ILLINOIS 2ND LIGHT ARTILLERY BATTERY A., DAVIDSON'S (Three Years)

Second Light Artillery.-Col., Thomas S. Mather; Lieut.Col. William L. Duff; Majs., Charles J. Stolbrand, Frederick A. Starring, Adolph Schwartz, Edwin H. Smith, Rolla Madison, Peter Davidson, John W. Powell, William H. Bolton. Battery A was organized at Peoria and was mustered into the, state service May 23, 1861. It moved to Alton in July, thence to St. Charles, Mo., with Gen. Pope, and thence to Mexico, Mo. From that place sections were sent to different parts of north Missouri, being again united at Jefferson barracks, at which place the battery was mustered into the U.S. service, Aug. 17, 1861. It was engaged in the battle of Pea ridge, where it did faithful and brilliant service, and a section of the battery did good service at Neosho and Fayetteville. The battery had 17 men wounded at the battle of Pea ridge and was given honorable mention in the reports, all the officers and men displaying the utmost firmness and efficiency. One section of the battery also participated in the battle of Prairie Grove, firing 320 rounds during the engagement. The battery was prominently identified with the campaign leading up to the siege of Vicksburg, took part in the battles of Port Gibson, Champion's hill, and Black River bridge, losing 1 man killed at Port Gibson, and twice silencing the enemy's guns at Champion's hill. At Black River bridge it did good service and was then engaged throughout the entire siege of Vicksburg. It then marched with Sherman's forces and participated in the siege of Jackson, Miss., after which it returned to its camp in the rear of Vicksburg. In the fall of 1863, it was transferred to the Department of the Gulf and was for a time stationed at New Orleans, where a major portion of the battery reenlisted as veterans in Jan., 1864. Returning to the field, it served in Louisiana until after the close of hostilities, being mustered out of service at Camp Butler July 27, 1865. Battery B was organized in the summer of 1861, and was generally known as 'Chapman's battery.' The records in the adjutant-general's office do not give the exact dates of its muster, nor when it was finally discharged from service. At the battle of Corinth in Oct., 1862, it manned Battery Chapman and played an important part in repelling the assaults of the enemy. With Hurlbut's (16th) corps it took part in the operations against Vicksburg and was then stationed at Fort Pickering, Memphis, Tenn., until the early part of 1864. In June, of that year it accompanied Sturgis' expedition into Mississippi and later was ordered to Paducah, where it remained until the spring of 1865. Battery C was organized in Aug., 1861, though the exact date of its muster can not be obtained from the records on file in the adjutant-general's office. It was for a time under Gen. Strong in the District of Cairo, and was then attached to Quinby's division, operating about Fort Donelson, Tenn. It was next with Granger's division in the middle Tennessee campaign; took part in the operations about Chickamauga, and in Jan. 1864, was ordered to Fort Pickering at Memphis. In April, 1864, it became part of Mower's division of the 16th corps and remained with it the remainder of the year taking part in most of the actions in which the division was engaged. It was generally known as Flood's battery. Battery D was organized at Cairo and was mustered into the U.S. service in Dec., 1861, equipped with 6 James' brass rifled cannon. The first active service for this battery was in Feb., 1862, at the battle of Fort Donelson, where it served in the division under Gen. J. A. McClernand; went through the entire siege, doing effective work and suffering severely from exposure to the weather and the enemy's fire. It then proceeded up the Tennessee river to Pittsburg landing and took an active part in the battle of Shiloh, losing 18 men killed, 28 wounded, 49 horses killed, 4 cannon and 4 caissons with some ammunition captured, all occurring inside of 30 minutes from time of going into battle. During the second day's fight the battery recaptured the guns that had been taken from it the day previous. It participated in the movement on Corinth, after which it was engaged in a skirmish at Davis' mill, Miss., and a fight at Fayette, Tenn., with Gen. Forrest's command. It was on post duty at Grand Junction until Jan., 1864, and for several months following was a part of Sherman's command. It participated in the fight at Decatur, Ala. with Gen. Hood, when the latter attacked the place with a force of 40,000 and remained at Decatur until ordered to Louisville, Ky., where it was mustered out on Nov. 21, 1864. Battery E was organized at St. Louis, Mo., and was mustered into service Aug. 20, 1861, at the St. Louis arsenal. One section of the battery moved, on Sept. 6, to north Missouri, had an engagement with the enemy at Liberty, and then moved to Cairo. The battery participated in the battle of Fort Donelson and was engaged during the battle of Shiloh, taking six different positions. It was in the siege of Corinth, and in June, marched to Purdy, Bethel and Jackson, Tenn. On July 28, 1862, Lieut. Dengel's section marched from Bolivar with Col. Lawler's brigade, and had an engagement at Britton's Lane, in which the section was captured, together with Lieut. Dengel and 10 men. During the engagement the artillery was recaptured. The battery participated in the siege of Vicksburg and after the capitulation of that stronghold was in the siege of Jackson. It was then transferred to the Department of the Gulf and in Jan., 1864, a portion of the battery reenlisted as veterans. In March, through general orders, it was authorized to have inscribed on its colors the battle names of Liberty, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Siege of Corinth, Britton's Lane, Vicksburg and Jackson. In May, while on a reconnaissance, it had a slight skirmish with the enemy near Baton Rouge, La., and on Aug. 3, 1864, it was consolidated with Battery A. Battery F was organized at Cape Girardeau, Mo., and was mustered in Dec. 11, 1861. On April 6, 1862, it went into the battle of Shiloh and fired its last shot in the battle at 6 p.m., having lost 2 guns and 27 horses. It was engaged in the siege of Corinth, and in October, one section was engaged in the battle of the same name. The battery was engaged in the siege of Vicksburg, in a scout from Natchez to Liberty, La.; in the Meridian campaign; and one section was in the fight on the Hatchie. It fought at Kennesaw mountain in the Atlanta campaign, and was heavily engaged on July 22, before Atlanta, losing 1 lieutenant, and 32 men, killed, wounded and missing. It took part in the siege of Atlanta, and was in the battles at Jonesboro and at Nashville, Tenn. It was ordered to Springfield on July 9, 1865, and was mustered out on the 27th. Battery G, commanded successively by Capts. Stolbrand, Sparrestrom and Lowell, was organized in the fall of 1861, though the records do not give the date when it was mustered into the U.S. service. It was engaged in the reduction of Island No. 10 and New Madrid, served later in the year 1862, in Quinby's division, and in November, was assigned to Gen. Hurlbut's command in the District of Columbus, Ky. In the beginning of the Vicksburg campaign 2 men and most of its equipments were lost by the sinking of the steamboat Horizon. The battery was refitted and attached to Logan's division of the 17th corps, with which it took part in the siege of Vicksburg. In Dec., 1863, it was sent to Union City, Tenn., and operated in that vicinity until the following spring, being engaged in repelling Forrest's raid. It accompanied Gen. A. J. Smith's expedition to Tupelo, Miss. in July, 1864, and was with the expedition to Oxford in August. With Garrard's division of Smith's detachment of the 16th corps it participated in the campaign in north Alabama and middle Tennessee, was then stationed for a time at Fort Donelson, and was actively engaged in the battle of Nashville, which was its last important battle. Battery H was organized at Camp Butler and was mustered in Dec. 31, 1861. On Feb. 6, 1862, it moved to Cairo and was stationed at Fort Holt. One section was engaged in the siege of Fort Donelson and one section moved to the siege of Fort Pillow, returning to Columbus, Ky. One section moved to Smithland, Ky., Sept. 4, one to Clarksville, where it engaged the enemy under Woodward, and returned to Fort Heiman. On Jan. 1, 1864, 65 men reenlisted as veterans and were furloughed. In August the battery was in action at Canton and Rockcastle ford, Ky, and subsequently was in garrison at Clarksville until July 15, 1865. It was mustered out at Springfield, July 29, 1865. Battery I was recruited in Will county and was mustered into the U.S. service at Camp Butler Dec. 31, 1861. It remained at Camp Butler until Feb. 7, 1862, when it was ordered to Cairo. It took part in the siege of Island No. 10, under Gen. Pope; was active in the advance upon Corinth, and was in several engagements prior to the evacuation of the place, among which was Blackland and Farmington. It went into action at daybreak at Perryville, Ky., and was under fire until dark, having 4 men wounded in that fight. On Sept. 13, 1863, it went into camp at Rossville, Ga., and a week later took an active part in the battle of Chickamauga. It also took part in the battles of Lookout mountain, Missionary ridge and Chattanooga. On Jan. 1, 1864, all of the old members were mustered out and remustered as veterans. They arrived at Springfield, Ill., Jan. 16, where they were given 30 days' furlough and ordered to report for duty at Joliet, Ill. Returning to the field, it started in May, on the Atlanta campaign, in which it took a prominent part, the last battle being at Jonesboro. It marched from Atlanta to Savannah, and from the latter place proceeded with Sherman's army through South and North Carolina, being in every engagement of 14th army corps. Upon the surrender of Gen. Johnston's army, the battery proceeded to Washington, took part in the grand review, and from there was ordered to Springfield, Ill., to be mustered out. Battery K was organized at Camp Butler and was mustered in Dec. 31, 1861. On Feb. 7, 1862, it moved to Cairo and in March, to Columbus, Ky. In October it went to Clarkton, Mo., which was occupied by 300 Confederates, and attacked and destroyed the place. It took part in the siege of Vicksburg, and in Aug., 1863, moved to Natchez, Miss., where it remained engaged in various expeditions and raids until Dec. 11, 1864, when it moved to Memphis and went on garrison duty. On July 9, 1865, it was ordered to Chicago, where it arrived on the 11th, and was mustered out on the 14th. Battery L was organized at Camp Douglas and was mustered in Feb. 28, 1862. 0n March 11, it moved to Benton barracks, Mo., and on April 8, to Pittsburg landing, Tenn. It was engaged in various movements in Tennessee and Mississippi until the battle of the Hatchie, at which place the battery captured a 4-gun battery and a stand of colors from the enemy. When Holly Springs was destroyed by the enemy it returned to Memphis, and then accompanied Grant's army to Lake Providence and Milliken's bend. It crossed the Mississippi and was engaged in the campaign against Vicksburg; took part in the siege and was 47 days in the trenches. After the fall of Vicksburg it again commenced the campaign in Louisiana, under Brig.-Gen. Leggett, and marched after Gen. McCullough to Monroe, from where it returned to Vicksburg. In June, 1864, it fought under McArthur at Benton and Gleasonville, and in July, under Maj.-Gen. Slocum at Clinton and Jackson, Miss., which ended its active operations in the field. From that time until its muster out it was assigned to the defenses of Vicksburg. At the date of leaving the service it mustered 130 men, of over 450 who had been on its rolls from its organization. The battery was mustered out at Chicago Aug. 9, 1865. Battery M was organized at Chicago, and was mustered in at Springfield in June, 1862. It moved from Camp Douglas May 11, 1863, for Covington, Ky. One section of the battery moved with an expedition to Gladesville, Va., capturing Col. Cordell, 20 officers and 100 enlisted men of the enemy. In September, it advanced on the enemy at Jonesboro, Tenn., where one section of the battery was engaged. On Sept. 23, it engaged the enemy's batteries at Carter's station. The second section had a sharp engagement with the enemy, at Blue Springs on Oct. 5, and on the 1Oth the whole battery was in action all day at the same place. On Oct. 13, it came up with the enemy at Blountsville and engaged him. On the morning of Nov. 6, it was attacked by the Confederate Gen. Jones, with 4,000 men, and after a sharp engagement, in which the battery lost 4 men killed and 35 captured, the guns were spiked and abandoned. Eighty-six men and 50 horses and equipments were saved. After the siege of Knoxville the battery was ordered to recross the Cumberland mountains and report at Camp Nelson. It was afterwards engaged in various duties in Kentucky and Tennessee until April 25 1865, when it was mustered out.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 3

Illinois 2nd Volunteer Light Artillery, Battery A (Union)

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