Stationed at Fort Taylor, Key West, Fla., January, 1861, to June, 1862. Attached to
District Key West, Fla., Dept. South, January to June, 1862. District Beaufort, S. C.,
Dept. South, to September, 1862. District of Beaufort, S. C., 10th Army Corps, Dept.
South, to March, 1863. District Hilton Head, S. C., 10th Corps, to July, 1863. Morris
Island, S. C., 10th Corps, to September, 1863. Folly Island, S. C., Gordon's Division,
10th Corps, to January, 1864. District Hilton Head, S. C., 10th Corps, to February,
1864. Light Brigade, District Forida, Dept. South, to April, 1864. 2nd Division, 10th
Army Corps, Army of the James, to May, 1864. Artillery Brigade, 10th Army Corps, to June,
1864. Kautz's Cavalry Division, Dept. Virginia and North Carolina, to July, 1864.
Artillery Brigade, 18th Corps, to December, 1864. Artillery Brigade, 24th Army Corps, to
August, 1865.
SERVICE.-Duty at Fort Taylor, Key West, Fla., till June, 1862. Moved to Hilton Head,
S. C., thence to Beaufort, S. C., June 18-21, and duty there till March 20, 1863.
Expedition to destroy Charleston & Savannah Railroad October 21-24. Battle of Pocotaligo,
S. C., October 22. Moved to Hilton Head, S. C., March 20. Expedition against Charleston,
S. C., April 5-13. Siege operations from Folly Island, S. C., against Morris Island,
S. C., May to July. Attack on Morris Island July 10. Siege operations against Forts
Wagner and Gregg, Morris Island, and against Fort Sumpter and Charleston, S. C.,
July 11-September 7. Capture of Forts Wagner and Gregg September 7. Moved to Folly
Island, and duty there till November 26. Moved to Kiowah Island November 26, thence to
Hilton Head, S. C., January 24, 1864. Expedition to Florida February 5-7. Capture of
Jacksonville February 7. Expedition from Jacksonville to Lake City, Fla., April 7-22.
Ten Mile Run, near Camp Finnegan, February 8. Barber's Place February 10. Lake City
February 11. Battle of Olustee February 20. McGirt's Creek, Cedar Creek, March 1.
Cedar Run April 2. Moved to Gloucester Point, Va., April 25-May 4. Butler's operations
on south side of the James River and against Petersburg and Richmond May 5-28. Operations
against Fort Darling May 12-16. Battle of Drury's Bluff May 14-16. Bermuda Hundred
May 20-21. Duty in trenches at Bermuda Hundred till May 28. Moved to White House,
thence to Cold Harbor May 28-June 1. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg June 15-19.
Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
Wilson's Raid on Southside & Danville Railroad June 22-30. Staunton River Bridge or
Roanoke Station June 25. Sappony Church or Stony Creek June 28-29. Ream's Station
June 29. Duty at Point of Rocks, near Petersburg, till September. Demonstration on
north side of the James September 28-30. Battle of Chaffin's Farm September 28-30.
Johnson's Farm, Darbytown Road, October 7. Battle of Fair Oaks October 27-28. In
trenches north of the James till March, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 27-April 9.
Hatcher's Run March 29-April 2. Fall of Petersburg April 2. Pursuit of Lee April 3-9.
Rice's Station April 6. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army.
Duty at Richmond, Va., till October, 1865. Dismounted and ordered to Fort Hamilton,
New York Harbor.
Frederick A. Dyer "A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion" vol. 3
******************************************************************
Lieut. Michael Leahy, Battery B, First U. S. Artillery.
CAMP OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE,
Three-Mile Run, Fla., March 21, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to report the part taken by a piece of my section
in the skirmish of the 1st instant, under the command of Maj. Stevens,
Fourth Massachusetts Cavalry.
Our advance came upon the enemy close to McGirt's Creek, driving
their pickets onto their main force, which had taken a strong position on
the skirt of a swamp. I brought my piece into battery and opened with
shell and case-shot, the enemy slowly driving our force. I then fired two
rounds of canister at the head of their
column at less then 500 yards' distance, retreated slowly, firing in
retreat, falling back to Three-Mile Creek, where I rejoined the battery.
Total number of rounds fired, 30.
I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
M. LEAHY,
Second Lieut., First Artillery.
Capt. S. S. ELDER.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 367-65 S. C., FLA., AND ON THE GA. COAST. [CHAP. LIII.
[Series I. Vol. 35. Part I, Reports and Correspondence. Serial No. 65.]
**************************************************************************************
Report of Lieut. Michael Leahy, Battery B, First
U. S. Artillery of operations June 20-26.
CAMP OF HORSE BATTERY B, FIRST U. S. ARTILLERY,
July 1, 1864.
GEN.: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part
taken by Horse Battery B, First U. S. Artillery, attached to Cavalry
Division, during raid through part of this State under you command:
The battery left camp at 1.30 a.m. on the 20th of June and halted on
Spring Hill until the cavalry came up a short time after daybreak. All
then advanced until about 11 a.m. when the command was halted for the
day. The battery was not engaged in any way until the afternoon of the
25th, when an attempt was made to burn the railroad bridge over the
Staunton River, on the Petersburg and Danville Railroad. The battery
shelled the bridge and the enemy's works for several hours. The attempt
failed and the command commenced falling back to our line before
Petersburg. Our progress was uninterrupted until reaching the vicinity
of Stony Creek, when our advance became engaged with the enemy.
We succeeded in passing to the left while the enemy were occupied by
Gen. Wilson's command and marched all night. We met the enemy
about 9 a.m. near Reams' Station, on the Petersburg and Weldon
Railroad. My right section was placed in
position in a large field at a distance of about 700 yards from the
enemy, who was in the act of charging our line at the time; we opened
on him with canister and he was driven back. The left section had in
the mean time been placed in position about 800 yards to the right and
rear of the right section. These positions were held for about two
hours, when the right section joined the left. At this time Battery K,
First U. S. Artillery, was in position on our left, both batteries being
formed in echelon, forming nearly a half circle, enabling the fire to be
changed to any direction with but little maneuvering. The batteries
opened on a bend of woods at about 1,100 yards' distance, bursting the
shells on the margin of the woods. This position remained unchanged
for about three hours, when heavy firing was heard on the left and at
the same time in the rear. It was quite apparent that we were completely
surrounded. At this time orders arrived to limber up and get the battery
out on a road somewhere. Acting under these orders, I limbered up and
followed the column, which, to my surprise, was retreating, with the
cavalry in front, the artillery bringing up the rear without any support.
We finally got a support, who remained with us until we came to a
creek, which could not be easily passed with artillery. Every exertion
was made to get our pieces over in quick time, but our support, without
firing a shot, or in the least attempting to check the enemy's advance
(so as to give us a chance), broke and ran, crushing in before the
pieces and choking up the only way to get the battery out. Seeing that
every chance was gone I reluctantly ordered the pieces to be spiked and
the horses unhitched. My orders were most effectually carried out; the
guns were rendered useless to the enemy, solid shot being rammed into
the bore by handspikes; also spiked in the usual manner.
My men behaved with great coolness, remaining with the pieces until
the enemy were within fifty or seventy-five yards of them.
My loss in material consists of 4 3-inch rifled guns, 4 caissons for
same implements and equipments, about 150 rounds of ammunition, 71
horses, 16 sets lead harness for two horses, 8 sets wheel harness for two
horses, 2 sets ambulance harness, 14 sets wheel ambulance. Most of my
horses were lost through being completely worn out by the severe
work they had during the raid. Thirty-two of my men are missing. I
have present for duty enlisted men, 39; commissioned officers, 1.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
M. LEAHY,
Second Lieut., First U. S. Artillery, Cmdg. Battery.,
Brig.-Gen. KAUTZ.
Cmdg. Cavalry Division, in the Field.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 727-80 OPERATIONS IN SE. VA., AND N. C. [CHAP. LII.
[Series I. Vol. 40. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 80.]
*************************************************************************************
Report of Lieut. Robert M. Hall, Battery B, First
U. S. Artillery, of operations October 7.
HDQRS. HORSE BATTERY B, FIRST U. S. ARTILLERY,
October 9, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken
by Horse Battery B, First U. S. Artillery, under my command, in the
battle of the 7th instant at Johnson's farm, Va.:
About sunrise, and as soon as skirmishing commenced, the battery was
held in perfect readiness for action, the drivers "standing to horse," and
the officers, non-commissioned officers, cannoneers, and horse-holders
at their posts. In accordance with instructions from Gen. Kautz, given
three days before, I had thrown up two good earth-works close to each
other (one for each section), in a very commanding position, between
the right and center of the line, which were nearly completed, and which
proved of great service in protecting men and horses. My part in the
battle began by firing percussion-shell slowly into the woods, about
1,200 yards in my front, where the rebels were massing, and a few
minutes afterward they opened a battery nearly opposite to the right
section. About half an hour later the enemy's skirmish line emerged
from the woods, slowly driving our dismounted cavalry, and opened
another battery on my left. I increased the rapidity of fire, taking the
ammunition from the caissons in order to reserve a full supply with the
piece limbers, for fighting in retreat, using percussion and time fuse
shell and changing to case-shot as the enemy drew nearer. The
engagement had been very brisk for about half an hour from this time
when the left gave way, Col. West's brigade and three pieces of the
Fourth Wisconsin Battery (one piece having left the field some time
before moving hurriedly to the rear and exposing our left flank. The
enemy now made a fierce attack on the right with a large force,
compelling Col. Spear's brigade to retreat in haste in front of and
past my position, unfortunately yielding to the enemy an important road
and exposing our right flank. At the same time the rebel line of battle
displayed itself about 700 yards distant, with flags flying, and moved in
three columns down a gentle slope for the purpose of crossing a small
ravine in my immediate front, through which flowed a narrow stream.
My whole energies were at once devoted to this force. I succeeded in
breaking and scattering it with case-shot, and when the disordered mass
approached within 400 yards gave them showers of canister. In the
ravine they received a sweeping fire from the right section, which
commanded it, and met a withering fire from the left section as they
reached the house formerly occupied as division headquarters.
The enemy were in so much confusion at this time on my left and front
that a small infantry force on the flanks would easily have driven them
back, and cavalry could not have had a better opportunity to charge and
make prisoners. My battery was thus hotly engaged with the enemy
alone for full ten minutes after the other troops had retired. The enemy
had possession of the roads on both flanks, and were about thirty yards
from my front, when I "limbered to the rear" and gained the road
successfully, trotting when I entered the woods. I had scarcely
proceeded 300 yards, however, when I found the only road obstructed
by the pieces and caissons of the Fourth Wisconsin Battery, which had
left the field about fifteen minutes before. Had this road been kept clear
there is no doubt that my battery would have got off safely. Unhappily,
however, it was impossible to extricate it, and the pieces had to be
spiked and abandoned as the rebels were close and in hot pursuit. All
the material and horses which could have been brought away were
secured. While I deeply regret the loss of the battery, it is due to all
under my command, to my commanding general, and to myself to say
that it was utterly impracticable to have prevented this occurrence, or to
have made greater exertions than were made to save it, and that it was
certainly not lost through any fault, negligence, want of forethought,
coolness, courage, or military skill on the part of myself or any one
under my command. While endeavoring to save material and horses,
Lieut. Leahy, two enlisted men, and myself were cut off from our
column. The rebels were within twenty yards, but by dashing into the
woods and crossing an almost impassable swamp, Lieut. Leahy and
I barely escaped capture, the enlisted men being less fortunate, as they
are now missing.
During the engagement I fired 300 rounds of shell, 54 of case-shot, and
31 canister.
The casualties (11) were 6 enlisted men missing, 4 of whom are killed
or wounded, and Lieut. Leahy and 4 enlisted men wounded and
taken to hospital from the field; and 41 horses mostly killed or badly
wounded and abandoned, and 9 wounded brought away. But for the
timely erection of the works, the casualties must have been very heavy.
I cannot speak too highly of the gallant and skillful manner in which
Lieut. M. Leahy handled his section, continuing his exertions after
being wounded; the energy of Sergt. F. Gerth, in command of the left
section; the unflinching manner in which all the non-commissioned
officers and enlisted men remained at their posts, not one retiring until
ordered, the rapidity and precision of fire while the enemy moved from
about 700 yards until within thirty yards from the battery; the alacrity
with which
they caught the spirit and importance of the occasion, and the zeal and
enthusiasm with which they delivered the death-dealing canister with
shouts of defiance; and I trust the general commanding the division will
kindly remember that they detained a large portion of the enemy by a
galling fire for full ten minutes after the other troops had left the field
(save Col. Spear and a few dismounted cavalry), and perhaps
contributed in some degree to weaken the subsequent attack on the Tenth
Army Corps.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. M. HALL,
First Lieut., First U. S. Artillery, Cmdg. Battery.
Maj. THEODORE H. SCHENCK,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Cavalry Div., Army of the James.
Source: Official Records
CHAP. LIV.] THE RICHMOND CAMPAIGN. PAGE 845-87
[Series I. Vol. 42. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 87.]
********************************************************************************
Report of Capt. Samuel S. Elder, Battery B, First U. S. Artillery.
HDQRS. HORSE BATTERY B, FIRST U. S. ARTILLERY,
Near Richmond, Va., April 26, 1865.
MAJ.: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part
taken by Horse Battery B, First U. S. Artillery, in the operations of the
Twenty-fourth Army Corps after leaving the north side of the James River, Va.:
On the 27th of March the battery left camp near Deep Bottom, on the
north side of the James River, Va., and marched to the extreme left of
the line, in rear of Petersburg, Va. April 2, engaged the enemy, and
same evening advanced to near Petersburg by the Boydton
plank road, the enemy retreating before the army. April 3, 4 and 5,
following the enemy up on the line of the South Side Railroad. April 6,
engaged him at Rice's Station, Va. April 7 and 8, in pursuit of the
enemy. April 9, engaged the enemy at Appomattox Court-House, Va.,
the engagement ending in the surrender of Lee's Army of Northern
Virginia. April 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16, remained at Appomattox
Court-House. April 17, commenced the march for Richmond, stopping
at Burkeville Junction about forty hours.
Casualties: 1 man killed and 1 wounded.
Loss in material: Horses killed and worn out, 34; mules worn out and
abandoned, 2.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
SAML. S. ELDER,
Capt., First U. S. Artillery, Cmdg. Battery B.
Maj. C. C. ABELL,
Chief of Artillery, Twenty-fourth Army Corps.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 1225-95 N. AND SE. VA., N. C., W. VA., MD., AND PA. [CHAP. LVIII.
[Series I. Vol. 46. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 95.]
|