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