See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3rd_Independent_Battery_Kansas_Light_Artillery

Third Light Battery ("Hopkins'") KANSAS (3-YEARS) Third Light Battery. -Capts., Henry Hopkins, John F. Aduddell. This organization, subsequently known as "Hopkins' Kansas Battery," was originally recruited by Henry Hopkins and John F. Aduddell as a part of Lane's Indian or New Mexican brigade and was mustered into the U. S. service at Fort Leavenworth during Oct. and Nov., 1861, for three years. It was originally organized as one of the companies of the 9th cavalry and in Feb., 1862, became Co. B of the newly formed 2nd cavalry (q. v.). After being stationed at Quindaro and Shawneetown until the latter part of April, 1862, it was ordered to Fort Riley, where it was under command of Lieut. B. S. Bassett, Capt. Hopkins being absent on detached duty with a detail of 150 men forming a battery of light artillery, and 1st Lieut. Aduddell being absent without leave. On June 20 the company marched to Fort Larned, where it remained until Aug. 20, 1862, when it rejoined the regiment at Dry Wood creek near Fort Scott. A little later it moved south with the regiment to Sarcoxie, Mo., and took part in the engagement at Newtonia. From this point it pushed south rapidly in advance of the main army under Gen. Blunt, skirmishing at Hazel Bottom, Shell's mills and other points, until the 1st division reached Pea Ridge, Ark., on the 20th. On the same day Co. B did heroic service at the battle of Old Fort Wayne, where its regiment, numbering less than 600 men, engaged a force more than ten times that number, drove them from the field in a brilliant charge and captured a battery of 4 pieces -three 6-pounder smoothbores and one 12-pounder howitzer. Capt. Hopkins and Lieuts. Aduddell and Bassett were warmly commended for their gallantry in this action by Gen. Blunt, commanding the division, and by Lieut.-Col. Bassett, commanding the regiment. After this fight Co. B was detached from the regiment and ordered to man the captured battery, which became known as "Hopkins' Kansas Battery." They were engaged for the first time as artillerists at Cane Hill, Ark., where the enemy was driven across the Boston Mountains. In this engagement the battery silenced one of the enemy's batteries and showed a good degree of proficiency, considering their comparative inexperience as artillerists. It was next active at the battle of Prairie Grove, where it performed excellent service, but fortunately sustained no loss. It took part in the expedition to Van Buren, where it was again engaged and returned to Rhea's mills Jan. 1, 1863. It had previously served in Cloud's (3rd) brigade, 1st division, Army of the Frontier, and was now assigned to Col. Phillips' Indian brigade, consisting of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Indian regiments, a battalion of the 6th Kan. cavalry, and Hopkins' battery. On March 1 it moved to Fort Gibson, and in April was active at Webber's falls. At Fort Gibson about the middle of May, one section of the battery materially assisted in defeating the enemy under Gen. Cooper. It was again engaged with the same enemy May 26, after which it remained without especial incident at Fort Gibson until July 17, 1863. It was then assigned to Col. Bowen's brigade and was successively stationed at Webber's falls, Scullyville and Van Buren. On Oct. 1, 1863, it was permanently detached from the 2nd cavalry and formed into a battery, officially designated as the 3rd Kan. battery. In June, 1863, Lieut. Bassett, with a detachment of 60 men, was sent to Little Rock, Ark., to receive a new equipment of 3-inch rifles, and remained there until Sept. 13, 1864, when Bassett was disabled by an accident and the detachment was assigned to duty with Battery K, 1st Mo. artillery, until Jan. 1, 1865. On this date all the members of the battery whose term of enlistment had expired were ordered to Fort Leavenworth and mustered out on the 19th. The 45 remaining members of the battery were assigned to the 2nd Kan. battery and were discharged with that organization. The battery lost by death during service 5 men killed in action; 17 died of disease, accident and other causes. The aggregate strength of the battery, including recruits was 193 officers and men.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 4, p. 223

Third Light Battery ("Hopkins'") KANSAS (3-YEARS) Third Light Battery. -Capts., Henry Hopkins, John F. Aduddell. This organization, subsequently known as "Hopkins' Kansas Battery," was originally recruited by Henry Hopkins and John F. Aduddell as a part of Lane's Indian or New Mexican brigade and was mustered into the U. S. service at Fort Leavenworth during Oct. and Nov., 1861, for three years. It was originally organized as one of the companies of the 9th cavalry and in Feb., 1862, became Co. B of the newly formed 2nd cavalry (q. v.). After being stationed at Quindaro and Shawneetown until the latter part of April, 1862, it was ordered to Fort Riley, where it was under command of Lieut. B. S. Bassett, Capt. Hopkins being absent on detached duty with a detail of 150 men forming a battery of light artillery, and 1st Lieut. Aduddell being absent without leave. On June 20 the company marched to Fort Larned, where it remained until Aug. 20, 1862, when it rejoined the regiment at Dry Wood creek near Fort Scott. A little later it moved south with the regiment to Sarcoxie, Mo., and took part in the engagement at Newtonia. From this point it pushed south rapidly in advance of the main army under Gen. Blunt, skirmishing at Hazel Bottom, Shell's mills and other points, until the 1st division reached Pea Ridge, Ark., on the 20th. On the same day Co. B did heroic service at the battle of Old Fort Wayne, where its regiment, numbering less than 600 men, engaged a force more than ten times that number, drove them from the field in a brilliant charge and captured a battery of 4 pieces -three 6-pounder smoothbores and one 12-pounder howitzer. Capt. Hopkins and Lieuts. Aduddell and Bassett were warmly commended for their gallantry in this action by Gen. Blunt, commanding the division, and by Lieut.-Col. Bassett, commanding the regiment. After this fight Co. B was detached from the regiment and ordered to man the captured battery, which became known as "Hopkins' Kansas Battery." They were engaged for the first time as artillerists at Cane Hill, Ark., where the enemy was driven across the Boston Mountains. In this engagement the battery silenced one of the enemy's batteries and showed a good degree of proficiency, considering their comparative inexperience as artillerists. It was next active at the battle of Prairie Grove, where it performed excellent service, but fortunately sustained no loss. It took part in the expedition to Van Buren, where it was again engaged and returned to Rhea's mills Jan. 1, 1863. It had previously served in Cloud's (3rd) brigade, 1st division, Army of the Frontier, and was now assigned to Col. Phillips' Indian brigade, consisting of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Indian regiments, a battalion of the 6th Kan. cavalry, and Hopkins' battery. On March 1 it moved to Fort Gibson, and in April was active at Webber's falls. At Fort Gibson about the middle of May, one section of the battery materially assisted in defeating the enemy under Gen. Cooper. It was again engaged with the same enemy May 26, after which it remained without especial incident at Fort Gibson until July 17, 1863. It was then assigned to Col. Bowen's brigade and was successively stationed at Webber's falls, Scullyville and Van Buren. On Oct. 1, 1863, it was permanently detached from the 2nd cavalry and formed into a battery, officially designated as the 3rd Kan. battery. In June, 1863, Lieut. Bassett, with a detachment of 60 men, was sent to Little Rock, Ark., to receive a new equipment of 3-inch rifles, and remained there until Sept. 13, 1864, when Bassett was disabled by an accident and the detachment was assigned to duty with Battery K, 1st Mo. artillery, until Jan. 1, 1865. On this date all the members of the battery whose term of enlistment had expired were ordered to Fort Leavenworth and mustered out on the 19th. The 45 remaining members of the battery were assigned to the 2nd Kan. battery and were discharged with that organization. The battery lost by death during service 5 men killed in action; 17 died of disease, accident and other causes. The aggregate strength of the battery, including recruits was 193 officers and men.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 4, p. 223

Kansas 3rd Light Independent Artillery (Union)

Related Records