Rufus D Pettit (July 4, 1825 – October 24, 1891) was an Officer in 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 ...

. He was most famous for leading the 1st New York Artillery, Battery B into combat during the first two years of the war.

Early life

Rufus D Pettit was born on July 4, 1825. Unfortunately, both of his parents died when Pettit was three years old. Pettit was then sent to live with his aunt and uncle in Cold Springs area of

Baldwinsville, New York Baldwinsville is a Village (New York), village in Onondaga County, New York, Onondaga County, New York (state), New York, United States. The population was 7,898 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is part of the Syracuse, New York, ...

. Here he was raised, eventually becoming an apprentice to an architect.

Military service

Mexican American War

In 1846, the

Mexican-American War Mexican Americans ( es, mexicano-estadounidenses, , or ) are Americans of full or partial Mexicans, Mexican heritage. In 2019, Mexican Americans comprised 11.3% of the US population and 61.5% of all Hispanic and Latino Americans. In 2019, 71% ...

broke out. Pettit enlisted with the 1st New York Volunteer Infantry, Company A. He served in the entire war, eventually ranking up to Sergeant. He fought in over five battles and was noted for his expert marksmanship. During the

Battle for Mexico City The Battle for Mexico City refers to the series of engagements from September 8 to September 15, 1847, in the general vicinity of Mexico City during the Mexican–American War. Included are major actions at the battles of Molino del Rey and Ch ...

, he reportedly shot a Mexican flag from its pole.

American Civil War

On August 31, 1861, Rufus D Pettit organized the Cold Spring Rifles, which was soon redesignated the

Battery B, 1st New York Light Artillery Battery B, 1st New York Light Artillery was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The battery was organized at Baldwinsville, New York and mustered in for a three-year enlistment on September ...

. The Battery was issued 10lbs Parrot Rifles. After extensive training in New York, the regiment was assigned to the Artillery Brigade, 1st Division, II Corps. 1st NY Bat B

The 1st New York Battery B went into action for the first time during the

Siege of Yorktown The Siege of Yorktown, also known as the Battle of Yorktown, the surrender at Yorktown, or the German battle (from the presence of Germans in all three armies), beginning on September 28, 1781, and ending on October 19, 1781, at Yorktown, Virgi ...

. They eventually went on to fight in all of the battles of the Seven Days, seeing heavy action during II Corp's gallant defense at the

Battle of Seven Pines The Battle of Seven Pines, also known as the Battle of Fair Oaks or Fair Oaks Station, took place on May 31 and June 1, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, nearby Sandston, as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War. It was t ...

. The regiment also saw fierce fighting during the massive artillery duel at the

Battle of White Oak Swamp The Battle of White Oak Swamp took place on June 30, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, as part of the Seven Days Battles ( Peninsula Campaign) of the American Civil War. As the Union Army of the Potomac retreated southeast toward the James River, ...

, and at the bloody repulse of the Confederates during the

Battle of Malvern Hill The Battle of Malvern Hill, also known as the Battle of Poindexter's Farm, was fought on July 1, 1862, between the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, led by Gen. Robert E. Lee, and the Union Army of the Potomac under Maj. Gen. George B. Mc ...

. At the end of the Peninsula Campaign, Rufus D Pettit reported sick with "fatigue, exposure, and chronic diarrhea." These ailments had been bothering him most of his life and would eventually force his discharge due to medical conditions. Rufus Pettit and the 1st NY Battery B moved north again and fought during the

Battle of Antietam The Battle of Antietam (), or Battle of Sharpsburg particularly in the Southern United States, was a battle of the American Civil War fought on September 17, 1862, between Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia and Union G ...

. The 1st NY Battery B was deployed to the East side of the East Woods and was not heavily engaged. The Battery then went on to fight at the

Battle of Fredericksburg The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. The combat, between the Union Army of the Potomac commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnsi ...

, where they watched as their fellow division members, the Irish Brigade, hopelessly charged Marye's Heights. Pettit's final action was at the

Battle of Chancellorsville The Battle of Chancellorsville, April 30 – May 6, 1863, was a major battle of the American Civil War (1861–1865), and the principal engagement of the Chancellorsville campaign. Chancellorsville is known as Lee's "perfect battle" because h ...

. At Chancellorsville, fellow division member Col.

Edward E. Cross Edward Ephraim Cross (April 22, 1832 – July 3, 1863) was a newspaperman and an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Journalist Cross was born in Lancaster, New Hampshire, son of Ephram and Abigail (Everett) Cross; atte ...

of the 5th New Hampshire Infantry Regiment noted the regiments gallant efforts to hold their ground. "Sunday morning…Petitt’s iron battery of twenty-pound Parrott’s, all firing rapidly. In a few moments the enemy got a splendid rifle battery into position, which fired with wonderful accuracy. So heavy was the fire that Captain Petit was compelled for the first time during the war to limber up and leave–but was instantly ordered back." Pettit would later write of the action of civilians shooting shotguns at the retreating Union soldiers, and of woman and children throwing rocks at the fleeing Union troops. After the Chancellorsville, Pettit resigned due to his medical conditions. He remained at home for a year, before enlisting with the Veteran Reserve Corps. On July 20, 1864, he was assigned superintendent of the Union prisons in Alexandria, Virginia. Here, troubles began. He gained a reputation as a sadistic and cruel warden who oversaw beatings and other cruel punishment of prisoners at the Washington Street Military Prison and other military prisons in Alexandria. Pettit was eventually tried and convicted of mistreating prisoners at a court martial and dismissed from the service.

Death and afterward

Pettit died on August 24, 1891, at the age of 66.

References