Confederate Regiments & BatteriesVirginia


1861
April 19 The Newtown Artillery was a prewar militia company that was accepted in state service.
April 27 Stationed at Harpers Ferry.
May 3 Mustered in to Virginia service as 1st Virginia Light Artillery, Company C under the command of Captain G.A. Groves. The Adjutant & Inspector General’s Office never recognized the 1st Virginia Light Artillery and the batteries operated independently.
June 6 The battery received the men and equipment of the Letcher Artillery, which disbanded because it did not reach the required minimum strength. Another Letcher Artillery would be formed in Richmond in 1862 and would serve to the end of the war.
June 15 The battery left Harpers Ferry and marched to Charlestown, overnighting at Camp Johnson on Bull Skin Run
June 16 The battery continued its march to Bunker Hill, where it camped on Mill Creek.
June 17 The battery continued its march to Camp Defiance at Stephenson’s Depot. Assigned to Bartow’s Brigade, Army of the Shenandoah.
June 19 Moved to Hollingsworth Grove, east of the Millwood Turnpike, one mile southeast of Winchester.
June 24 Moved to Camp Johnston, on the Northwestern Turnpike, half a mile west of Winchester. Assigned to Elzey’s Fourth Brigade, Army of the Shenandoah.
July 1 The battery was accepted into Confederate service.
July 2-3 Marched to Darkesville via the Martinsburg Turnpike and Bunker Hill.
July 7 Returned to Camp Johnston in Winchester.
July 11 Captain Groves was assigned to recruiting duty and Lieutenant Robert F. Beckham took command of the battery.
July 18 The battery was ordered to Manassas Junction in the afternoon and marched through the night.
July 19 Reached Berry’s Ferry on the Shenandoah River early in the morning and continued on to Piedmont Station by midmorning.
July 20-21 Left Piedmont Station in the morning and the next day by noon reached Camp Pickens at Manassas Junction. Assigned to Brigadier General Edmund Kirby Smith’s Brigade. Advanced to Bald Hill on Chinn’s Ridge. Four companies of cavalry under Colonel Stuart were assigned as support. In the evening the battery took part in the general pursuit of McDowell’s army until being recalled in the evening to Camp Walker, where the Orange & Alexandria Railroad crossed Bull Run.
July 23 In the evening the battery moved to Camp Blair at Fairfax station with the 10th Virginia Infantry and 13th Virginia Infantry.
August 25 One section of guns was moved to Mason’s Hill in Arlington County with four companies of the 13th Virginia Infantry.
August 29 The section of guns at Mason’s Hill returned to Camp Blair.
October 4 Moved to Winchester and disbanded. The men and horses were assigned to the Stuart Horse Artillery.