TWELFTH BATTERY MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER LIGHT ARTILLERY THREE YEARS

The 12th Batty. Mass. Vol. Lt. Arty. was raised by Jacob Miller and others under Special Orders dated September 17 and October 3, 1862. The first rendezvous of the organization was Camp Day, Cambridge, from whence, on November 8, it was transferred to Camp Meigs, Readville. Here its organization was completed, the men being mustered in by detachments during the fall and early winter, while the officers were mustered December 8. Mr. Miller was commissioned captain. Ordered to join the force of General Banks at New Orleans, it sailed January 3, 1863, on the transport E.WILBUR FARLEY, and after a stormy voyage arrived at New Orleans, February 3, where it was first stationed at Apollo Stables. After a month it was ordered to Baton Rouge where it received its guns. Early in April the battery returned to New Orleans and was quartered at the Metaire Race Course where for a short time it was mounted and served as cavalry. On the 17th it was dismounted and sent to Brashear City on the New Orleans and Opelousas Railroad where for five weeks it was engaged in the defense of transports moving up the Atchafalaya River with men and supplies. Returning to New Orleans, May 23, it was stationed at Bernard's Stables and again equipped with field pieces. Early in June, 1863, Lieutenant Chamberlain with a detachment was stationed at Fort Banks near the outskirts of the city of New Orleans, while about the same time two detachments were sent to Port Hudson. On July 6 the battery was ordered to the Canal, the detachments from Port Hudson and Fort Banks returning on July 19 and 22 respectively. From September 20 to October 15 the command was stationed at Tivoli Circle, New Orleans, and on the latter date was sent up the river to Port Hudson. Here it remained most of the time until its muster out. The details of its service during the years 1864 and 1865 are exceedingly meager. During the spring and summer of 1864 detachments were frequently sent out on foraging expeditions and reconnaissances. On May 6, 1864, it accompanied a force of infantry and cavalry under Colonel Fundy and assisted in driving away a force of Confederates, which had approached a point within a mile and a half of the fort. During the summer and fall 25 men of the battery, mounted and equipped as cavalry, kept the country for a distance of a dozen miles from Port Hudson free from bushwhackers and guerillas. On the 24th of August the battery accompanied an expedition under General Herron to Clinton, a town twenty-five miles northeast from Port Hudson. About twelve miles out on the Jackson road it had a skirmish with the enemy but suffered no loss. No reports were sent in by the officers in command of the battery during the year 1865, hence no details of its service during this period can be given. It returned to Massachusetts in July, 1865, and on the 25th of that month the officers and men were mustered out at Galloup's Island, Boston Harbor.

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

Massachusetts 12th Volunteer Light Artillery (Union)

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