Tenth Battery Guidon3rd corps badge
Tenth Battery,

Massachusetts Light Artillery
1862-1865

Chronological Highlights

 1862

Battery is organized at Lynnfield and mustered in September 9, 1862 at Camp Stanton at Boxford, MA by Lt. Elder. Left Boston on October 14th; quartered at Camp Barry at the Bladensburg Toll Gate. Attached to Grover's Brigade, Military District of Washington. December 17th received six 3 inch Ordnance Rifles, then to winter quarters at Camp Davis, near Poolesville.

 1863

Winter passed with little action; Attached to Grover's Brigade, Military District of Washington, in February, battery moved in April to Camp Heintzelman, in May center section sent to Edward's Ferry. June 26th, joined General French's command (8th Corps) opposite Harper's Ferry. Left at Frederick, MD during the Gettysburg campaign as reserves, guarding railroad at Frederick Junction with Morris' Brigade. Assigned to the Artillery Brigade, Third Corps when Gen. French took Gen. Sickles command in July. Went to Williamsport chasing Lee, but not engaged. July 20th, four men captured by a band of Mosby's guerillas while on a mission to get mules for the Battery. On July 23rd, put into position at Manassas Gap in expectation of a battle which never materialized. After withdrawing to Warrenton, camp finally established at Sulphur Springs near the Rappahannock and battery stayed ther till September. Moved to Culpeper, but no activity until October when Lee started moving northward again. October 13, had first action against a part of Stuart's Cavalry; 2 men wounded. Union army marched to Centerville, Lee began to retire, Union had to repair railroads, so Battery reached Catlett's Station on October 21st. November, took part in the battle of Kelly's Ford (Rappahannock Station) engaging and driving back a Confederate battery and supporting the fighting that followed. Took part in the artillery assault at Mine Run, but the attack was never made, then to Brandy Station, VA for winter camp.

 1864

Now with the Third Corps being abolished in March, made part of Hancock's Second Corps (Second Division Artillery Brigade). In March all batteries reduced to four guns before the spring campaign. May 6, engaged in the Wilderness at Poplar Neck Ridge, returning fire so vigorously as to dismount one gun and driving the rest out of position. Moved to Spotsylvania on the10th, and was engaged in covering the retreat; under severe fire, 1 killed, 3 wounded. Afterward, all batteries turn in two guns. On the 20th engaged in artillery duel at the North Anna River, blowing up a limber and driving off the Confederates. Crossed the river on the 23rd under fire. On the 30th one man killed at Jones Farm by a sharpshooter. June 2nd, arrived at Cold Harbor, relieved a New Jersey Battery under fire and was engaged. After dark, advanced to the front lines, on the next morning fired the shot which signaled the ill-fated attack, which was soon over. However, the 10th fired most of the day, using up all their ammunition and that of another battery. During the night fired to repulse the Confederate counter-attack. The next morning moved to the far left of the line, closest Federal artillery position to the enemy. June 17th, moved across the James River and fired some of the first rounds into Petersburg. July 27th, engaged at Deep Bottom. August 25th, along the Weldon Railroad, at Ream's Station, the Battery was overrun with 5 men killed, 19 men taken prisoner, four others including Capt. Sleeper wounded and losing their 4 guns and 3 caissons. September 20th, received four new 3 inch Parrott Rifles. Then moved to Battery XIV, east of Fort Morton, taking active part in bombardment. In October they recieved two more Parrott Rifles to again be a six gun battery. Moved to the left of the Union line, at Boydton Plank Rd on Oct. 27th, engaged with Confederates, Lt Grainger (acting Commander) and Lt. Smith both wounded in the action so Lt. Smith of K, 4th US Arty given temporary command, assisted by Lt Dean of the Sixth Maine. Battery left field around midnight, having lost its two officers (both Grainger and Smith died of their wounds), another man killed, two wounded, one gun disabled and 7 horses killed. Spent rest of year at Fort Stevenson (one section to Fort Blaisdell) in reserve. Sleeper returned and briefly took command of battery. At the end of November, Milbrey Green commisioned Lt., Lt J. Webb Adams returned from detached service to command battery in Sleeper's absence.

 1865

Feb 27, Sleeper resigns, Adams promoted to Captain. Again part of the Union movement to the left. Feb. 5th, engaged at Hatcher's Run; 3 charges of Mahone's Division were repulsed in an hour, the Battery firing nearly 300 rounds and receiving commendations for their action. At the end of March, part of the Union movement to the left, engaged at Boydton Plank Rd on April 2nd, when the break in the lines occurred, spent the night near Petersburg. Then in pursuit of the fleeing Confederates with the Second Corps, occasionally firing at the Confederates: on the night of the 7th, just past Farmville, sent two rounds abandoned by the Confederates back to them, the last Second Corps artillery rounds fired in the war. Returned to Washington area, part of Grand Review, then turned in guns and horses (only one horse had originally come from Massachusetts with the Battery), retuning to Boston to muster out.

 

Battery Casualties

 Losses

 officers

 men

 total

 Killed and died of wounds

 2

8

10

 Died by accident and disease

 -

11

11

 Died in Confederate prision

 -

3

3

Total losses

2

22

24

The official records state that 3 men died in Confederate Prisons [Charles W. Green and Franklin L. Macomber at Salisbury, NC and Timothy G. Redfield at Andersonville, Richmond, VA]. Also counted is James Kay, who was originally listed as Missing in Action, but believed died and body not recovered from field of battle at Ream's Station.

 

Casualties by Engagements

 1864
May 10, Po River, Virginia

-

1

1

May 30, Totopotomoy (Jone's Farm), Va

-

1

1

August 25, Ream's Station, Virginia

-

5

5

October 27, Hatcher's Run, Va

2

1

3

 

Battles (and notable events)

1863

Woodsgrove (four men captured, later exchanged and returned to Battery) - July 20
Auburn (first action) - October 13
Kelly's Ford - November 7
the Mud March - November
Mine Run - November 30

1864

the Wilderness - May 6
Po River (Spotsylvania) (one man killed) - May 10
North Anna River - May 20
Jone's Farm (Totopotomoy Creek) (one man killed) - May 30
Cold Harbor - June 2 (fired first rounds of the battle)
Petersburg - June 17 (fired some of the first rounds into the city)
Deep Bottom - July 27
Ream's Station (five men killed, 19 taken prisioner, lost guns)- August 25
Petersburg - September 24 -> October 24
Hatcher's Run (Boydton Plank Rd) (Grainer and Smith die of wounds; another killed)- October 27

1865

Hatcher's Run (Armstrong's Farm) - February 5-7
Hatcher's Run (Boydton Plank Rd) - April 2
Farmville (fired last rounds of Second Corps) - April 7
Battery is mustered out - June 9


SERVICE-- Duty at Camp Barry, Defenses of Washington, October 17 to December 26, 1862. Moved to Poolesville, Md., December 26-28, and duty there until June 24, 1863. Removed to Maryland Heights June 24, thence to Frederick City and Frederick Junction June 30-July 1. March to Williamsport July 8-11. Near Antietam Bridge July 12-14. Operations in Loudoun Valley July 17-31. Wapping Heights July 23. Near Warrenton July 26-31. At Sulphur Springs July 31-September 15. Near Culpeper September 17-October 10. Bristoe Campaign October 10-22. Auburn October 13. Near Fairfax Station October 15-19. At Catlett's Station October 21-30. At Warrenton Junction until November 6. Kelly's Ford November 7, At Brandy Station November 9-25. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Payne's Farm November 27. At Brandy Station December 3, 1863, to April 8, 1864, and at Stevensburg until May 3. Rapidan Campaign May-June. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7. Spottsylvania May 8-12. Spottsylvania C. H. May 12-21. Assault on the Salient, Spottsylvania C. H., May 12. Harris Farm, Fredericksburg Road, May 19. North Anna River May 23-26. Line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg June 16-18. Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23, 1864. Demonstration north of James River July 27-29. Deep Bottom July 27-28. Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14-18. Ream's Station August 25. In trenches before Petersburg in Battery 14 September 24 to October 24. Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher's Run, October 27-28. In Forts Stevenson, Blaisdell and Welch until November 29. Movement to Hatcher's Run December 9-10. In Forts Emery and Siebert until February 5, 1865. Dabney's Mills, Hatcher's Run, February 5-7. Watkins' House March 25. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Moved to Dabney's Mills March 30. Fall of Petersburg April 2. Pursuit of Lee April 8-9. Sailor's Creek April 6. Cover crossing of 2nd Corps at High Bridge, Farmville, April 7. Appomattox C. H. April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. March to Burkesville April 11-14. March to Washington, D.C., May 2-13. Grand Review May 23. Mustered out June 9 and discharged from service June 14, 1865.

from "A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion" by Frederick H. Dyer


 

Sleeper's Battery | The History of the Tenth Btty  |  The Roster of the members of the Tenth Btty  |  Service Record of the Tenth Btty  |  Field Artillery in the Civil War  |  The Tenth Mass Battery Association today  | 
10th Mass Btty, N-SSA (and other links)

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