3rd Richmond (Virginia) Howitzers

Confederate Regiments & Batteries * Virginia

1861
May Organized before May 11 under the command of Captain Edgar F Moseley.
June-October Assigned to Artillery of the Department of the Peninsula.
June 10
Big Bethel
July 5 Near Newport News
1862
January-March Assigned to Artillery, Forces at Leesburg, Potomac District, Department of Northern Virginia
April-May
Siege of Yorktown

Assigned to Reserve Artillery of the Army of Northern Virginia
June-February Assigned to Brown’s Battalion, Reserve Artillery of the Army of Northern Virginia
June 25-July 1
Seven Days Battles
August Captain Moseley was promoted to major. Lieutenant Benjamin H. Smith was promoted to captain and took over the battery.
September 17
Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam)

The battery was under the command of Captain Smith. It was armed with two 10-pounder Parrott Rifles and two 12-pounder howitzers. The battery did not reach the area until late in the day and did not cross the Potomac, guarding the fords at Shepherdstown.
October 16
Skirmish at Charles Town

Captain Smith was wounded and captured. He would lose his foot as the result of his wound.
December 13
Battle of Fredericksburg
1863
February-July Assigned to Brown’s Battalion, Reserve Artillery, 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
May 1-4
Battle of Chancellorsville
July 1-3
Battle of Gettysburg

Captain Benjamin Smith commanded the battery at Gettysburg. It was equipped with four 3″ Ordnance Rifles.

From the battery marker at Gettysburg on Seminary Ridge Avenue:

July 1. Reached the field in evening too late to take part in the battle.

July 2. Early in the morning took position here. About 4 P. M. opened fire upon the batteries on Cemetery Hill and continued firing until dark.

July 3. Moved to position south of Fairfield Road. Took part in the great cannonade preceding Longstreet’s final assault and kept firing for some time afterwards. Withdrew at night to camp in rear.

July 4. After nightfall began the march to Hagerstown.

Ammunition expended 314 rounds.
Losses Killed 1 Wounded not reported.
September-June Brown’s Battalion was transferred to the 2nd Corps Artillery, Army of Northern Virginia, when most of Longstreet’s Corps was transferred to the Western Theater.
1864
January Captain Smith was court martialled for “misbehavior before the enemy” at Gettysburg. He was aquitted.
May 5-6
Battle of the Wilderness
May 8-21
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

Captain Smith was captured and imprisoned at Fort Delaware.
May 23-26
Battle of North Anna
June 1-3
Battle of Cold Harbor
June-March
Siege of Petersburg

Assigned to Hardaway’s Battalion, Artillery, 1st Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
September 14 Captain Smith was paroled.
September 29
3rd Battle of New Market Heights/Chaffin’s Inn/Fort Gilmer
1865
April 6
Sayler’s Creek

The battery was captured.