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PREFACE.
PREFACE.
On the 27th of June, 1891, a meeting of the surviving members of Battery H was called in the City of Providence, R. I., and the writer was appointed historian, and authorized and empowered to prepare a history of the battery. Fully realizing the magnitude of such an undertaking, and making no pretense of special fitness for the task imposed upon him, yet he entered upon the work with a determination to make a faithful record of every event connected with the Battery so far as he was able to do w
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CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER I.
Formation of Battery H—Camp Mauran—On to Washington—Camp Barry. Rhode Island enjoys the distinction of sending to the field in the War of the Rebellion a regiment of volunteer light artillery which ranked second to none in the service. The State was fortunate in having at the commencement of the conflict a battery of light artillery, which was widely known for its efficiency throughout the length and breadth of the land. It was originally chartered as an independent organization in 1801, and was
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CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER II.
Camp Barry—Artillery Drill—March to Fairfax Station—First Death in the Battery—Union Mills. During the fall and winter of 1862–3 the battery was chiefly occupied in perfecting itself in drill. With other batteries, it frequently went to East Capitol Hill and engaged in battalion drill, and became quite proficient in light artillery movements. While at Camp Barry the battery suffered severely by the desertion of the men who had joined it in New York city. Their only apparent motive in enlisting w
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CHAPTER III
CHAPTER III
Battles of Chancellorsville and Salem Heights—Battery H Ordered to Chantilly, and Afterwards to Fairfax Court House—Return to Camp Barry—Picket Duty at Fairfax Seminary—Moved to Vicinity of Fort Scott. When Gen. Joseph Hooker was appointed to succeed Burnside in command of the Army of the Potomac, he made earnest efforts to raise its morale and increase its efficiency. In the meantime the inclement season and the bad roads prevented any forward movement before spring. On the 13th of April Genera
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CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER IV.
Again in Camp Barry—Batteries Reviewed by President Lincoln—Battery H Assigned to the Ninth Army Corps. On the 22d of November our battery was ordered to proceed to our old camping ground, Camp Barry, on the Bladensburg Road, in the vicinity of Washington. We moved at two P. M. from Fort Scott, passing through Washington to Camp Barry, and occupied the old barracks that we had dedicated on January 1st. As this was the Sabbath, and as we observed the worshipers returning from church, it brought v
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CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER V.
Battery H with the Ninth Corps Moves towards Fairfax Court House—March to the Rapidan—Battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania—Battery Ordered to Washington—Fort Richardson. As our battery had now joined its fortunes for a time with a corps that had won a well-earned reputation for valor shown on many hard contested fields, it was but natural we should realize that we were leaving behind us the comparative quiet of a defensive position to enter upon the more exciting scenes of aggressive warf
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CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VI.
Life at Fort Richardson—Moved to Fort Smith and stationed there—Battery equipped again and sent to City Point. Once more our battery was destined to forego an active participation in the stirring scenes at the front, and to the disappointment of our men we were assigned to the dull routine of garrison life, instead of the more congenial duties of a mounted battery. Nothing of especial importance transpired during our stay in Fort Richardson. Our men were drilled at the guns in heavy artillery wo
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CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VII.
Battery H Proceeds to Petersburg and Encamps near Fort Tracy—Life in the Trenches—Rebel Attack on Fort Stedman Repulsed. When Battery H was ordered to the defenses of Washington, in May, 1864, the Army of the Potomac was engaged in a deadly struggle with the Confederate forces at Spottsylvania. Shortly after this encounter with the enemy Grant commenced his celebrated left flank movement, crossed the North Anna River, where a sharp battle was fought, and a few days later the Union army was engag
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CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER VIII.
Forward Movement of the Army of the Potomac—Capture of Petersburg and Richmond—Pursuit of Lee’s Army—Battle of Sailor’s Creek. General Grant was now tightening his grip on the rebel lines, and he ordered a forward movement of all the forces concentrated around Petersburg, with the intention of capturing that city and Richmond also. On the 29th, in a communication to General Sheridan, he says: “Our line is now unbroken from the Appomattox to Dinwiddie. We are all ready, however, to give up all, f
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CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER IX.
Pursuit of Lee’s Army still continued—Surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House—Sixth Corps march to Danville. The morning of the 7th still found our troops in hot pursuit of Lee’s retreating army. Crook’s cavalry division overtook the main body of the Confederates at Farmville, and promptly attacked their trains on the north side of the Appomattox, with Gregg’s brigade. The enemy fiercely turned upon our forces, compelling them to recross the river, and captured a num
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CHAPTER X.
CHAPTER X.
Return to City Point—March to Richmond—From thence to Washington—Returning Homeward—Muster-out. Now that the two principal armies of the Confederacy had surrendered to the Union forces, the ultimate end of the Rebellion was a foregone conclusion, and the thoughts of muster-out and return home became uppermost in all our minds. We enjoyed several days’ rest at Danville before a retrograde movement was made. On the morning of the 2d of May, in conjunction with the First Brigade of the First Divisi
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JEFFREY HAZARD.
JEFFREY HAZARD.
Capt. Jeffrey Hazard , son of John Hazard, and grandson of Governor Jeffrey Hazard, was born in the town of Exeter, R. I., on the 23d day of September, 1835. His elder brother, John G. Hazard, served with distinction in the War of the Rebellion, rising from the rank of first lieutenant to brevet brigadier-general of volunteers. The subject of our sketch obtained his education at the Providence High School, and, previous to the war, was a teller in the Manufacturers’ Bank. He received a commissio
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CRAWFORD ALLEN, JR.
CRAWFORD ALLEN, JR.
Lieut.-Col. Crawford Allen, Jr. , was born in Providence, R. I., April 2, 1840. He is the son of Crawford and Sarah S. Allen, and grandson of the late Rev. Nathan B. Crocker. He received his education at Brown University, and, upon leaving that institution, he traveled in Europe, and subsequently made a voyage to China, visiting various islands in the East Indies. He afterwards went to California, and was in the city of San Francisco upon the breaking out of the Rebellion. He immediately returne
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CLEMENT WEBSTER.
CLEMENT WEBSTER.
First Lieut. Clement Webster , son of Stephen and Lydia (Kimball) Webster, was born in Kennebunk, Me., Oct. 16, 1817. He attended the public schools of Kennebunk in his youth, and later, a seminary at Leamington, Me. He learned the trade of printer in Saco, Me., where he and his brother Stephen started the York County Herald , a weekly paper. About the year 1841 or 1842, he removed to Providence, R. I., where he worked at his trade as a printer, and was also for a time employed in the Providence
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CHARLES F. MASON.
CHARLES F. MASON.
First Lieut. Charles F. Mason , son of Earl P. and Ann (Larcher) Mason, was born in Providence, R. I., March 30, 1842. He is descended from good stock, his ancestor, Sampson Mason, being a dragoon in Cromwell’s army, the famous “Ironsides.” He came to this country in 1649, and settled in Dorchester, Mass., and afterwards removed to Seekonk, and thence to Rehoboth. The father of Lieutenant Mason was a prominent business man in Providence, being intimately identified with various railroad, steamsh
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GEORGE W. BLAIR.
GEORGE W. BLAIR.
First Lieut. George W. Blair , son of William and Zilphia (Ross) Blair, was born in Woolwich, Me., May 28, 1835. His grandfather, James Blair, was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, and was present at the battle of Bunker Hill. On his mother’s side, his grandfather, Ebenezer Ross, served in the War of 1812. His parents removed to Bath, Me., when George was about four years of age, where he received a common school education. His father was a sea captain, and was lost at sea on a voyage from
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ELMER L. CORTHELL.
ELMER L. CORTHELL.
Capt. Elmer L. Corthell enlisted as private in Battery A, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, June 6, 1861. He was promoted to corporal soon after the first battle of Bull Run, and was transferred to Battery F, of the same regiment, Oct. 31, 1861, and appointed sergeant the same date. He was promoted to second lieutenant Oct. 11, 1862, and assigned to Battery H; first lieutenant Nov. 6, 1863, and transferred to Battery G. He having established an excellent military reputation by long service in
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BENJAMIN H. CHILD.
BENJAMIN H. CHILD.
Second Lieut. Benjamin H. Child , son of John G. and Mary A. Child, was born in Providence, R. I., May 8, 1843. He was educated in the public schools of his native city. When he was fourteen years of age he was apprenticed to Grenville Greenleaf, to learn the wire working business. At the age of eighteen he enlisted as a private in the Second Rhode Island Battery, afterwards known as Battery A, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, June 6, 1861. The battery was hotly engaged at the first battle of
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ANTHONY B. HORTON.
ANTHONY B. HORTON.
Second Lieut. Anthony B. Horton , the son of John W. and Mary A. Horton, was born in the city of Providence, R. I., on the 22d of January, 1836. He attended the Fountain Street School in that city until his tenth year, when his parents removed to Rehoboth, Mass. He assisted his father on the farm during the spring, summer and fall months of the year, and attended the district school in the winter. At the breaking out of the Rebellion he enlisted as private in Battery B, First Rhode Island Light
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WILLIAM B. WESTCOTT.
WILLIAM B. WESTCOTT.
First Lieut. William B. Westcott , son of Harley and Laura Westcott, was born in Pawtuxet, R. I., March 16, 1841. He received his education in the public schools of his native village. In 1857 he went to Providence and was employed as a clerk in the grocery store of Thomas Merewether, and was thus engaged when the War of the Rebellion began. On Dec. 2, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Battery G, First Rhode Island Light Artillery. He was promoted to sergeant Dec. 15, 1861, and quartermaster ser
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GEORGE LEWIS.
GEORGE LEWIS.
Second Lieut. George Lewis was born near Summit, in the town of Coventry, R. I., Nov. 1, 1831. His father, Benoni E. Lewis, in early life was a farmer, but afterwards became a carpenter and builder, doing business mainly in the villages of Harrisville, Quidnick, and Anthony. Sarah Lewis, the mother of Lieutenant Lewis, was the only daughter of the Hon. George and Martha (Stone) Hawkins, and a niece of the late venerable Rev. Richard C. Stone, “who with each of his nine children,” says the Bunker
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GEORGE MESSINGER.
GEORGE MESSINGER.
First Sergt. George Messinger , the son of Eli and Ann J. (Roberts) Messinger, was born in the city of Providence, R. I., March 27, 1842. At the commencement of the Civil War, he was attending a private school in that city, preparatory to entering Brown University. With all the ardor and patriotism of youth, and imbued with a strong desire to serve his country in her hour of peril, he offered his services and was mustered into service as a private in Battery A, First Rhode Island Light Artillery
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HEZEKIAH POTTER.
HEZEKIAH POTTER.
Lieut. Hezekiah Potter , son of Christy and Lucius (Smith) Potter, was born in Pawtucket, R. I., on the 1st day of July, 1834. His parents subsequently removed to Providence, R. I., where he received his education in the public schools of that city. Previous to the War for the Union he was engaged in the wholesale grocery business, first with his brother in the city of Syracuse, N. Y., and afterwards managed the same business for A. & W. Sprague with marked success for about five years.
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JOHN P. CAMPBELL.
JOHN P. CAMPBELL.
First Sergt. John P. Campbell , son of James S. and Ann Campbell, was born in Treat’s Village, in the town of Voluntown, Conn., March 29, 1844. He was educated in the public schools of that place. During the Civil War he enlisted as a private in Battery H, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, June 24, 1862. He was mustered into service with his battery Oct. 14, 1862. By good conduct, gentlemanly bearing and kind consideration of all with whom he came in contact, he won the love and confidence of
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ESEK S. OWEN.
ESEK S. OWEN.
Sergt. Esek S. Owen , son of Thomas J. and Dorcas (Sayles) Owen, was born in Smithfield, R. I., Aug. 21, 1839. His parents subsequently removed to Central Falls, R. I., where Esek attended school. His parents afterwards moved to Connecticut, and he attended school there for three years. He also pursued a course of study at the East Greenwich Academy. He enrolled as a private in Battery H, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, May 19, 1862, and was mustered into service with his battery Oct. 14, 18
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EMULOUS A. CHEEVER.
EMULOUS A. CHEEVER.
Sergt. Emulous A. Cheever , son of Amos and Abigail (Keech) Cheever, was born in Attleboro, Mass., Aug. 27, 1841. Sergeant Cheever’s parents formerly resided in Wrentham, Mass., but subsequently removed to Attleboro, Mass., where the subject of our sketch was born. He received his education in the public schools of the town. Corp. Earl Fenner. He enlisted in the service of his country Aug. 4, 1862, and was mustered in with his battery Oct. 14, 1862. He was promoted to corporal in 1862; and Novem
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EARL FENNER.
EARL FENNER.
Corp. Earl Fenner was born in Providence, R. I., on the 20th day of April, 1841. He is the second son of James M. and Sarah A. Fenner. His mother was the daughter of Gould and Alary Brown, of North Kingstown, R. I. His ancestor, Capt. Arthur Fenner, erected in Johnston, R. I., (then a portion of the town of Providence) what was known as the “Old Fenner Castle,” a strongly constructed log house, built for the purpose of resisting the assaults of the Indians. The old “Castle” and the lands adjacen
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FRANKLIN E. PAUL.
FRANKLIN E. PAUL.
Corp. Franklin E. Paul , son of Captain Clark and May (Young) Paul, was born in Dover, N. H., Sept. 14, 1829. He received his education in the public schools of his native town. His father was a sea captain, and followed the sea for over forty years. At the age of fifteen he went to North Bridgewater, now Brockton, Mass., and lived on a farm for about a year, and then learned the trade of boot and shoemaking. After serving faithfully three years as an apprentice, he started out for himself, work
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JOHN P. CAMPBELL.
JOHN P. CAMPBELL.
Corp. John P. Campbell , son of John and Nancy J. (Malin) Campbell, was born in Boston, Mass., on the 8th day of April, 1846. His parents were of Scotch descent. On his father’s side he is descended from the Campbells of Clyde, having an ancestry of rank in the Scottish Highlands. On his mother’s side also his ancestors attained high distinction. The subject of our sketch in his youth was brought up in the family of Jeremiah Russell Smith, father of William Russell Smith, a noted musician in Sou
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LEON ALLISON.
LEON ALLISON.
Artificer Leon Allison , son of James and Josephine Allison, was born in Three Rivers, Canada, May 1, 1820. He worked on a farm until his eighteenth year, when he went to Spencer, Mass., where he learned the shoemaker’s trade. From there he removed to Providence and worked at his trade for awhile and then enlisted in the navy about the year 1841, serving on board the United States man-of-war Delaware for three years, when he was honorably discharged, returned to Providence, and resumed his forme
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HORACE F. FLOYD.
HORACE F. FLOYD.
Guidon Horace F. Floyd was but a stripling of fifteen years of age when he entered the service of his country. He became so imbued with martial ardor that he walked from Webster, Mass., to Providence, R. I., and from thence to Camp Mauran, where he enlisted as a private in Battery H, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, and was mustered into service Oct. 14, 1862. He was subsequently promoted to battery guidon. In January, 1863, while the battery was encamped near Fairfax Station, Va., Comrade Fl
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WARNER ALDEN.
WARNER ALDEN.
Warner Alden , son of Oliver and Lucinda (Cobb) Alden, was born in North Middleboro, Mass., Feb. 3, 1830. He is a lineal descendant of John Alden, who came over in the Mayflower , and was one of the founders of the Plymouth Colony. His father, Oliver Alden, served in the War of 1812. His mother, Lucinda (Cobb) Alden, was the daughter of Ansel and Cynthia (Howard) Cobb. Comrade Alden’s parents had three children, Abner, William C., and Warner. Abner served at the age of nineteen in the Florida Wa
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SOLOMON CLOSE.
SOLOMON CLOSE.
Solomon Close , son of Joseph and Sarah (Brown) Close, was born in the town of Greenwich, Fairfield County, State of Connecticut, Oct. 19, 1845. His ancestor, Thomas Close, came from England about the year 1661, and settled in Greenwich, Conn. He had four sons, Thomas, Joseph, Benjamin, and John. Comrade Close is a direct descendant from Joseph. The names of Thomas Close and Thomas Close, Jr., appear on the list of seventy-two proprietors who purchased a large tract of land in West Greenwich, Co
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GEORGE W. FREEBORN.
GEORGE W. FREEBORN.
George W. Freeborn , son of Samuel and Eliza P. Freeborn, was born in Newport, R. I., on the 18th day of May, 1845. He received his education in the public schools of his native city. He enlisted as a recruit for Battery H, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, Feb. 25, 1865, and reported to the battery at Fort Tracy, in front of Petersburg, Va., March 1, 1865. In the battle before Petersburg, April 2, 1865, he proved to be a man of courage and thoroughly reliable in every emergency. He was muster
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SYDNEY A. GOODRICH.
SYDNEY A. GOODRICH.
Sydney A. Goodrich , son of Jacob M. and Hannah Goodrich, was born in Shapleigh, Maine, March 1848. In his youth his parents removed to Providence, R. I., where he attended the Transit and Arnold Street schools, until his enlistment in Battery H, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, Oct. 12, 1863. He reported to the battery at Camp Barry, Washington, D. C., about Oct. 17, 1863. He served with credit in his battery until his muster out of service June 28, 1865. Comrade Goodrich is a member of Gen.
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JOHN A. GRAY.
JOHN A. GRAY.
John A. Gray , son of Lawson D. and Harriet E. Gray, was born in the town of Walpole, Mass., Jan. 17, 1839. He attended the schools of that town in his youth. In the War of the Rebellion he enlisted in Battery H, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, Sept. 22, 1862, and was mustered into service with his battery Oct. 14, 1862. He served with credit during his entire service, and was mustered out June 25, 1865. Returning to Walpole on the completion of his army service, he has ever since been an ho
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GEORGE W. HARADON.
GEORGE W. HARADON.
George W. Haradon , son of Elisha and Sarah M. Haradon, was born in the town of Sharon, Mass., June 14, 1842. He attended the district school of the town in his youth, and later he attended the Bristol Academy at Taunton, Mass. After graduation he learned the carpenter’s trade. He enlisted as a recruit in Battery H, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, March 2, 1865. He reported to the battery at Fort Tracy, in front of Petersburg, Va. He participated with his battery in the battle before Petersb
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EDWARD N. LAWTON.
EDWARD N. LAWTON.
Edward N. Lawton , son of Isaac and Mary Ann Lawton, was born in Newport, R. I., Jan. 15, 1847. He attended the public schools of that city in his youth. He enlisted as a recruit and was assigned to Battery H, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, Feb. 27, 1865. He reported to the battery at Fort Tracy, Va., in front of Petersburg, Va., and was present with his battery at the battle before that place April 2, 1865, where he exemplified all the attributes that constitute a good soldier. He was must
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EDWIN NORTHROP.
EDWIN NORTHROP.
Edwin Northrop was born in Fishkill, N. Y., Dec. 15, 1838, his father being Jonas Northrop, of Bradford, Yorkshire County, England, who came to this country in the year 1830, at the age of nineteen. His mother, Ann Gaunt, was a native of Leeds, England. Comrade Northrop received a common school education, and at the age of seventeen was apprenticed to learn wool sorting, and continued in this calling until his entrance into the service. Comrade Northrop married Sarah Kyle, daughter of John Balla
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ORVILLE BALCOM.
ORVILLE BALCOM.
Sergt. Orville Balcom , son of William and Eliza Doty (Thomas) Balcom, was born in the town of Cumberland, R. I., in 1841. His parents removed to Attleboro, Mass., when he was six years of age. During his youth he attended the public schools of Attleboro. He was mustered as a private into Battery H, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, Oct. 14, 1862. He was subsequently promoted to corporal and sergeant. In the battles before Petersburg and at Sailor’s Creek he performed every service incumbent u
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OTIS P. SNELL.
OTIS P. SNELL.
Otis P. Snell , son of Barney and Rebecca Snell, was born in Cranston, R. I., in the year 1832. After he became a lad his parents removed to Smithfield, R. I., where Otis attended the district school in the fall and winter months, and assisted his father on the farm during the remainder of the year. He subsequently worked in a cotton mill for a time. In the War of the Rebellion he enlisted in Battery H, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, Sept. 6, 1862, and was mustered into service Oct. 14, 186
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JOHN TAFT.
JOHN TAFT.
John Taft , son of John and Jane (Moore) Taft, was born in Ireland June 5, 1832. He attended a private school in his youth. He afterwards emigrated to the United States, and located in Natick, R. I. On the 20th of February, 1865, he enlisted as a recruit and was assigned to Battery H, First Rhode Island Light Artillery. He reported to the battery at Patrick’s Station, Va., Feb. 24, 1865. In the battles before Petersburg and at Sailor’s Creek he evinced great courage and proved to be reliable in
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WILLIAM H. TASKER.
WILLIAM H. TASKER.
William H. Tasker , son of William and Annie (Carroll) Tasker, was born in Providence, R. I., Nov. 12, 1842. His father served as a soldier in the Mexican War, and was especially commended by his superior officer for bravery in battle. The subject of our sketch attended school in his youth in the city of Providence and also in the town of Johnston, R. I. In the Fall of 1862 he enlisted in the navy as an able seaman, and was assigned to the United States gunboat Iris . He was subsequently promote
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CHARLES D. VAUGHN.
CHARLES D. VAUGHN.
Charles D. Vaughn , son of John and Catherine (Danforth) Vaughn, was born in Providence, R. I., July 17, 1836. He attended the public schools of that city in his youth. At the breaking out of the Rebellion he enlisted as a private in Company C, First Rhode Island Detached Militia, May 2, 1861. He participated with his regiment in the battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861, and was mustered out at the expiration of his term of service, Aug. 2, 1861. He enlisted as a private in Battery H, First Rhode I
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ALBERT WELLS.
ALBERT WELLS.
Albert Wells , son of Silas and Mary (Bowen) Wells, was born in Exeter, R. I., March 21, 1830. He attended the public schools of this place in his youth, also those in River Point and West Greenwich, R. I. His parents removing to Sterling, Conn., he attended school there, working a portion of the time in the Valentine mill in that town. His parents subsequently removed to Central Village, Plainfield, Conn., in 1847, and afterwards, in 1848, to Griswold, Conn., where he worked in Doane’s mill. In
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HENRY A. ALEXANDER.
HENRY A. ALEXANDER.
Henry A. Alexander , son of James A. and Jerusha M. (Skinner) Alexander, was born in Foxboro, Mass., on the 20th day of January, 1824. He attended the district school of that town in his youth, and subsequently attended school in Natick, Mass. He afterwards learned the business of a rubber worker, which calling he still follows. He enlisted in Battery H, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, Sept. 25, 1862, and was mustered into service Oct. 14, 1862. Owing to failing health he was transferred to
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HORACE C. BRIGGS.
HORACE C. BRIGGS.
Horace C. Briggs , son of Silas and Robey Briggs, was born in the town of Pittsfield, Oswego County, State of New York, on the 12th day of May, 1829. His grandfather, Joseph Briggs, served in the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War. During his youth the subject of our sketch attended the district school in his native town. Comrade Briggs enlisted in Battery H, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, Sept. 9, 1862. During a portion of his term of service he was on detached duty as an orderly fo
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Captains.
Captains.
Charles H. J. Hamlin. First lieutenant and quartermaster, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, Oct. 3, 1861; promoted to captain, Battery H, May 16, 1862; never mustered; resigned, Sept. 27, 1862. Jeffrey Hazard. Mustered Oct. 14, 1862; second lieutenant, Battery A, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, Oct. 5, 1861; promoted to first lieutenant and regimental adjutant; captain, Battery H, Oct. 1, 1862; resigned, Aug. 17, 1863. Crawford Allen, Jr. Mustered Oct. 1, 1863; second lieutenant, Battery G
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First Lieutenants.
First Lieutenants.
Clement Webster. Mustered Oct. 14, 1862; resigned Feb. 7, 1863. Charles F. Mason. Mustered Oct. 15, 1862; second lieutenant, Battery A, First R. I. Light Artillery, Dec. 24, 1861; first lieutenant, Oct. 1, 1862; transferred to Battery H, Oct. 15, 1862; subsequently appointed aide on Colonel Tompkins’s staff; resigned April 21, 1864. George W. Blair. Mustered Feb. 6, 1863; private, First Rhode Island Light Battery, May 2, 1861; discharged Aug. 6, 1861; sergeant, Battery B, First Rhode Island Ligh
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Second Lieutenants.
Second Lieutenants.
Kirby Steinhauer. Mustered Oct. 14, 1862; sergeant, Battery G, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, Dec. 2, 1861; second lieutenant, Battery H, June 4, 1862; first lieutenant, Battery D, Feb. 8, 1863; resigned April 19, 1864, on account of disability. Elmer L. Corthell. Mustered about Oct. 30, 1862; private, Battery A, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, June 6, 1861; transferred to Battery F, Oct. 31, 1861; sergeant, Oct. 31, 1861; second lieutenant, Battery H, Oct. 11, 1862; first lieutenant, B
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First Sergeants.
First Sergeants.
George Messinger. Mustered Oct. 14, 1862; private, Battery A, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, June 6, 1861; transferred and promoted to first sergeant, Battery H, July 8, 1862; appointed company clerk; reënlisted Jan. 4, 1864; mustered out of service June 28, 1865. Jacob B. Lewis. Mustered as sergeant, Oct. 14, 1862; sergeant, Battery B, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, Aug. 13, 1861; discharged Dec. 11, 1861; first sergeant, Battery H, Oct. 14, 1862; mustered out, June 28, 1865. Charles
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Quartermaster-Sergeants.
Quartermaster-Sergeants.
Jenckes B. Stevens. Mustered Oct. 14, 1862; mustered out of service June 28, 1865. Hezekiah Potter. Mustered as private, Oct. 14, 1862; quartermaster-sergeant, March 28, 1864; second lieutenant, Battery E, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, Oct. 21, 1864; mustered Nov. 11, 1864; first lieutenant, June 12, 1865; mustered out of service June 14, 1865. Albert F. Allen. Mustered as sergeant, Oct. 14, 1862; quartermaster-sergeant, Oct. 21, 1864; mustered out of service June 28, 1865....
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Sergeants.
Sergeants.
Thomas W. Sayles. Mustered as private, Battery A, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, June 6, 1861; transferred to Battery H and appointed sergeant, Aug. 21, 1862; first lieutenant, Troop D, Third Rhode Island Cavalry, Dec. 16, 1863; captain, Troop H, Dec. 26, 1864; mustered out of service Nov. 29, 1865. Samuel G. Colwell. See second lieutenant. George P. Carpenter. Mustered as sergeant, Oct. 14, 1862; died in hospital at camp near Fairfax Station, Va., March 1, 1863. Franklin P. Burlingame. Mus
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Corporals.
Corporals.
Henry C. Brown. Mustered Oct. 14, 1862; mustered out of service June 28, 1865. James H. Rhodes. See sergeant. Charles E. Bonn. See first sergeant. Wellington P. Dolloff. Mustered Oct. 14, 1862; discharged Feb. 3, 1863, on surgeon’s certificate at Emory Hospital, Washington, D. C. Hiram A. Carey. Mustered Oct. 14, 1862; mustered out of service June 28, 1865. Gilbert Mortimer Thain. Mustered Oct. 14, 1862; discharged Dec. 5, 1862, on surgeon’s certificate. James C. Engley. Mustered Oct. 14, 1862;
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Buglers.
Buglers.
Charles P. Marsh. Mustered Oct. 14, 1862; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps Aug. 13, 1864. Thomas J. Goff. Mustered Oct. 14, 1862; died in hospital at Fairfax Station, Va., Feb. 1, 1863. Robert H. Cokeley. Mustered as private, Nov. 3, 1863; discharged Dec. 11, 1864, on surgeon’s certificate. Charles S. Stringer. Mustered as private, Oct. 14, 1862; bugler; mustered out of service June 28, 1865. Earl Fenner. See corporal. Frank Dawson. Mustered as private, Feb. 23, 1864; bugler; mustered out of
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Artificers.
Artificers.
Samuel T. Allen. Mustered Oct. 14, 1862; mustered out of service, June 28, 1865. Thomas Carter. Mustered Oct. 14, 1862; killed April 2, 1865, in action near Petersburg, Va. Leon Allison. Enlisted as a landsman in the United States Navy in 1841; served on United States man-of-war Delaware , and honorably discharged on expiration of term of service; mustered as an artificer in Battery H, Oct. 14, 1862; mustered out of service June 28, 1865. George E. Tracy. Mustered as private, Oct. 14, 1862; arti
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Privates.
Privates.
Abbott, William. Mustered Oct. 14, 1862; deserted from battery at Fort Scott, Va., Sept. 25, 1863. Adams, George A. Veteran; mustered Oct. 16, 1862; mustered out of service June 28, 1865. Albertes, Charles. Mustered Oct. 14, 1862; deserted from battery at Camp Barry, D. C., Nov. 22, 1862. Alden, Warner. Mustered Oct. 14, 1862; mustered out of service June 28, 1865. Alderwick, George. Mustered Oct. 14, 1862; mustered out of service June 28, 1865. Aldrich, Frank A. Mustered Feb. 8, 1864; mustered
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Roll of Men Temporarily Attached to Battery.
Roll of Men Temporarily Attached to Battery.
[This roll is not complete, but we have inserted the names and records of the attached men so far as obtainable.] Clifford, Thomas , Twelfth Vermont Infantry, from March 16, 1863; absent sick in hospital at Alexandria, Va., as per regimental return, April 14, 1863. Ormsbee, William H. , Thirteenth Infantry, from March 16, 1863; absent sick in hospital at Alexandria, Va., since April 24, 1863; still in hospital June, 1863, as per regimental return. White, Lucian , Thirteenth Vermont Infantry, fro
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Mortuary Record.
Mortuary Record.
Through inadvertence the services rendered to the battery by Surgeon John H. Merrill have been omitted. He was appointed Assistant Surgeon First Rhode Island Light Artillery Regiment, Aug. 25, 1862. He served with Battery H. for several months, and was afterwards on duty with the Artillery Brigade of the Second Corps. He was promoted to Surgeon April 6, 1863, and resigned March 16, 1864, in consequence of ill health. He was a kind and skillful surgeon, and universally beloved and respected by th
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ERRATA.
ERRATA.
On page 7 , Willard M. Hixon, should read William M. Hixon. On page 8 , Edwin Northup, should read Edwin Northrop. On page 25 , “Capt. John G. Hazard, chief of artillery on General De Russy’s staff,” should read “Captain Howard on General De Russy’s staff.” On page 82 , William Freeborn is reported as slightly wounded. This is an error in Captain Allen’s report. It should read, “George W. Freeborn,” and mention should be made of his being wounded in his record on page 176 . Also his name should
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