Battery E, 1st Missouri Light Artillery Regiment was an artillery battery unit from

Missouri Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas 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 of the collective states. It proved essential to th ...

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 ...

. The

1st Missouri Light Artillery Regiment 1st Missouri Light Artillery Regiment was a artillery unit from Missouri that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The unit began its service as the 1st Missouri Infantry Regiment, but converted to an artillery regiment in S ...

formed on 1 September 1861. The battery participated in Frémont's expedition to Springfield in October 1861. This was followed by actions at Prairie Grove and Van Buren in December 1862. The following year, the battery fought at

Cape Girardeau Cape Girardeau ( , french: Cap-Girardeau ; colloquially referred to as "Cape") is a city in Cape Girardeau and Scott Counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. At the 2020 census, the population was 39,540. The city is one of two principal citi ...

, Chalk Bluff,

Vicksburg Vicksburg most commonly refers to: * Vicksburg, Mississippi, a city in western Mississippi, United States * The Vicksburg Campaign, an American Civil War campaign * The Siege of Vicksburg, an American Civil War battle Vicksburg is also the name of ...

, the Expedition to Morganza, Brownsville, and Fort Esperanza. After performing garrison duty at Brownsville, Texas, the unit was mustered out in June 1864. For a few months at the end of 1864, a Pennsylvania battery took the name of this unit.

Formation

The battery's parent unit began its existence on 10–12 June 1861 in

St Louis St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...

and Boonville, Missouri as the

1st Missouri Volunteer Infantry The 1st Missouri Infantry Regiment evolved from one of several unofficial pro-Unionist Home Guards militia formed in St. Louis in the early months of 1861 by Congressman Francis Preston Blair, Jr. and other Unionist activists. The militia that ...

. On 1 September 1861, it was re-designated the 1st Missouri Light Artillery Regiment. At that time, Battery L and Battery M were transferred into the regiment from United States regular army units. These two batteries brought the regiment up to the strength of 12 companies, with batteries named A through M, excluding J. Battery C was disbanded in September 1861. Battery I and Battery L were disbanded in January 1862 and Battery B was disbanded in February 1862. Captain Nelson D. Cole assumed command of Battery E upon its establishment; as a result, it was sometimes called Cole's Battery. Other officers were

First Lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a ...

s John L. Woods, Cyrus L. Edwards, Lucien J. Barnes, and Joseph Foust and Second Lieutenant Robert Armstrong. Barnes was reported missing on 31 October 1862 and Edwards was discharged on 2 November 1862. Woods received promotion to captain and

quartermaster Quartermaster is a military term, the meaning of which depends on the country and service. In land armies, a quartermaster is generally a relatively senior soldier who supervises stores or barracks and distributes supplies and provisions. In ...

on 15 November 1862. Armstrong was discharged in April 1863. Abram S. Hoaglund was appointed second lieutenant on 21 May 1863. Foust was promoted to captain of Battery F on 26 May 1863. Cole received promotion to major on 12 August 1863. Joseph B. Atwater was promoted captain on 16 October 1863. First Lieutenant Edward S. Rowland was appointed and awaiting muster into U.S. service.

History

1861–1862

On 29 September 1861, Battery E left St Louis and marched to

Jefferson City Jefferson City, informally Jeff City, is the capital of Missouri, United States. It had a population of 43,228 at the 2020 census, ranking as the 15th most populous city in the state. It is also the county seat of Cole County and the principa ...

. Later, the battery was attached to the

Department of the West The Department of the West, later known as the Western Department, was a major command ( Department) of the United States Army during the 19th century. It oversaw the military affairs in the country west of the Mississippi River to the borders of C ...

and took part in

Major General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...

John C. Frémont's advance to

Springfield, Missouri Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. The city's population was 169,176 at the 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Springfield metropolitan area, which had an estimat ...

. The cavalry vanguard dispersed a Confederate force in the action at Springfield on 25 October 1861, while Frémont's main army arrived two days later. Soon after, Major General

David Hunter David Hunter (July 21, 1802 – February 2, 1886) was an American military officer. He served as a Union general during the American Civil War. He achieved notability for his unauthorized 1862 order (immediately rescinded) emancipating slaves ...

assumed command of the army. On November 7, Hunter ordered a retreat in three columns, including one under

Brigadier General Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

John Pope to Sedalia. Battery E marched to Sedalia on 28 November. Later, Battery E moved first to Otterville and then to Lexington, Missouri where it remained on duty from 11 February to 3 June 1862. The battery participated in operations near Waverly on 25–28 May. It was assigned to the District of Central Missouri,

Department of the Missouri The Department of the Missouri was a command echelon of the United States Army in the 19th century and a sub division of the Military Division of the Missouri that functioned through the Indian Wars. History Background Following the successful ...

from January to June 1862. Battery E was on duty at Sedalia from 3 June to 29 July 1862. The unit marched to

Rolla, Missouri Rolla () is a city in, and the county seat of, Phelps County, Missouri, United States. The population in the 2020 United States Census was 19,943. Rolla is located approximately midway between St. Louis and Springfield along I-44. The Rolla ...

on 29 July and returned to Sedalia on 18 August. The unit marched to Springfield from 29 August to 4 September. It was assigned to the District of Southwest Missouri from June to October 1862, when it was transferred to the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, within the

Army of the Frontier The Army of the Frontier was a Union army that served in the Trans-Mississippi Theater during the Civil War. It fought in several minor engagements in Arkansas, Indian Territory, and Kansas. In June 1863 the Army was discontinued but many of i ...

Prairie Grove

On 12 October 1862, the department commander Major General

Samuel Ryan Curtis Samuel Ryan Curtis (February 3, 1805 – December 26, 1866) was an American military officer and one of the first Republicans elected to Congress. He was most famous for his role as a Union Army general in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the ...

formed three divisions into the Army of the Frontier with Brigadier General John M. Schofield as its commander. Schofield's army entered northwest Arkansas on 17–18 October. On 28 October, Schofield with the 2nd and 3rd Divisions skirmished with Major General

Thomas C. Hindman Thomas Carmichael Hindman Jr. (January 28, 1828 – September 28, 1868) was an American lawyer, politician, and a senior officer of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, he later moved to Miss ...

's Confederate forces. Hindman withdrew from the area the next day. On 4 November, Schofield withdrew the 2nd and 3rd Divisions from northwest Arkansas and pulled back to Springfield. On 20 November, Schofield reported sick and turned over command to Brigadier General James G. Blunt. On 3 December, Hindman launched an offensive designed to crush Blunt's isolated 1st Division. However, Blunt's intelligence service alerted him at once and he called for reinforcements. Between 3 and 7 December, the 2nd and 3rd Divisions under Brigadier General Francis J. Herron made a remarkable

forced march A loaded march is a relatively fast march over distance carrying a load and is a common military exercise. A loaded march is known as a forced foot march in the US Army. Less formally, it is a ruck march in the Canadian Armed Forces and the US A ...

to Blunt's assistance, covering respectively. During the

Battle of Prairie Grove The Battle of Prairie Grove was a battle of the American Civil War fought on December 7, 1862. While tactically indecisive, the battle secured the Union control of northwestern Arkansas. A division of Union troops in the Army of the Front ...

, Battery E under Lieutenant Foust was attached to

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

William W. Orme's 2nd Brigade in Herron's 3rd Division. The other units in the 2nd Brigade were the 19th Iowa and

94th Illinois Infantry Regiment The 94th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, nicknamed the "McLean Regiment," was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The 94th Illinois Infantry was organized in McLean County, Illinois and ...

s, and the 8th Missouri Cavalry Regiment. At 10:00 am on 7 December 1862, Herron found his two divisions blocked by Hindman's army on the Prairie Grove hill. He detached Lieutenant Edward's 2-gun section of Battery E and sent it forward with the purpose of getting the Confederate artillery to reveal its positions. After a 10-minute exchange of fire with two opposing batteries, Herron withdrew Edward's section. At 1:30 pm

Battery F, 1st Missouri Light Artillery Battery F, 1st Missouri Light Artillery Regiment was an artillery battery unit from Missouri that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The battery participated in operations in December 1861. Battery F fought at the battles of P ...

opened fire on the Confederate positions. Under Battery F's covering fire, Herron sent the rest of his 20 guns into action, including Battery E and

Battery L, 1st Missouri Light Artillery Battery L, 1st Missouri Light Artillery Regiment was an artillery battery unit from Missouri that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The original Battery L was formed 1 September 1861 but was disbanded in January 1862. The long ...

. Battery E galloped forward, then swerved to the left to unlimber on a knoll to the east of the Fayetteville Road. Foust's gunners deployed four 10-pounder Parrott rifles and two 3-inch Ordnance rifles. Confederate counterbattery fire caused few Union casualties, though a near-miss

round shot A round shot (also called solid shot or simply ball) is a solid spherical projectile without explosive charge, launched from a gun. Its diameter is slightly less than the bore of the barrel from which it is shot. A round shot fired from a lar ...

knocked Orme off his horse. Battery E's mascot, a dog named "Old Bull", chased Confederate projectiles during the cannonade. By 2:00 pm the Confederate guns fell silent and Herron's guns pounded their adversary's positions for the next 30 minutes. Foust's battery was "particularly effective" because it obtained enfilade fire on the Confederate lines from its forward position. After the Confederates repulsed the Union 3rd Division's attack, they counterattacked and were stopped by the rallied Union infantry and fire from Batteries E and L and two Illinois guns. Foust reported that he "forced them back with canister". Herron complimented his gunners, "Never was there more real courage and pluck displayed, and more downright hard fighting done". When the Confederates drove back the 2nd Division's attack, they counterattacked again and the result was the same. The rallied Union foot soldiers and the gunners drove back their opponents with heavy fire. Afterward, Foust withdrew Battery E from the knoll and redeployed next to Battery L. The battery left behind eight dead horses and one caisson; there were 11 horses wounded. Battery E participated in the expedition over the Boston Mountains to Van Buren on 27–29 December 1862. During this operation, the Union artillery bombarded the south bank of the

Arkansas River The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. It generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's source basin lies in the western United Stat ...

. At Van Buren, the Federals burned five steamboats and tons of supplies needed by the Confederate army. In the 31 December 1862 summary statement, Battery E reported having four 10-pounder Parrott rifles and two 3.5-inch "English Guns". Frémont ordered the 3.5-inch guns early in the war. They were Blakely rifles manufactured by Fawcett & Preston in

Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a populat ...

. Battery E reported having the following 10-pounder ammunition: 420 Parrott common shell, 133 Schenkl common shell, and 131 Parrott canister shot. It also reported having 85 Army revolvers and 53 cavalry sabers.

1863–1864

Battery E marched to Springfield, reaching there 15 February 1863. It remained on duty at Springfield and Rolla until April when it took part in operations against Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke's Confederate cavalry from 17 April to 2 May. The battery fought at the

Battle of Cape Girardeau The Battle of Cape Girardeau was a military demonstration of the American Civil War, occurring on April 26, 1863 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The conflict was part of the pursuit of US Brigadier General John McNeil through Southeast Missouri by ...

on 26 April. The Federal troops led by Brigadier General

John McNeil John McNeil (February 14, 1813 – June 8, 1891) was a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was most noted for his role in the Palmyra Massacre and other acts of alleged brutality, as well as his participation in the Batt ...

drove off Marmaduke's attack. The defenders included Welfley's Missouri Battery and another battery from the

2nd Missouri Light Artillery Regiment The 2nd Missouri Light Artillery Regiment was an artillery regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service Organized at St. Louis, Mo., as 1st Regiment, Missouri Artillery, U. S. Reserve Corps, September 16 to Novemb ...

, plus reinforcements of two cannons from a third battery. While pursuing Marmaduke, Battery E took part in skirmishes at the

Castor River Castor River may refer to: *Castor River (Ontario), Canada * Rivière au Castor, Quebec, Canada *Castor River (Missouri) The Castor River is divided into the Upper Castor River and the Lower Castor River by the Headwater Diversion Channel. The U ...

on 29 April, Bloomfield on 30 April, and at Chalk Bluff on 1 May. The battery moved to St Louis on 9 May. At some time in the early spring, Captain Cole resumed command of Battery E and the unit temporarily added a third 3.5-inch Blakely rifle. On 4–16 June 1863, Battery E moved from St Louis to take part in the

Siege of Vicksburg The siege of Vicksburg (May 18 – July 4, 1863) was the final major military action in the Vicksburg campaign of the American Civil War. In a series of maneuvers, Union Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and his Army of the Tennessee crossed the Mis ...

. At this time, Herron's division was re-assigned to XIII Corps which was led by

John A. McClernand John Alexander McClernand (May 30, 1812 – September 20, 1900) was an American lawyer and politician, and a Union Army general in the American Civil War. He was a prominent Democratic politician in Illinois and a member of the United States H ...

. During the Vicksburg siege, Battery E under Captain Cole was part of Brigadier General

William Vandever William Vandever (March 31, 1817 – July 23, 1893) was a United States representative from Iowa and later from California, and a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Biography Early life Vandever was born in Baltimore, ...

's 1st Brigade, Herron's division, Major General

James B. McPherson James Birdseye McPherson (November 14, 1828 – July 22, 1864) was a career United States Army officer who served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. McPherson was on the General's staff of Henry Halleck and late ...

's XVII Corps,

Army of the Tennessee An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...

according to ''Battles and Leaders''. The siege was successfully concluded on 4 July. Battery E participated in the expedition to

Yazoo City Yazoo City is a U.S. city in Yazoo County, Mississippi. It was named after the Yazoo River, which, in turn was named by the French explorer Robert La Salle in 1682 as "Rivière des Yazous" in reference to the Yazoo tribe living near the river's ...

on 12–22 July. The unit moved to

Port Hudson, Louisiana Port Hudson is an unincorporated community in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States. Located about northwest of Baton Rouge, it is known primarily as the location of an American Civil War battle, the siege of Port Hudson, in 1863. G ...

on 24 July and Carrollton on 16 August. After the Vicksburg siege, Battery E was part of the 2nd Division, XIII Corps. At Vicksburg, the battery reported having four 10-pounder Parrott rifles and two "Fawcett Rifled Iron Gun, Cal. 3.5" (i.e., Blakely rifles). In August 1863, Battery E transferred to the

Department of the Gulf The Department of the Gulf was a command of the United States Army in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and of the Confederate States Army during the Civil War. History United States Army (Civil War) Creation The department was co ...

. Batteries B, E, and F, 1st Missouri Light Artillery were assigned to Herron's 2nd Division, Major General

Cadwallader C. Washburn Cadwallader Colden Washburn (April 22, 1818May 14, 1882) was an American businessman, politician, and soldier who founded a mill that later became General Mills. A member of the Washburn family of Maine, he was a U.S. Congressman and governor o ...

's XIII Corps. Battery E took part in the expedition to Morganza on 5–12 September. There were skirmishes at the

Atchafalaya River The Atchafalaya River ( french: La Rivière Atchafalaya, es, Río Atchafalaya) is a distributary of the Mississippi River and Red River in south central Louisiana in the United States. It flows south, just west of the Mississippi River, and ...

on 9–10 September and Sterling's Plantation on 12 September. The Battle of Stirling's Plantation occurred on 29 September. In this action, a Confederate force led by

Tom Green Michael Thomas Green (born July 30, 1971) is a Canadian-American comedian, show host, actor, filmmaker, podcaster, and rapper. After pursuing stand-up comedy and music as a young adult, Green created and hosted ''The Tom Green Show'', which a ...

attacked and overwhelmed a Federal detachment, inflicting 515 casualties. Part of Battery E fought at Stirling's Plantation and suffered the following losses in enlisted men: three killed, three wounded, and 12 missing. The battery traveled to

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

on 11 October. Major General Napoleon J.T. Dana commanded the 2nd Division from 28 September 1863 to 3 January 1864. At the end of 1863, Captain Atwater was in command and Battery E reported from Brownsville, Texas that it was armed with two 10-pounder Parrott rifles and two 3.5-inch Whitworth rifled guns. All earlier reports called the latter weapons "Fawcett" or "English" guns. Battery E participated in the expedition to the Rio Grande from 27 October to 2 December 1863. On 6 November, the 13th Maine and

s plus a Missouri battery occupied Brownsville. A total of 6,998 Union troops took part in the effort. The expedition's goals were to raise the U.S. flag in

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...

, to cut off the cotton trade with

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

, to damage the Texas economy, and to serve warning to the Second French intervention in Mexico, French occupation force in Mexico. On 16 November, 1,100 Federal troops Battle of Mustang Island, seized Mustang Island and captured 98 Confederate soldiers and three heavy cannons. Soon after, the Union forces marched north on San José Island (Texas), San José Island and crossed to Matagorda Island. At the Battle of Fort Esperanza, a battery of 1st Missouri Light Artillery bombarded the fort, which guarded the Pass Cavallo (Texas), Pass Cavallo inlet. The fort was abandoned by the Confederate garrison on 29–30 November. Battery E performed garrison duty at Ducrow's Point and Brownsville before being mustered out in June 1864.

Reorganization

On 14 September 1864, Segebarth's Battery C Pennsylvania Artillery, Mississippi Marine Brigade was renamed Battery E, 1st Missouri Light Artillery. The new Battery E was attached to the artillery post of the District of Vicksburg until November. After that it served as garrison at both Vicksburg and Natchez, Mississippi, Natchez. The new Battery E was mustered out of service on 1 January 1865. The officers were Captain Edmund H. Nichols, First Lieutenant Robert L. Crouch, and Second Lieutenants Hugh J. Randolph and Andrew J. Gibson.

Notes

References

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