The 16th Massachusetts Battery (or 16th Battery Massachusetts Light Artillery) was an

artillery Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during siege ...

battery Battery most often refers to: * Electric battery, a device that provides electrical power * Battery (crime), a crime involving unlawful physical contact Battery may also refer to: Energy source *Automotive battery, a device to provide power t ...

that served in the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. The last battery of light artillery sent by Massachusetts, it was organized during the late winter of 1864 at

Camp Meigs Camp Meigs is a former American Civil War training camp that existed from 1862 to 1865 in Readville, Massachusetts. It was combined from the former Camp Brigham (formed to train the 18th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry) and Camp Massaso ...

just outside of

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

. The battery was commanded by

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

Henry D. Scott of

New Bedford, Massachusetts New Bedford (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ) is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, Bristol County, Massachusetts. It is located on the Acushnet River in what is known as the South Coast (Massachusetts), South Coast region. Up throug ...

. The majority of enlisted men and officers were mustered into federal service on March 11, 1864. They departed Massachusetts on April 19, 1864, arriving at Washington of April 21. The unit was directed to

Camp Barry Camp Barry was a temporary artillery military camp near Washington, D.C., United States, during the Civil War. Location It was located on the ''"Corcoran Farm located on H Street NE near the Bladingsburg Tollgate"''.The History of Battery H, Fir ...

just outside Washington and was there outfitted with 3-inch field guns and horses. It was assigned to the XXII Corps in the defenses of Washington. Serving primarily in the fortifications around Washington, the battery never saw active combat. On June 1, 1864, the battery turned in their guns and horses being assigned to heavy artillery duty on the south of

Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria is an independent city (United States), independent city in the northern region of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. It lies on the western bank of the Potomac River approximately south of Downto ...

. The unit was divided into two sections, one serving at Fort Lyon and the other at Fort Weed. On July 10, as

Confederate Confederacy or confederate may refer to: States or communities * Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities * Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...

General Jubal Early's forces threatened Washington, the men of the 16th Massachusetts Battery were briefly moved to reinforce

Fort Kearny Fort Kearny was a historic outpost of the United States Army founded in 1848 in the western U.S. during the middle and late 19th century. The fort was named after Col. and later General Stephen Watts Kearny. The outpost was located along the Ore ...

on the northwest side of Washington. After this threat diminished, the unit returned to Camp Barry. There they were re-supplied with field artillery equipment, including four

12-pounder 12-pounder gun or 12-pdr, usually denotes a gun which fired a projectile of approximately 12 pounds. Guns of this type include: *12-pounder long gun, the naval muzzle-loader of the Age of Sail *Canon de 12 de Vallière, French cannon of 1732 *Cano ...

guns and horses. The battery was transferred to

Albany, New York Albany ( ) is the capital of the U.S. state of New York, also the seat and largest city of Albany County. Albany is on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River, and about north of New York City ...

on September 5 and was stationed at the Troy Road Barracks. It remained there until November 16 when it returned by train to Camp Barry. There it received an additional two 12-pounder guns, bringing the unit up to full armament as a battery of light artillery. On December 16, the battery moved to

Fairfax County, Virginia Fairfax County, officially the County of Fairfax, is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is part of Northern Virginia and borders both the city of Alexandria and Arlington County and forms part of the suburban ring of Washington, D.C. ...

, one section was stationed at Vienna, Virginia and the other at Fairfax Station. The battery remained at these posts through the winter and into the spring of 1865. In March 1865, the battery accompanied the

8th Illinois Cavalry The 8th Illinois Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment served the duration of the war, and was the only Illinois cavalry regiment to serve the entire war in the Army of t ...

on a march to Loudoun Valley, Virginia. Aside from this, their service in 1865 was uneventful. On June 18, 1865, the battery marched from Fairfax to Washington and turned in their guns and equipment. They reached Boston on June 22 and after some delay at Camp Meigs were mustered out on July 13, 1865. The unit had no casualties in combat but lost six men to disease.

Notes

References

* * * * * {{American Civil War , expanded=CTCBS Artillery units and formations of the American Civil War Military units and formations established in 1864 Military units and formations disestablished in 1865 Units and formations of the Union Army from Massachusetts

See also

Notes

References