15th Massachusetts Battery

15th Massachusetts Battery Flag of Massachusetts.svg 220 February 17, 1863 – August 4, 1865 United States 1864 23px Union Army Field artillery Battery In 1864: Defenses of New Orleans, Department of the Gulf American Civil War Captain Timothy Pearson 1st 1st Lt. James W. Kirk 2nd 1st Lt. Albert Rowse 3rd The 15th Massachusetts Battery (or 15th Battery Massachusetts Light Artillery) was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The unit was organized partly at Camp Chase in Lowell, Massachusetts and partly at Fort Warren during the winter of 1862–1863. The majority of its members were mustered into federal service on February 17, 1863.Bowen 1889 856 It was assigned to the Department of the Gulf commanded by Major General Nathaniel P. Banks and departed Massachusetts by steamship on March 9.Massachusetts Adjutant General 1932 532 During its term, the unit suffered from a large number of desertions and gained an unfortunate reputation despite the service of its many loyal members.Bowen 1889 856 The unit arrived in New Orleans on April 9, 1863. Before being issued guns, they made a brief expedition on foot to Brashear City, Louisiana but soon returned to New Orleans. They were assigned to garrison two small forts just outside New Orleans, each armed with four 32-pounder guns mounted in barbettes. One of these was located at Bayou St. John and the other at Gentilly.Dyer 1908 1247 They remained posted there from June 3 until December 29.Massachusetts Adjutant General 1932 523 In February 1864, the 15th Massachusetts Battery took part in an uneventful expedition to Madisonville, Louisiana, returning to New Orleans at the end of that month. It was posted at Terrell's Cotton Press in New Orleans from May 5 to October 17. On the latter date, the battery boarded a steamship for an expedition into Arkansas. They reached the mouth of the White River where they remained until November 7, then moved again by steamship up the White River to DeValls Bluff, Arkansas. After 20 days, the unit moved to Memphis, Tennessee remaining there for the month of December 1864. On January 1, 1865, the battery returned to Louisiana.Bowen 1889 857 At the end of February 1865, the battery was transferred to the Second Division of the XIII Corps and embarked for Pensacola, Florida. There it joined in preparations for the Mobile Campaign. The battery was engaged during the Battle of Fort Blakeley from April 2 to 9 outside Mobile. After the fall of Mobile, their division was briefly posted in Selma, Alabama but soon returned to Mobile.Massachusetts Adjutant General 1932 523 On June 30, 1865, at Mobile, the battery turned in its horses and guns. On July 20, they were ordered home to Boston which was reached on August 1. The 15th Massachusetts Battery was mustered out on August 4, 1865.Massachusetts Adjutant General 1932 523 The unit lost one man killed in action and 27 by disease for a total of 28.Dyer 1908 1247 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 1863 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1865 Category:Units and formations of the Union army from Massachusetts