Battery "B" 1st Michigan Light Artillery?

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FiremarshalBill

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My GG-Grandfather initially joined the 3rd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment along with his 3 brothers in June of 1861, but he was medically discharged in December of that same year. In 1863 he re-enlisted with Battery "B" of the 1st Michigan Light Artillery and fought with this unit until the end of the war including Sherman's March to the Sea in 1864. Does anyone know of any books, stories, or documents about this artillery unit? I'm wondering if they might have been issued or used artillery swords.
 
I dug around a bit and I couldn't find any concrete proof that they carried artillery swords. From what I can remember I don't think swords were used much by either side's artillery in the western theater. They might have been issued them to start with but then didn't use or carry them later on. I hope someone else who is more knowledgeable can come along and help you out.
 
FiremarshallBill, May I ask where you live. I live in Michigan just below Grand Rapids where there is a 3rd Michigan Infantry reenacting unit. And if I am not mistaken the 3rd Michigan Arty is around here somewhere. you might want to contact them, even though they are a reenacting unit most units do the history on such on the units they are portraying.
 
My GG-Grandfather initially joined the 3rd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment along with his 3 brothers in June of 1861, but he was medically discharged in December of that same year. In 1863 he re-enlisted with Battery "B" of the 1st Michigan Light Artillery and fought with this unit until the end of the war including Sherman's March to the Sea in 1864. Does anyone know of any books, stories, or documents about this artillery unit? I'm wondering if they might have been issued or used artillery swords.

BATTERY B.

Battery B was organized at Grand Rapids and mustered into
service Nov. 26, 1861, The officers at organization were as
follows:

Captain, William H. Ross. First Lieutenant, William S.
Bliss. First Lieutenant, Albert R. F. Arndt. Second
Lieutenant, Cuthbert W. Laing, all of Detroit.

The Battery left Grand Rapids December 17, 1861, and
received its guns after arriving in the field. Its first
engagement with the enemy was at Pittsburg Landing, Tenn.,
April 6, 1862, where it made a gallant fight but was
overpowered by three regiments of confederate Infantry, urged
forward by General Beauregard in person. After a severe
struggle four guns of the Battery fell into the hands of the
enemy and nearly all of the officers and fifty men were taken
prisoners. One section under command of Lieutenant Laing
escaped capture and served in the siege of Corinth in May and
in the battle of Corinth the following October.

The officers and men taken prisoners at Pittsburg Landing
were exchanged and under command of Captain Ross, left Detroit
Dec. 25, 1862, for Columbus, Ky. The following January it was
joined by the section that had been on duty at Corinth and the
men who had escaped capture, and again was furnished with guns,
horses and equipments.

In December, 1863, the Battery was at Pulaski, Tenn.,
where forty-eight members re-enlisted and received veteran
furloughs.

In April, 1864, the Battery commenced a march through
Huntsville, Bridgeport, Ala., Chattanooga, Tenn., Resaca, Ga.,
where it was engaged with the enemy but sustained no serious
loss. The Battery had a number of contacts with the enemy on
the march to Atlanta, Ga., and on the 13th of November left
Atlanta for the long march with General Sherman's army for
Savannah, Ga.

At Griswold, Ga., the Battery had an engagement with the
enemy and sustained a loss of seven wounded. It took part in
the capture of Savannah, Ga., and entered that city on the 21st
of December.

The Battery participated in the march through the
Carolinas, engaging the enemy at a number of different places
and arrived at Raleigh, N. C., April 14, 1865. From this point
it proceeded to Washington, D. C., via Petersburg and Richmond
and took part in the grand review of Sherman's army May 24.

Leaving their guns at Washington, the officers and men of
the Battery started for Detroit, Mich., where they were paid
and disbanded the 14th of June, 1865.

During its service it had been engaged at Pittsburg
Landing, Tenn., April 6, 1862; siege of Corinth, Miss., May 10
to 31, 1862; Corinth, Miss., Oct. 3, 4, 1862; Resaca, Ga., May
9, 1864; Lay's Ferry, Ga., May 14, 1864; Calhoun Ferry, Ga.,
May 15, 1864; Rome X Roads, Ga., May 16, 1864; Cave Springs,
Ga., Oct. 13, 1864; Turkey Ridge, Ala., Oct. 26, 1864;
Griswold, Ga., Nov. 22, 1864; Ogeechee River, Ga., Dec. 8,
1864; Savannah, Ga., Dec. 11 to 20, 1864; Salkehatchie River,
S. C., Feb. 6, 1865; Columbia, S. C., Feb. 15, 1865; Cox's
Bridge, N. C., March 29, 1865; Bentonville, N. C., March 21,
22, 1865.

Total enrollment............................................236
Died of disease..............................................24
Discharged for disability (wounds and disease)...............30




Shiloh after battle report:

Report of Lieut. Cuthbert W. Laing, Second Michigan Battery.

On Sunday morning, about 6 o'clock, heavy firing was heard, that
seemed to be some distance from us. Half an hour after it was much
nearer. All were then ordered to turn out. We were soon ready, and
started in the direction. After going about a mile, took position in an
open field and immediately opened fire upon the enemy, whose line of
battle could be seen very distinctly. We remained in that position but a
few minutes, being ordered to retire and let the infantry advance, who
were in line immediately behind us. We soon advanced again, and came
into battery very near the same place, which we held for nearly an hour.

Meanwhile the Thirteenth Ohio Battery had formed on our right and a
little in advance. They had just got unlimbered when one of their
caissons was shivered to pieces, and the horses on one of the guns took
fright and ran through our lines. All then left the battery without having
fired a shot. Two of our sergeants went to the spot and cut a number of
the horses loose. Our battery then fell back though an orchard and
ceased firing for about twenty minutes.

Gen. Hurlbut then told us to advance again and bear to the right.
This brought us into a level, open field. Held this position for about an
hour and a half, during which time Lieut. Arndt had his horse shot
under him and Lieut. Bliss' horse wounded; also two team horses
on gun shot and two cannoneers wounded. The enemy's fire was now
so hot we were obliged to retire. We soon advanced again still farther
to the right, running up a narrow road, and came into battery beside a
log house; it was an elevated spot and very much exposed. We here
silenced the enemy's six-gun battery.

We had been there but a short time when the general sent one of his
aides, ordering one section of our battery to move up and support the
left. We remainder in this position about half an hour, when a shot got
wedged in the Parrott gun and could not be got out. Not having any
wormer, the captain ordered me to retire with it. Sent one of the
sergeants to camp for another wormer. I now lost two more horses and
a driver wounded.

Lieut. Nash, of the First Missouri, now came up with his section
of 20-pounder Parrotts. He went to the left, where our battery was.
At the same time I advanced with the Parrott gun, having got the shot
out. I had not gone far when our forces began to fall back. Turned
around, as I had only four horses left, and waited here until the captain
came up, and we fell back together. We next came into battery near our
camp, the enemy driving our left at a run. The captain now ordered me
to go to our camp, get what horses I could, and retire with my section.
I only found four horses that could walk, so that I only got the Parrott
away, leaving a corporal to spike the 6-pounder if it became necessary.
After running the gun down to within half a mile of the river returned
to join the battery, but could hear nothing of them.

I afterward learned from two of our men who managed to escape that
the battery was captured about 4.30 o'clock, being surrounded by a
body of rebel cavalry to the left and a little in rear of our camp. On
Monday morning recovered the 6-pounder.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

CUTHBERT W. LAING,
Lieut., Cmdg. Second Michigan Battery.

Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 10. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 10
 
From Arming Michigan's Regiments 1862-1864 James G. Genco.

art.jpg
 
Battery B, 1st Michigan Light Artillery Regiment a.k.a. the 2nd Battery, a. k. a. Ross’s Battery was mustered into federal service on November 26 1861 in Grand Rapids Michigan. They were raised by Colonel Kellogg, under the authority of the Department of War, in conjunction with the 2nd and 3rd Cavalry Regiments. Captain Owen the Assistant United States Quartermaster stationed in Detroit received an order from Washington to supply the uniforms for the 2nd Battery. It is also reported that the uniforms for Battery B were made by Samuel Sykes & Company of Detroit so it would appear that Captain Owen contracted with Sykes to have the uniforms made in Detroit Michigan. At this time Sykes was using New York Army cloth to make uniforms. It should be noted that period newspapers gave Michigan batteries unofficial numerical designations so this battery is known as both 2nd Battery and Battery B.


http://civilwartalk.com/#_ednref1 “Contracts for Army Clothing”, Detroit Daily Tribune morning ed., November 1 1861, p. 1, col. 3.
 
I guess this is a different battery---Battery C.

Sgt. Alexander M. Hunter was a member of Battery C. Later, he joined the Memphis Light Battery as an officer after it was re-organized as the 2nd US Colored Light Artillery. He was among a small section of 40 members of the 2 USCLA who were sent to Fort Pillow in March of 1864 and fought at the Battle of Fort Pillow. An eye witness reported Lt. Hunter fled to the river and was killed or drowned. Most sources list him as killed, but he actually survived. Research of genealogy records found that he was captured and survived the war.

HunterAM_1MichiganArty.jpg


For what its worth.
 
Battery C, 1st Michigan Light Artillery Regiment, a.k.a. the 3rd Battery, a.k.a. Robinson’s Battery was mustered into federal service on November 28 1861 in Grand Rapids Michigan. They were raised by Colonel Kellogg, under the authority of the Department of War, in conjunction with the 2nd and 3rd Cavalry Regiments. Captain Owen the Assistant United States Quartermaster stationed in Detroit received an order from Washington to supply the uniforms for the 3rd Battery. It would appear that Captain Owen contracted with a Detroit company, possibly/probably Samuel Sykes & Co., to make up the uniforms for the 3rd Battery. A photograph shows an artillery man in a medium color shirt (appears to button all the way to waist) with fall collar and large pocket closed with a button of the right breast. With this he wears dark trousers and a belt with oval ‘U.S.’ plate. On his head is a dark cap with crossed cannons on the front. This gives the appearance that this was worn as a uniform.
 
FiremarshallBill, May I ask where you live. I live in Michigan just below Grand Rapids where there is a 3rd Michigan Infantry reenacting unit. And if I am not mistaken the 3rd Michigan Arty is around here somewhere. you might want to contact them, even though they are a reenacting unit most units do the history on such on the units they are portraying.

Chris, I live on Whidbey Island, WA about 80 miles north of Seattle. I was born in Grand Rapids, lived in Rockford when I was young, and my GGGrandfather is buried in Hudsonville, MI
 
From Arming Michigan's Regiments 1862-1864 James G. Genco.

View attachment 91167
Major Bill, it appears that Battery B of the 1st Michigan Light Artillery was issued more "Cavalry Sabers" than "Army Revolvers". I wonder if these issued "Cavalry" sabers could have actually been Model 1840 Artillery sabers, or even Model 1832 Artillery short swords? Now I am beginning to wonder if my original Remington New Model Army revolver might be more representative of what my GGGrandfather might have carried as a Sargent in this unit?
 
I would hate to venture a guess. At the start of the War Michigan only had 520 Artillery swords, NCO swords, musician swords, and Cavalry sabers. From Michiagn Militia reports it would most of the 520 swords and sabers were artillery swords and NCO swords with a fair amount of musician swords. The Michiagn militia only had one 50m man cavalry company. Many of the Militia NCOs and perhaps many musicians would have taken their swords with them. this leaves far less swords and sabers than even the 1st Cavalry needed and so the artillery units would have received weapons from the federal government. The same could be said of the 300 Colt six shot belt revolvers and 300 Colt six shot holster revolvers, the revolvers would have probably been depleted prior to Battery B being formed.

Battery B formed in conjunction with the 2nd and 3rd 3rd Michigan Cavalry Regiments and we could look at what these cavalry regiments received as arms and perhaps Battery B was given some of the arms sent for the two cavalry regimens that Battery B formed with..

The 2nd Michigan Cavalry in Dec 1862 had no sabers, 131 M 1860 Colt Army Revolvers and 38 Allen Army Revolvers.
In Mar. of 1863 they had 33 M 1840 Cavalry Sabers, 187 M 1860 Colt Army Revolvers, 60 Remington Army Revolvers, and 34 Allen Army Revolvers.
Later in the war they also had Colt Navy Revolvers, Starr Army Revolvers and Adams Army Revolvers. In 1864 they had 41 M 1860 Cavalry sabers.

The 3rd Michigan Cavalry in Dec. 1862 had 63 M 1840 Cavalry Sabers, 3 M 1860 Calvary Sabers, 51 Colt Army Revolvers, 41 Colt Navy Revolvers, and 41 Pettingill Army Revolvers. Later in the war they received some Allen Army Revolvers,Lefaucheux Army Revolvers and Remington Army Revolvers.

So let us assume the Battery B received the same arms as the cavalry regiments they were forming with. They would have been given M1840 Calvary Sabers, and perhaps Colt Army Revolvers, or Colt Navy Revolvers, or Pettingill Army Revolvers or Allen Army Revolvers. Latter Battery B many have received new weapons. If they received any State of Michigan weapons they would have likely got Artillery Swords or NCO Swords and perhaps some Colt six shot Holster or Belt Revolvers, It is possible the State of Michigan could have given them some older carbines, probably Hall musketoons as that is about all the state had left because by the time Battery B formed all the State's modern long arms were already issued.
 
Battery "B" 1st Michigan Battery AKA Second Michigan Battery. was heavily engaged in the fighting in the "Hornets Nest" and except for 1 section commanded by Lieutenant Cuthbert W. Laing was surrendered by Captain, William H. Ross to Lieutenant Colonel John H. Miller commander of the First Mississippi Cavalry. Since Ross did not submit an Official Report I have copied the Official Reports of Miller and his superior Colonel A. J. Lindsay commander of Mississippi Cavalry to add some details to the story.
Regards
David

Report of Colonel A. J. Lindsay heavily edited:

I arrived with my command at the place where General Prentiss surrendered and reported to Major-General Polk, who, directing me to take command of all the cavalry and go up the river to cut off the enemy’s retreat, I directed Lieutenant-Colonel Miller to proceed on immediately with my regiment in that direction, while I was delayed a few minute* to collect all the cavalry I could. Finding amid confusion I could get none except my regiment, I joined it, and arrived at the head of it just as a battery from Michigan had surrendered to Lieutenant-Colonel Miller. This battery was complete in men, horses, and guns, and 1 ordered it to be taken to General Polk.

I have the honor to be, respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. J. LINDSAY,
Colonel, Commanding Mississippi Cavalry


Report of Lieutenant Colonel John H. Miller First Mississippi Cavalry:
Camp, between Corinth and Purdy, Miss.,
April 13, 1862.


Colonel: In obedience to your order I have the honor to report to you the circumstances attending the capture of the Second Michigan Battery (Captain Ross commanding) in the battle of Shiloh, on Sunday, the 6th instant.
The battery was taken by the First Battalion Mississippi Cavalry, the balance of your regiment being on detached service.


About 5 p. m. you were ordered by General Polk, at the place where the large number of Federal prisoners had surrendered, to assume command of all the cavalry, and cut the enemy off, if possible, in their retreat. You immediately ordered me to advance as fast as possible with the command, while you collected all the cavalry you could find. I accordingly pressed forward about one-fourth of a mile and came suddenly in view of the battery, about 300 yards distant. Their horses were all attached and all evidently ready for retreat. As soon as they discovered us I judged, from their rapidly moving to and fro, that they were preparing to turn, unlimber, and open upon us. I ordered the battalion to charge, which was done promptly, and every horse, man, and gun captured. I immediately ordered Major Herndon, with dettachment of Capt. A. B. Cole’s company, Pontotoc Dragoons, to move the battery to our rear and deliver it to some general officer. It was delivered to Major-General Bragg.

Immediately after the detail of Major Herndon and the detachment of men you, being just in the rear of our column, came forward and assumed command before the battery had been moved from the place of capture.
I have the honor to be, colonel, yours, respectfully,
J. H. MILLER,
Lieutenant-Colonel First Regiment Mississippi Cavalry.


Colonel . A. J. Lindsay,
First Regiment Mississippi Cavalry.
[Indorsement.]
-------,--------, 1862.
Respectfully forwarded with the remarks that at the time the battery was taken I was with my regiment, though not at the head of it, being delayed, by Major-General Polk’s order, to take command of all the cavalry. I ordered the battery to be sent to Major-General Polk, and attempting to take another battery, came back and found that Lieutenant-Colonel Miller had sent it off with an escort, which by mistake carried it to Major-General Bragg.
A. J. LINDSAY,

Colonel, Commanding Mississippi Cavalry.
 
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