3rd Massachusetts Light Artillery Battery

Regimental History and Service Record

Organized at Boston September 5, 1861. Moved to Washington, D. C., September 5-11, Attached to Porter's Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army Potomac, to May, 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps, Army Potomac, to June, 1863. Artillery Brigade, 5th Army Corps, to September, 1864.

SERVICE--At Hall's Hill, Va., Defenses of Washington, until March, 1862. Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10-15.

• Moved to Fortress Monroe March 21-24.
• March 24-September 2, 1862 - The Peninsula Campaign
  • Reconnaissance to Big Bethel March 27.
  • Warwick Road April 5.
  • April 5-May 4, 1862 - Siege of Yorktown, Virginia (on transports)
  • May 27-29, 1862 - Operations about Hanover Court House, Virginia
    • May 27, 1862 - Engagement at Hanover Court House, Virginia
  • 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 30, 1862 - Engagement at White Oak Swamp, Virginia
    • June 30, 1862 - Engagement at Turkey Bridge, Virginia
    • July 1, 1862 - Engagement at Malvern Hill, Virginia

At Harrison's Landing until August 15. Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Manassas, Va., August 15-28. Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia August 28-September 2. Groveton August 29. Bull Run August 30.

• September 3-20, 1862 - The Maryland Campaign
  • September 17, 1862 - Battle of Antietam, Maryland (Reserve)
  • September 19, 1862 - Actions at Sharpsburg and Shepherdstown/Blackford's/Boteler's Fords, Maryland
• At Sharpsburg until October 30.
• October 16-17, 1862 - Reconnoissance from Sharpsburg, Maryland to Smithfield, West Virginia

• Reconnaissance to Leetown October 16-17.
• Leetown October 17.
• Movement to White Plains and Falmouth, Va., October 30-November 19.
• Battle of Fredericksburg December 11-15,
• "Mud March" January 20-24, 1863.
• Duty at Falmouth until April.
• April 27-May 6, 1863 - The Chancellorsville Campaign
  • May 1-5, 1863 - Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia
• June 13-August 1, 1863 - The Gettysburg Campaign
  • July 1-3, 1863 - Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
• Bristoe Campaign October 9-22.
• Rappahannock Station November 7.
• Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2.
• Camp near Rappahannock Station December 4, 1863, to May 1, 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 8, 1864 - Combat at Laurel Hill, 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 25, 1864 - Engagement at Jericho Ford, 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
    • June 1-3, 1864 - Battle of Bethesda Church, Virginia

Before Petersburg June 16-19. Siege of Petersburg June 16-September 5. Six Mile House, Weldon Railroad, August 18-21. Left front September 4. Veterans and recruits transferred to 5th Massachusetts Battery August 30. Moved to Boston September 5-9. Mustered out September 16, 1864.

Regimental Roster

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Regiment Statistical Information

• Battery lost during service 9 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 10 Enlisted men by disease. Total 19.

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 758, 759, 760, 827, 897, 900, 902, 903, 904, 905, 932, 933, 934, 936, 937, 938, 939, 941, 1243-1244)