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)
v6.011330R Jan MM