THIRD BATTERY MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER LIGHT ARTILLERY THREE YEARS

The 3d Batty. Mass. Vol. Lt. Arty. was recruited at Boston by Dexter H. Follett, who had been adjutant of the old Boston Light Artillery from 1859 to 1861. The rolls were signed and a large number of the men were mustered into service Sept. 5, 1861, and by Special Order dated Sept. 6, 1861, the battery was ordered into camp at Lynnfield. Before nightfall it reported at that station with 115 officers and men. Here at Camp Schouler the battery was organized and equipped with two rifled 6 pounder guns, two smooth bore 6 pounders, and two 12 pounder howitzers. Commanded by Captain Follett it started for Washington in company with the 22d Regt. Mass. Vol. Inf. Oct. 8. By order of General McClellan on Oct. 16 it was assigned to Gen. Fitz John Porter's Division which was afterward attached to the 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac. Captain Follett resigned Nov. 27, and was succeeded by 1st Lieut. Augustus P. Martin, who had been an officer in the old 1st Batty. Lt. Arty. M. V. M. during its three months service. It was now armed with six smooth bore Napoleon guns. After a winter spent in the vicinity of Washington, on March 21, 1862, it embarked for Fort Monroe, arriving on the 24th. At Yorktown, April 5, the battery was engaged losing two men killed and three wounded. At Hanover Court House, May 27, it was in action with slight loss. On June 27 at Gaines' Mill the battery was heavily engaged, losing in the retreat one gun and three caissons, and having 1st Lieutenant Mortimer and one man mortally wounded. At Malvern Hill the battery was not engaged but preceded the rest of the army in its march toward Harrison's Landing. About the middle of August the battery marched to Hampton and there took steamer for Aquia Creek, arriving Aug. 21. From there it proceeded to Falmouth and thence to the line of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad to reinforce the Army of Virginia under General Pope. During the second battle of Bull Run it was near the field of action, on the 28th being at Manassas, on the 29th between Manassas and Gainesville, and on the 30th at Centreville-but was not engaged. In the autumn campaign in Maryland it was present at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862, but was not engaged. On the 20th it was posted on the hills just north of Blackford's Ford and covered the crossing of Barnes' Brigade and other troops sent to the south side of the Potomac in pursuit of Lee. These troops later recrossed under protection of the artillery fire. At Fredericksburg in December the battery was held in reserve and did not cross the Rappahannock until the 14th, the day after the battle. Two days later it went into winter quarters at Potomac Creek. With the short interruption of the "Mud March" in the latter part of January, the battery remained here until Apr. 30, 1863, when it broke camp and started for Chancellorsville. Here it was in position near the left of the line but was not engaged. It returned on the 5th to its old camp at Potomac Creek. In the latter part of May and early part of June the battery was in position on the north bank of the Rappahannock guarding the crossing at United States Ford. On June 16, 1863, Captain Martin was placed in command of the Artillery Brigade of the 5th Corps and commanded it through the Gettysburg campaign rendering most gallant and efficient service. The command of the battery during this period devolved upon 1st Lieut. A. F. Walcott. It reached the field of Gettysburg July 2, and was in position near the foot of Little Round Top during the severe fighting on the Union left, losing five men wounded. During the late summer and fall of 1863 the battery was active on the Rappahannock and along the line of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. At Mine Run in the latter part of November it operated with its own Corps and with the 6th and 1st Corps. Returning to the region of the Rappahannock it went into winter quarters midway between Rappahannock and Bealton Stations. Here it remained until early in the following May. Breaking camp May 2, 1864, the battery proceeded across the Rappahannock and encamped at Culpepper Court House. At 1 A.M. on the 4th it started for Germanna Ford on the Rapidan. During the battle of the Wilderness, May 5, 6, and 7, the battery was in position on the Union right but was not heavily engaged and suffered no casualties. Moving on to Spottsylvania, on the 8th and 12th it was severely engaged on the Union right near Laurel Hill, losing nine men wounded, two of these mortally. Here Captain A. P. Martin, who was serving as division chief of artillery, was shot in the neck. At North Anna River, May 23, the battery was again in action, Lieutenant Cargill and two men being seriously wounded. From May 30 to June 4 it was engaged near Totopotomoy Creek, Shady Grove Church Road, and Cold Harbor, losing one man killed on the 4th. On the 16th it crossed the James at Wilcox's Landing and moved to the front of Petersburg. For 57 days the battery was in position on or near the lines facing the beleaguered city. On Aug. 18 it was severely engaged at Weldon Railroad losing one man killed and four wounded. During its entire stay before Petersburg it lost three men killed or mortally wounded. The term of service of the battery being about to expire, on Aug. 30 it left its position at the front and went into camp. On Sept. 1 the recruits and re-enlisted men were transferred to the 5th Mass. Batty., and the members who had not re-enlisted made preparations to go home. They marched to the neighborhood of City Point, Sept. 4, and on the following day embarked on the U. S. Mail Steamer JOHN BROOKS bound for Washington. Here they entrained for Boston, Mass., reaching their destination Sept. 9. After a parade through the principal streets under the escort of the Boston Light Artillery, a banquet was held at the Cooper Street Armory at which Mayor Lincoln, Captain Follett, Captain Martin, and others spoke of the battery in terms of highest praise. The men were then furloughed until Friday the 16th when they reassembled on Boston Common and were mustered out of the United States service.

Source: Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors & Marines in the Civil War

Massachusetts 3rd Light Artillery (Union)

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