NEW HAMPSHIRE FIRST VOLUNTEER LIGHT BATTERY. (THREE YEARS.)

By SAMUEL S. PIPER, late First Sergeant First New Hampshire Volunteer Light Battery. THE State of New Hampshire furnished only one light battery during the war of the Rebellion, which was recruited entirely in Manchester by Frederick M. Edgell and Edwin H. Hobbs, in the autumn of 1861. It was mustered into the service of the United States on the 26th of September, 1861, by Lieutenant Ingham, U. S. A., for three years. The Battery was commanded by Capt. George A. Gerrish, formerly a lieutenant of Captain Nims's battery, of Boston, Mass., with Frederick M. Edgell and Edwin H. Hobbs as first lieutenants, John Wadleigh and Henry F. Condict as second lieutenants. The company consisted of a six-gun battery of rifled brass pieces, manufactured at South Boston, Mass., with 155 men and 115 horses. The organization was finely equipped by the State, even to the minutest detail, and I doubt if any company ever left New Hampshire in better shape for service than did the battery. On the 1st day of November, 1861, the battery started for Washington, D. C., by marching from Manchester to Nashua in true army style. There the command took transportation, arriving at New York, where the battery received their first army rations at City Hall park, then direct to Washington, making camp some half a mile east of the Capitol. Here the l2pound rifles were taken away and the 10-pound Parrott guns given in their place; after which the battery was assigned to the First Division of the Army of the Potomac, Major-General McDowell commanding; moved to Munson's Hill, Va., where the battery went into camp of instruction during the winter of 1861-'62. The battery was with its division in its advance upon Manassas on the 10th of March, 1862, and later occupied the city of Fredericksburg, Va., on the 28th of April. On the 9th of August proceeded with its division to join General Pope at Culpeper Court House, arriving at Cedar Mountain on the 11th, two days after the battle. On the retreat of General Pope's command, the battery was in its first real engagement at Rappahannock Station, August 22; and again at Sulphur Springs on the 26th; reaching the battle ground of Bull Run on the 29th, where, in company with General Hatch's brigade and a few cavalry troops, they were sent down on the Warrenton road, near dark, meeting the enemy in force near Groveton, Va., and after a short but very severe engagement were repulsed. The battery lost in this engagement two men killed, Lieutenant Wadleigh and several men wounded, Captain Gerrish and ten men taken prisoners, and one gun captured by the enemy; the troops engaged with were a portion of Stonewall Jackson's corps. The next day, August 30, 1862, the battery was engaged at Second Bull Run, falling back to Centreville during the night. Following this disastrous battle, the Army of Northern Virginia, under General Lee, started for Maryland, and the battery was next engaged at the battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862. At this time it was assigned to the corps of Gen. Joseph Hooker. It commenced the action on the extreme right of the line at daylight, rendering efficient service, dislodging the enemy's battery in forty-five minutes; later taking position in the noted corn field in front of the Dunker stone church, helping to repel the desperate charges of the enemy, being engaged a third time during the afternoon nearer the village of Sharpsburgh. Our losses were few--three privates wounded slightly, a few horses killed, and one gun disabled. After the withdrawal of Gen. R. E. Lee's army across the Potomac river, the battery encamped on the battlefield near Sharpsburgh, Md., until Sunday, October 26, when our corps was put in motion for Virginia. On the 30th it crossed the Potomac on pontoon bridges, passing down the Leesburg Pike. On Sunday, November 2, the battery with one regiment of infantry, was ordered forward with all possible haste to report to General Pleasanton, who was confronted by Stuart's rebel cavalry, which were contesting the advance of the Union cavalry, near Union and Upperville. Soon the battery was engaged, and for two days was continually on the move, working in conjunction with the cavalry and infantry, shelling them from one position to another until the afternoon of November 3, when Stuart's cavalry was driven flying through Ashby's Gap in the Blue Ridge mountains. November 4, the battery welcomed the return to duty of Captain Gerrish, who had been a prisoner, and Lieutenant Wadleigh, wounded at Groveton, Va. The battery moved on the 6th to Warrenton, and thence to Aquia Creek, Va. About this time General Burnside assumed command of the Army of the Potomac. The battery took an active part in the battle of Fredericksburg, Va. On the afternoon of the 12th of December it was hotly engaged with the batteries of the enemy opposite the pontoon bridges of Franklin; early in the morning of the 13th, was withdrawn and put in position on the extreme left of Reynold's First Corps of Franklin's Grand Division, and became warmly engaged, fighting until dark, also continued the engagement on the 14th. Our losses in this battle were three men killed, fifteen wounded, and eighteen horses killed and disabled. Captain Gerrish, then acting chief of the artillery of the First Division, was wounded early in the action. The command suffered in this battle as badly as in any during the war. On the night of December 15 the battery re-crossed the Rappahannock river with the army. Also participated in January, 1863, in the campaign better known as "Burnside's Mud March," and later made winter quarters at Pratt's Landing, on Potomac Creek. March, 1863, Captain Gerrish, being still disabled by his wound, resigned his command and Lieut. Frederick M. Edgell was promoted to captain. Gen. Joseph Hooker having assumed command, on the 28th of April the army was once more put in motion. The battery moved with its corps towards the Rappahannock, below Fredericksburg, and was engaged with the enemy on the 30th of April, and on May 2, 1863, the corps was withdrawn and sent to Chancellorsville, where it was again engaged May 3 and 4, 1863, with slight losses. On the night of the 5th the battery re-crossed the Rappahannock at United States Ford, proceeding back to our former camp. A little later the battery was transferred from the First Corps to the Artillery Reserve, Gen. Robert 0. Tyler commanding. Many of the batteries were reduced to four-gun batteries, and the New Hampshire battery was among that number. On June 4 the battery was ordered to United States Ford to do picket duty, remaining three days. About this time General Lee's army was put in motion towards Maryland and Pennsylvania, and on the morning of June 11, 1863, Hooker started his armies on this side of the Blue Ridge towards Harper's Ferry, the New Hampshire battery moving with the reserve artillery via Fairfax Station, thence to Vienna, on to the Leesburg road, reaching Edward's Ferry, June 25, about 10 P. M. The 26th the army crossed the Potomac on the pontoons; the batteries passed through Poolesville and Frederick, Md., making a march of thirty-two miles in the last twelve hours. On Monday, June 29, 1863, "Boots and Saddles" was sounded about 2 P. M., and the batteries were on the move, and at 10:30 on the morning of July 2 the artillery reserve was parked on the Baltimore Pike, a short distance from Gettysburg, in the rear of Cemetery Hill. About 4:30 P. M., the battery was ordered to Cemetery Hill to relieve a battery said to be sadly disabled, which they found as stated, cannoneers killed and wounded, horses on two caissons killed, and many of the gun teams with hardly horses sufficient to take their guns out of the way. The New Hampshire battery was soon in position, and with a well directed fire on our front kept up the reply from the position, but soon found out that the batteries doing the most harm were not directly in our front, and according to instructions received in the winter of 1861-'62 from Capt. John Gibbons, later General Gibbons of the Second Army Corps, the attention of the battery was turned, hunting out the location of the enemy that were plunging their shots directly within our position, for unless the thing was remedied our stay here would be short. The battery that had such complete range of this position and was making such havoc was considerably to our left, and the guns of the New Hampshire were ordered by Captain Edgell to be turned at once on their position, which was in plain sight. Every gunner with his best judgment sighted for the foe as the guns were being loaded; the result was that in less than forty minutes one of their ammunition chests was blown up and the battery disabled and withdrawn from our sight and out of action. Remaining here, continually engaged until between 7 and 8 o'clock in the evening, Major Osborne, who had charge of all the batteries on Cemetery Hill, ordered the New Hampshire battery to the support of a brigade sent to retake Culp's Hill. The battery was soon in position on the Baltimore Pike, ready for covering any possible defeat of the troops, remaining here during the night. The next day, between 1 and 2 o'clock P. M. the 3d of July, we returned to our old position on Cemetery Hill, where we withstood the most furious rain of iron hail ever showered upon living men. The battery returned the fire, giving shot for shot, until finally Lee's hosts undertook to drive with the bayonet the Union forces from their position. The sight was magnetic--never will it be forgotten by those living who witnessed the great struggle. Although exposed for many hours to this destructive fire, the battery sustained but a small loss--four men wounded, one seriously, three horses killed, and one gun disabled; three hundred and fifty-three rounds of ammunition of all kinds were expended. Upon General Lee's defeat and retreat back to Virginia, the battery moved with the Reserve Artillery, passing through Frederick, Md., to Berlin, where the army crossed the Potomac river into Virginia for the third time. Since leaving Bell Plain June 17, 1863, the battery had marched two hundred and thirteen miles. July 19 the command reached Purcellsville, via Upperville and White Plains, arriving at Warrenton, Va., July 24. August 1, 1863, camp was made at Warrenton Junction. On the 15th of October the battery was assigned to the Third Army Corps, and joined the command at Union Mills the same day. On the 8th of November it was engaged at Brandy Station in a sharp skirmish with the enemy, and again at Mine Run on the 30th, and subsequently went into winter quarters at Brandy Station, Va., on the plantation of the Hon. John Minor Botts. The battery set to work building winter quarters for the third time. This was decidedly the best camp the New Hampshire battery ever had. In the spring of 1864 Gen. U. S. Grant assumed command of the army. Our organization was assigned to the Second Army Corps, Major-General Hancock commanding, and joined it at Stevensburg, Va., on the 19th of April, 1864. It was engaged with the enemy in battle at the Wilderness, May 6, 1864, and, together with the Sixth Maine Battery, was posted in one of the few places accessible to artillery, and withstood the shock of the charging columns of Longstreet's corps, and drove back the enemy with severe loss. It sustained no losses only a few horses killed. Also in the battle of Po River we were hotly engaged on May 9 and 10, where one officer and three privates were wounded, the former severely, and four or five horses disabled. At Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 14, and 18, the battery was engaged without loss. At North Anna River, on the 23d of May, 1864, we supported the advance of Birney's division, which succeeded in carrying the bridge and effecting a crossing; were with the advance, General Barlow's brigade, encountering the enemy at Sheldon's Cross Roads May 28, and again fought at Totopotomoy May 29, 31, and June 1, 1864; at Cold Harbor were hotly engaged June 3 and 4, remaining under fire until the 12th, with a loss of two men and two horses. On the afternoon of June 16 the battery arrived in front of Petersburg, Va., and was immediately placed in position for battle; during this and the succeeding four days was sharply engaged, having two men wounded and one horse killed; on the 17th lost two men wounded. Up to the 30th of June in the campaign of that year, it had marched one hundred and fifty miles and been eighteen days engaged in action with the enemy. On the 27th and 28th of July the battery was engaged at Deep Bottom, Va., where it opened fire on a battery of the enemy which was greatly annoying the troops of the Second Corps, and in less than thirty minutes the hostile battery was completely silenced, its men were driven from their guns, and one of their limbers exploded, sustaining only a loss of two horses and a caisson disabled. Again returned in front of Petersburg on July 30, and from this time until August 21, was engaged almost every day, losing one man killed and two severely wounded by sharpshooters of the enemy. August 12 the battery moved with the Second Corps to the James river near Deep Bottom and Jones's Landing, where we remained until the 20th. The corps was hotly engaged several times, capturing one battery of 8-inch guns and many prisoners; this was done without the aid of the artillery. On the return of the Second Corps in front of Petersburg, the battery was placed in position in Fort Morton, opposite the crater and mine, and were transferred from Morton to Fort Sedgwick, better known as Fort Hell, and again to Battery No. 15. We were almost daily engaged in these several positions. From July 1 to October 22 the New Hampshire battery had been twenty days engaged with the enemy. On September 25, 1864, the first enlistments having expired, fifty-nine men of the original number, who had not reenlisted, were mustered out of the service, together with four officers. Thus ended the first three years' service. Fortytwo of its members having re-enlisted, the organization continued in service. By an order from the War Department, on the 5th of November, 1864, the organization was transferred to the First Regiment of New Hampshire Heavy Artillery, with the designation of Battery M, but was guaranteed to remain detached as a light battery in the field. January, 1865, Captain Edgell having been promoted to major in his regiment, and Sergt. George K. Dakin having been promoted to a lieutenant in September, was now commissioned as captain of the battery, with Sergeants Fisk, Cilley, Bean, and Gilmore, as lieutenants, the organization was recruited to its standard, from New Hampshire, being stationed in Fort Gregg all the winter of 1864-'65, and on March 28, 1865, the army started again under Grant, its movement to the left. The battery was still assigned to the Second Corps, Lieutenant Colonel Hazard commanding the artillery. Movement was made toward the Boydton Plank Road, and March 31 the battery became quite hotly engaged in a duel with a rebel battery, which was strongly entrenched and could not be dislodged. Casualties, one horse killed. Next day, April 2, advance was made to White Oak Road, and the battery became hotly engaged with a battery of the enemy, and again moved about three miles to Southerland Station, engaging the enemy again; moved the next day towards Berksville Junction. Arriving at Jettersville, about 4 P. M., took position on line of the Second Division, Second Corps. Remained until April 6, when it proceeded to Amelia Springs, and, by order of General Miles, put the battery in position, and opened fire on the retreating column of rebels, and again the same day engaged the enemy at Deatonsville and Sailor's Creek in the afternoon. April 7 the battery reported to General Miles, First Brigade, Second Corps, coming upon the enemy's infantry at High Bridge, which they were trying to destroy. Soon came into position, and dislodged them with a few rounds. After crossing the river, moved to Farmville, finding the rebels in force, and disposed to give us battle by opening a battery and forming a line of skirmishers. The New Hampshire battery took position on the right of the road, and vigorously went at them, throwing percussion shells, until the fire of the enemy ceased. This was the last time that the New Hampshire battery fired a gun at the foe of the national government. The so called Confederacy and the army of Gen. R. E. Lee were no more. Terms of the surrender of the Confederate army were made at Appomattox Court House, Va. The battery soon proceeded to Washington, D. C., taking part in the grand review. Then leaving guns and horses, proceeded to New Hampshire, arriving at Manchester on the evening of June 5, 1865, where a grand welcome awaited it by the citizens. On the 9th of June the company proceeded to Concord, and received their final discharge, becoming citizens once more in the land they had helped to save. The battery served in the Army of the Potomac three years and nine months, under the following commanders: McDowell, McClellan, Pope, Burnside, Hooker, Mead, and Grant; in the First Corps under Reynolds; Second Corps, Hancock; Third Corps, Sickles; Artillery Reserve, General Hunt, and were connected with many different divisions. The organization did honor to itself and the State, making a record which every member can look back or point to with pride. The First New Hampshire Volunteer Light Battery was attached to McDowell's division, Army of the Potomac, November, 1861; Third Division, First Army Corps, March 14, 1862; Third Division, Department of the Rappahannock, April 4, 1862; First Division, Third Corps, Army of Virginia, June 28, 1862; First Division, First Army Corps, September 17, 1862; Third Brigade, Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac, May 15, 1863; Artillery Brigade, Third Army Corps, October 15, 1863; Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac, March 30, 1864; Artillery Brigade, Second Army Corps, April 19, 1864. November 5, 1864, the battery was assigned to First New Hampshire Volunteer Heavy Artillery, and designated as Company M, but remained detached from the regiment on duty in the field with Second Army Corps. ENGAGEMENTS. Rappahannock Station, Va. . . . . . . . . Aug. 22, 1862 Sulphur Springs, Va. . . . . . . . . . .Aug. 26, 1862 Groveton, Va. . . . . . . . . . . . . Aug. 29, 1862 Bull Run, Va. . . . . . . . . . . . . Aug. 30, 1862 Antietam, Md. . . . . . . . . . . . .Sept. 17, 1862 Upperville, Va. . . . . . . . . . . .Nov. 2, 3, 1862 Fredericksburg, Va. . . . . . . . . . Dec. 12-15, 1862 Fredericksburg, Va. . . . . . . . . . . .May 2, 1863 Chancellorsville, Va. . . . . . . . . . May 3, 4, 1863 Gettysburg, Pa. . . . . . . . . . . .July 2, 3, 1863 Brandy Station, Va. . . . . . . . . . . Nov. 8, 1863 Mine Run, Va. . . . . . . . . . . . . Nov. 30, 1863 Wilderness, Va. . . . . . . . . . . . . May 6, 1864 Po River, Va. . . . . . . . . . . . May 9, 10, 1864 Spottsylvania, Va. . . . . . . . . May 12, 14, 18, 1864 North Anna River, Va. . . . . . . . . . .May 23, 1864 Sheldon Cross Roads, Va. . . . . . . . . .May 28, 1864 Totopotomoy, Va. . . . . . . . May 29, 31; June 1, 1864 Cold Harbor, Va. . . . . . . . . . . June 3-12, 1864 Siege of Petersburg, Va., June 16 to July 26; July 30 to Aug. 20, 1864, to Mar. 29, 1865 Deep Bottom, Va. . . . . . . . . . .July 27, 28, 1864 Boydton Plank Road, Va. . . . . . . . . .Mar. 31, 1865 White Oak Road, Va. . . . . . . . . . . Apr. 2, 1865 Amelia Springs, Va. . . . . . . . . . . Apr. 6, 1865 Deatonsville, Va. . . . . . . . . . . . Apr. 6, 1865 Sailor's Creek, Va. . . . . . . . . . . Apr. 6, 1865 High Bridge, Va. . . . . . . . . . . . Apr. 7, 1865 Farmville, Va. . . . . . . . . . . . . Apr. 7, 1865 Source: New Hampshire Soldiers & Sailors War of the Rebellion, Ayling Gettysburg after battle report: Report of Capt. Frederick M. Edgell, First New Hampshire Battery, Third Volunteer Brigade. Light Battery A, First N. H. Artillery, Camp Artillery Reserve, July 6, 1863. Sir: I have the honor to submit the following account of the operations of the First New Hampshire Battery during the recent action near Gettysburg, Pa.: The battery arrived on the field from Taneytown on July 2, at 10 a. m., and at 4 p. m., by order of Maj. Osborn, chief of artillery, Eleventh Corps, went into position on Cemetery Hill, immediately on the left of the cemetery, relieving a battery, the name of which I did not ascertain. At that time the fire of the enemy's artillery was directed upon the hill from positions in our front and to the left. After getting the range, I commenced throwing percussion and time shell at their batteries, engaging but one at a time; the first one, situated on the Chambersburg road and opposite the seminary, I succeeded in silencing for the time. The firing was necessarily slow, on account of the distance (2,000 yards and over), and later in the afternoon gradually ceased, only an occasional shot being fired. Up to this time I had expended 105 rounds of ammunition, and had one horse killed and one wheel smashed. An attack being now apprehended on the right, I was directed by Maj. Osborn to move to a position in a corn-field near the Baltimore turnpike, with instructions to cover the possible retreat of our troops from the woods on the right. Our troops, however, maintained their position, and my battery was not employed. The men were kept at the guns during the night, as the firing of musketry was sharp and continuous. As the morning of the 3d began to dawn, the firing became more rapid, and did not cease until about 11 a. m. At about 1.30 p. m. the enemy opened a rapid artillery fire on our center and left. Their batteries, in a semicircle about this point, swept the hill with a terrible cross-fire. The battery was now much exposed to the plunging shots of the enemy, which fell continually among my pieces, but fortunately without doing much damage. At 2.30 p. m. I was ordered to take up my old position on Cemetery Hill, relieving Capt. Huntington's Ohio battery. I commenced again to throw shell at the enemy's batteries, and also at some bodies of troops, apparently picket reserves, which caused them to break and retreat to the woods. The firing of the enemy's artillery was now very inaccurate, most of the shots being too high, and by the direction of Gen. Meade the firing was discontinued by the batteries on the hill, and the men ordered to lie down. Soon after, at about 4 p. m., a grand attack was made by the enemy on our left, and I commenced a rapid fire of case shot on his advancing lines. I fired obliquely from my position upon the left of the attacking column with destructive effect, as that wing was broken and fled across the field to the woods. I next saw what appeared to be the remainder of the attacking force come into our lines prisoners. There was no firing by my battery after this. I expended this day 248 rounds of shell and case shot, making 353 total expended. The Hotchkiss time shell and Schenkl percussion worked well, but the Schenkl combination case seldom exploded. From what experience I have had with this fuse, I think it is not reliable. The casualties in my battery were 3 men wounded (only 1 seriously). I also lost 3 horses killed, and a wheel and axle broken. The latter were replaced during the night of the 4th from the field. I am happy to state that the officers and men of the New Hampshire battery behaved nobly. Although for forty-eight hours under fire, and a part of that time exposed to a terrific cannonade, not a man left his post or wavered, and, by their steadiness and precision of fire on the afternoon of the 3d, I believe contributed much toward repulsing the enemy's attack. For confirmation of this, I would respectfully refer to Maj. Osborn, chief of artillery, Eleventh Corps, under whose direction my battery was placed during the action of the 2d and 3d. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, F. M. EDGELL, Capt. First New Hampshire Battery. Capt. C. H. Whittelsey, Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Artillery Reserve.

Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 27. Part I. Reports. Serial No. 43

New Hampshire 1st Light Artillery (Union)

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