The First Rhode Island Battery (also known as "Tompkins' Marine Artillery") was an artillery unit which 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 ...

Service record

The 1st Rhode Island Battery was organized by Colonel

Samuel G. Arnold Samuel Greene Arnold Jr. (April 12, 1821February 14, 1880) was an attorney and politician from Rhode Island. A Republican, he was most notable for his service as lieutenant governor and as a United States senator. Early life Born in Providence ...

at the Benefit Street Arsenal in Providence for three months' service in April 1861. It was organized from the Providence Marine Corps of Artillery, a unit of the Rhode Island Militia. It was commanded by Captain Charles H. Tompkins. The Battery left Rhode Island for

Jersey City, New Jersey Jersey City is the second-most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, after Newark.Easton, Pennsylvania Easton is a city in, and the county seat of, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city's population was 28,127 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Easton is located at the confluence of the Lehigh River, a river tha ...

on April 19, and to

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

, on April 27. It performed duty in the defense of that city until June 9. It was mustered into Federal service May 2, and attached to Hunter's Division, McDowell's Army of Northeast Virginia. It moved to

Williamsport, Maryland Williamsport is a town in Washington County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,868 at the 2000 census and 2,137 as of 2010. Geography Williamsport is located at (39.598496, −77.818464). According to the United States Census Bu ...

, June 9–15, and returned to Washington June 17–20, and then marched to Williamsport July 9–13, and to

Martinsburg, WV Martinsburg is a city in and the seat of Berkeley County, West Virginia, in the tip of the state's Eastern Panhandle region in the lower Shenandoah Valley. Its population was 18,835 in the 2021 census estimate, making it the largest city in the ...

. It was then attached to Thomes' Brigade, Patterson's Army and marched to Bunker Hill, VA, and saw action there on July 15. The Battery moved to Charlestown July 17, and to Harper's Ferry July 22 and then moved to

Sandy Hook Sandy Hook is a barrier spit in Middletown Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. The barrier spit, approximately in length and varying from wide, is located at the north end of the Jersey Shore. It encloses the southern en ...

, New Jersey and then to

Providence, RI Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. One of the oldest cities in New England, it was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Reformed Baptist theologian and religious exile from the Massachusetts Bay ...

, July 29–31. It was mustered out of service on August 2, 1861.

References

Bibliography

* Dyer's Compendium of the War of Rebellion. {{DEFAULTSORT:1st Rhode Island Battery Military units and formations in Rhode Island 1861 establishments in Rhode Island Units and formations of the Union Army from Rhode Island Artillery units and formations of the American Civil War Military units and formations established in 1861 Military units and formations disestablished in 1861

Service record

See also

References

Bibliography