The 2nd Massachusetts Battery (or 2nd Battery, Massachusetts Light Artillery) was an artillery

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 unit was initially known as "Cobb's Light Artillery" for its first commander,

Major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

Moses Cobb. An experienced officer of the Massachusetts militia, Cobb was selected to organize and command the battery on April 20, 1861, however he did not go with the unit when it departed for the field. The unit was later known as "Nim's Battery" after its subsequent commanding officer, Capt. Ormand F. Nims. It was one of the Massachusetts regiments organized in response to President Abraham Lincoln's call on May 2, 1861, for volunteer troops to serve a term of three-years. The 2nd Massachusetts Battery was the first unit of artillery to be recruited in Massachusetts for three-years service. The battery trained at Camp Adams in

Quincy, Massachusetts Quincy ( ) is a coastal U.S. city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the largest city in the county and a part of Greater Boston, Metropolitan Boston as one of Boston's immediate southern suburbs. Its population in 2020 was 1 ...

, and was mustered into federal service on July 31, 1861. Departing the Boston area on August 8, the battery first served

garrison A garrison (from the French ''garnison'', itself from the verb ''garnir'', "to equip") is any body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it. The term now often applies to certain facilities that constitute a mil ...

duty near

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and in operations in eastern Maryland. In February 1862, it was assigned to the Department of the Gulf under Major General

Benjamin F. Butler Benjamin Franklin Butler (November 5, 1818 – January 11, 1893) was an American major general of the Union Army, politician, lawyer, and businessman from Massachusetts. Born in New Hampshire and raised in Lowell, Massachusetts, Butler is best ...

and shipped for Louisiana on April 19. The regiment saw combat during the early stages of the Siege of Vicksburg, and suffered badly from disease and general debility during the operations. After Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks took command of the Department of the Gulf, the battery participated in the Siege of Port Hudson, Louisiana. They also saw action during the Second Bayou Teche Campaign in western Louisiana and the Red River Campaign, during which their guns were captured at the

Battle of Sabine Crossroads A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...

. They were resupplied with new guns in May 1864. The original volunteers were mustered out on August 16, 1864, having served their three-year term. Some of these chose to reenlist and, receiving new recruits, the unit went on to serve an additional year, seeing action during operations against Fort Blakeley, Alabama. The unit was mustered out on August 11, 1865.

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* * * * * {{American Civil War , expanded=CTCBS Artillery units and formations of the American Civil War Military units and formations established in 1861 Military units and formations disestablished in 1865 Units and formations of the Union Army from Massachusetts

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