Continuing our exploration of Virginia militia raised in the early months of the American Civil War, today we’re examining Artillery companies (batteries) enrolled in April 1861. According to the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Paymaster General’s Office tally of all Virginia volunteer companies prior to July 1, 1861, fifteen artillery companies were enrolled in April.
Precisely determining which batteries enrolled in April is trickier than anticipated due to the way these companies were raised. Some artillery companies were independent, while others joined infantry regiments. Cannon were in short supply, so some became infantry, while other infantry companies later converted to artillery. Batteries had multiple names and nicknames throughout the war. Some were disbanded after a few months of service. Nailing down their precise origin is a labyrinthine task.
The following is the data as it appears in Statement Showing the Number, by Companies, of the Virginia Volunteers who Entered Service Prior to July 1, 1861:
| Date of Enrollment | No. of Artillery Companies | No. of Men (excluding officers) |
|---|---|---|
| 17 April 1861 | 3 | 234 |
| 18 April 1861 | — | — |
| 19 April 1861 | 2 | 107 |
| 20 April 1861 | 2 | 150 |
| 21 April 1861 | 2 | 192 |
| 22 April 1861 | — | — |
| 23 April 1861 | 1 | 67 |
| 24 April 1861 | — | — |
| 25 April 1861 | 4 | 355 |
| 26 April 1861 | — | — |
| 27 April 1861 | 1 | 68 |
| 28-30 April 1861 | — | — |
| 15 | 1,773 |
Contrary to our list of cavalry units enrolled in April, in which the number of companies matches but the dates do not, our list of artillery companies enrolled in April doesn’t match at all with what the Paymaster General’s Office enumerated. The following is a list of 19 Virginia artillery companies “formed” or “enrolled” in April 1861 according to secondary sources:
| Unit | Date of Enrollment | County | # Mustered | Commander |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria Artillery | April 17, 1861 | Alexandria | 117 | Capt. Delaware Kemper |
| Staunton Artillery | April 17, 1861 | Augusta | 100 | Capt. John Daniel Imboden |
| Moorman’s Battery (Beauregard Rifles) | April 19, 1861 | Campbell | 100 | Capt. Marcellus N. Moorman |
| Newtown Artillery | April 19, 1861 | Frederick | Capt. George A. Groves | |
| Wise Artillery | April 19, 1861 | Berkeley | Capt. Ephraim Gaither Alburtis | |
| Petersburg Artillery | April 19, 1861 | Petersburg | Capt. James N. Nichols | |
| United Artillery, Norfolk | April 19, 1861 | Norfolk | Capt. Thomas Kevill | |
| Portsmouth Light Artillery | April 20, 1861 | Norfolk | 40 | Capt. Carey F. Grimes |
| Loudoun Artillery | April 21, 1861 | Loudoun | Capt. Arthur Lee Rogers | |
| Richmond Howitzers, 1st | April 21, 1861 | Richmond | Capt. John Camden Shields | |
| 1st Rockbridge Artillery | April 21, 1861 | Rockbridge | 70 | Capt. John A. McCausland |
| Danville Artillery | April 22, 1861 | Danville; Pittsylvania | 97 | Capt. Lindsay M. Shumaker |
| Eighth Star Artillery (New Market) | April 22, 1861 | Page; Shenandoah | 64 | Capt. William H. Rice |
| Lynchburg Artillery | April 23, 1861 | Lynchburg | Capt. Henry Gray Latham | |
| Fredericksburg Artillery, 1st | April 23, 1861 | Fredericksburg | 40 | Capt. Carter M. Braxton |
| Richmond Fayette Artillery | April 25, 1861 | Richmond | Capt. Henry Coalter Cabell | |
| Triplett’s Co. VA Heavy Artillery | April 25, 1861 | Alexandria | Capt. Thornton Triplett | |
| Peyton / Norton’s Artillery | April 26, 1861 | Campbell | Capt. Thomas Jefferson Peyton | |
| Smithfield Light Artillery Blues (Old Dominion Artillery) | April 29, 1861 | Isle of Wight | Capt. James F. Chalmers |
The discrepancy may be because some of these units directly enrolled in the Confederate Army (like those attached to the Wise Legion), and the Paymaster General’s list only enumerates units enrolled with the Commonwealth of Virginia. It’s difficult if not impossible to determine based on the sources we consulted.
Some of these artillery companies predated the war, created after John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859. The Portsmouth Light Artillery, also known as Grimes’ Battery, formed in Norfolk in 1808. It fought in the War of 1812 and then served in a ceremonial capacity prior to the Civil War. They were among the first to answer Governor Letcher’s call for troops and helped capture the Gosport Navy Yard.
Sometime in 2024, we hope to use this information to publish a deployment map for all Virginia units in April, May, and June 1861.
Sources
- Alexandria Gazette (Alexandria) 30 April 1861.
- Chernault, Tracy. 18th and 20th Battalions of Heavy Artillery. Lynchburg: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1995.
- Crew, R. Thomas, Jr. Grimes’ Battery, Grandy’s Battery, and Huger’s Battery Virginia Artillery. Lynchburg: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1995.
- Driver, Robert J., Jr. The 1st and 2nd Rockbridge Artillery. Lynchburg: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1987.
- Krick, Robert K. The Fredericksburg Artillery. Lynchburg: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1986.
- Moore, Robert H. The Danville, Eighth Star New Market and Dixie Artillery. Lynchburg: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1989.
- Moore, Robert H. The Richmond Fayette, Hampden, Thomas, and Blount’s Lynchburg Artillery. Lynchburg: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1991.
- Sifakis, Stewart. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia. New York: Facts on File, 1992.
- Wallace, Lee A., Jr. A guide to Virginia Military Organizations, 1861-1865. Lynchburg: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1986.
- Wallace, Lee A., Jr. The Richmond Howitzers. Lynchburg: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1993.
- Weaver, Jeffrey C. 10th and 19th Battalions of Heavy Artillery. Lynchburg: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1996.
- Weaver, Jeffrey C. Brunswick Rebel, Johnston, Southside, United, James City, Lunenburg Rebel, Pamunkey Heavy Artillery and Young’s Harborguard. Lynchburg: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1996.
Spirit of '61 