11th Massachusetts Battery

11th Massachusetts Battery Flag of Massachusetts.svg 220 August 25, 1862 – May 29, 1863January 2, 1864 – June 16, 1865 United States 1864 23px Union Army Field artillery Battery Second term: Artillery Brigade, IX Corps American Civil War Captain Edward J. Jones The 11th Massachusetts Battery (or 11th Battery Massachusetts Light Artillery) was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was formed in response to President Abraham Lincoln's August 1862 call for 300,000 men to serve for nine months. Several months after completing their first term of service, the battery was reorganized for a second term of three years (though the war ended before they could complete this term). It was recruited by Captain Edward J. Jones of Boston and consisted almost entirely of men from that city. The battery served a largely uneventful first term as garrison troops mostly in Centreville, Virginia. During their second term they were involved in heavy combat being part of the Army of the Potomac during Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign. First term of service The 11th Massachusetts Battery trained for their nine-month term of service at Camp Meigs in Readville, Massachusetts in August 1862. The unit was mustered into federal service on August 25.Bowen 1889 844 It was the only Massachusetts unit of artillery mustered in under the nine-months call, the other 18 Massachusetts nine-months units being infantry regiments.Higginson 1896 190 The men were recruited in Boston and mostly came from that city and the immediate vicinity.Massachusetts Adjutant General 1932 479 The unit left Boston by train on October 3, 1862 and reported to Washington, D.C., on October 6. For their first two months of service, they served garrison duty as part of the defenses of Washington at Camp Barry and later at Hall's Hill in Arlington, Virginia.Massachusetts Adjutant General 1932 479 On November 28 they were transferred to the brigade commanded by Francis Randall garrisoned in Centreville, Virginia. During the winter and early spring of 1864, the unit was frequently used as cavalry, conducting picket and reconnaissance duty between Centreville and Union Mills, Virginia.Massachusetts Adjutant General 1932 479 In April the battery was transferred to the brigade commanded by Daniel Sickles and conducted garrison duty at Fort Ramsay in Arlington County, Virginia and Fort Buffalo, Virginia, both part of the defenses of Washington.Bowen 1889 845 At the close of their term of service, the unit departed Washington on May 23, 1863 and arrived in Boston on May 28. They were mustered out on May 29. The unit did not have any men killed in action or by disease during its first term.Bowen 1889 845 Second term of service The battery was reorganized during December 1863 to serve a new term of three years. Reenlisted members of the 11th Massachusetts Battery formed the core of the new iteration. They were joined by new recruits to fill out the ranks. Capt. Edward Jones again served as commanding officer.Massachusetts Adjutant General 1932 486 The members of the battery were mustered in on January 2, 1864, trained at Camp Meigs, and departed Massachusetts on February 5. Reaching Washington, the battery was attached to the Second Division (commanded by Major General Robert B. Potter) of the IX Corps, assigned to the Army of the Potomac.Bowen 1889 845 The battery took part in the major battles of the Overland Campaign, though they were not heavily engaged until moved to the front lines on June 19 during the start of the Siege of Petersburg.Massachusetts Adjutant General 1932 486 On August 21 and 22, the battery took part in the Battle of Weldon Railroad while temporarily attached to the II Corps. The battery was in action at various points on the siege line at Petersburg during the fall and winter. On March 25, 1865, the battery played an important role during the Battle of Fort Stedman.Massachusetts Adjutant General 1932 486 As Confederate troops overtook Fort Stedman and temporarily broke through Union siege lines, the 11th Massachusetts Battery, posted in nearby Fort Friend, rendered key service in pushing back the assault.Bowen 1889 846 When the Confederates abandoned Petersburg and retreated towards Appomattox Court House, the 11th Massachusetts Battery joined other elements of the Army of the Potomac in pursuit. They were present for the surrender at Appomattox and were detailed with other artillery units to take charge of surrendered Confederate cannons.Bowen 1889 846 Mustering out The 11th Massachusetts Battery took part in the Grand Review of the Armies in Washington after the close of the war. In June they were ordered home to Boston and were mustered out at Camp Meigs on June 16, 1865. The battery lost three men killed in action and twelve by disease.Dyer 1908 1253 See also American Civil War Massachusetts in the Civil War List of Massachusetts Civil War units Notes References Bowen James L Massachusetts in the War 1861–1865 Clark W Bryer & Co Springfield, MA 1889 1986476 https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_K0tLhkfW1wwC A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion Dyer Frederick H. 1908 Des Moines Dyer Publishing Co. 247098372 https://archive.org/details/08697590.3359.emory.edu Headley Phineas Camp Massachusetts in the Rebellion : a Record of the Historical Position of the Commonwealth, and the Services of the Leading Statesmen, the Military, the Colleges, and the People, in the Civil War of 1861-65 Walker, Fuller & Co Boston, MA 1866 8406829 https://archive.org/details/massachusettsin01headgoog Higginson Thomas Wentworth (State Historian Massachusetts in the Army and Navy During the War of 1861-65, 8 Volumes Wright and Potter Printing Co, State Printers Boston, MA 1896 1049652105 1 https://archive.org/details/massachusettsina01higg Massachusetts Adjutant General's Office Adjutant General of Massachusetts Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines in the Civil War Norwood Press Norwood, MA 1932 5 34938610 https://archive.org/details/massachusettssol51931mass/ Massachusetts Adjutant General 1932 CTCBS Category:Artillery units and formations of the American Civil War Category:Military units and formations established in 1862 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1865 Category:Units and formations of the Union army from Massachusetts