern Virginia.
May Returned to Lee’s army too late for Chancellorsville and assigned to Artillery Battalion, Hood’s Division, 1st Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.
July 1-3
Battle of Gettysburg

The battery was commanded by Captain Alexander C. Latham. It was equipped with one 6-pounder Smoothbore, one 12-pounder Howitzer, and three 12-pounder Napoleons. When the Howizer and the Smoothbore were disabled on July 2 they were replaced by two 10 pounder Parrotts that were captured from the Fourth New York Independent Battery during fighting at the Devils Den.

From the War Department marker for the battery at Gettysburg:

 July 2. Took position here 4 P. M. and actively engaged until night. The Howitzer and Bronze gun were disabled and two captured 10 pounder Parrotts substituted.

July 3. Engaged in firing upon the Union lines within range. About 5 P. M. aided in repelling cavalry under Brig. Gen. Farnsworth which had charged into the valley between this point and Round Top.

July 4. Occupied position near by and west of this until 6 P. M. Then withdrew from the field.
July Assigned to Henry’s Battalion, 1st Corps Artillery, Army of Northern Virginia.
September 9 Redesignated Company H, 3rd North Carolina Artillery Regiment. Assigned to Haskell’s Battalion, 3rd Corps Artillery, Army of Northern Virginia.
October-November
Bristoe Campaign
November 4 Redesignated Company F, 13th North Carolina Artillery Battalion