1st Massachusetts Light Artillery Battery

Regimental History and Service Record

Organized at Camp Cameron August 27, 1861. Left State for Washington, D.C., October 3. Attached to Franklin's Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to April, 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, Dept. of the Rappahannock, to April, 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1863. Artillery Brigade, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac and Army of the Shenandoah, to October, 1864.

SERVICE.--Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D. C., until March, 1862. Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10-15, 1862. McDowell's advance on Fredericksburg, Va., April 4-12.

• Ordered to the Peninsula, Va.
• March 17-September 2, 1862 - The Peninsula Campaign
  • April 5-May 4, 1862 - Siege of Yorktown, Virginia (on transports)
  • May 7, 1862 - Engagement at Eltham's Landing, Virginia
  • Mechanicsville June 12.
  • June 25-July 1, 1862 - The Seven Days Battles before Richmond, Virginia
    • June 26, 1862 - Engagement at Beaver Dam Creek, Virginia
    • June 27, 1862 - Engagement at Gaines's Mill, Virginia
    • June 27-June 28, 1862 - Engagement at Garnett's and Golding's Farms, Virginia
    • Fort Davidson June 28.
    • July 1, 1862 - Engagement at Malvern Hill, Virginia

At Harrison's Landing until August 16. Retreat from the Peninsula and movement to Centreville August 16-27. In works at Centreville August 27-31. Assist in checking Pope's rout at Bull Run August 30, and cover retreat to Fairfax Court House September 1.

• September 3-20, 1862 - The Maryland Campaign
  • September 14, 1862 - Battle of South Mountain, Maryland (Crampton's Gap)
  • September 17, 1862 - Battle of Antietam, Maryland

At Downsville, Md., until October 29. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 29-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 11-15. Burnside's Second Campaign, "Mud March," January 20-24, 1863. At White Oak Church until April.

* April 27-May 6, 1863 - The Chancellorsville Campaign

Operations at Franklin's Crossing April 29-May 2. Maryes Heights, Fredericksburg, May 3. Salem Heights May 3-4. Franklin's Crossing, Deep Run, June 5-13.

• June 11-August 1, 1863 - The Gettysburg Campaign
  • July 1-3, 1863 - Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Moved to Boonsboro, Williamsport, Berlin and Warrenton, Va., July 5-25. Camp at Warrenton until September 15, and at Stone House Mountain until October 5. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Rappahannock Station November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2, Camp at Brandy Station until May, 1864.

• May 4-June 12, 1864 - The Overland Campaign
  • May 5-7, 1864 - Battle of the Wilderness, Virginia
  • May 8-21, 1864 - Battles of Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia
    • May 12, 1864 - Assault on the Salient at Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia
  • May 22-26, 1864 - Operations on Line of the North Anna River, Virginia
  • May 26-28, 1864 - Operations on Line of the Pamunkey River, Virginia
  • May 28-31, 1864 - Operations on Line of the Totopotomoy River, Virginia
  • June 1-12, 1864 - Battles of Cold Harbor, Virginia

Before Petersburg June 17-July 9. Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23. Moved to Washington, D.C.. July 9-12. Repulse of Early's attack on Washington July 12. Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign August-October. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Fisher's Hill September 22. Moved to Boston October 2-12. Mustered out October 19, 1864, expiration of term.

Regimental Roster

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Regiment Statistical Information

• Battery lost during service 6 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 15 Enlisted men by disease. Total 21.

Legacy

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Sources

• Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. The Dyer Publishing Company (Des Moine, 1908). (Pages 760, 827, 897, 899, 902, 903, 904, 905, 932, 933, 934, 937, 938, 939, 941, 1242-1243)