“A Remarkable Artillerist”

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Getting our bearings

This Sunday, Jim Buchanan and I had the opportunity to visit the Greenbriar Farm located on the east bank of the Antietam north of Route 34. Owner Ann Corcoran was gracious enough to give us a brief history of the farm before we began our walk along the heights overlooking the creek.  As the area is teeming with hunters this time of year, Jim and I donned orange vests and cautiously proceeded south from the farm buildings along the ridge. I hoped I wouldn’t need to use my military skills of employing cover and concealment.

Carmen 0730 map.  Batteries center at bottom

On the Carmen maps, the property is known as the Ecker Farm.  The farm is located on a ridge up to 190 feet above the creek. It affords dominating positions for artillery and their shells ranged deep into the Confederate lines across the stream. Henry Hunt and his Artillery Reserve chief William Hays positioned four batteries on this high ground overlooking the creek. The were:

Commander	Unit	Assigned To	#	Armament
Capt Elijah D. Taft	5th Battery, New York Light Artillery	Artillery Reserve	4	20-lb Parrots
Lt. Alfred von Kleiser	Btry B, 1st Battalion New York Light Artillery	Artillery Reserve	4	20-lb Parrots
Capt Stephen H, Weed	Btry I, 5th U.S. Artillery	V Corps, 2nd Div	4	3-in Ordnance Rifles
Capt George W. Durell	Btry D Pennsylvania Light Artillery	IX Corps 2nd Div	6	10-lb Parrots

                                                                                                                                                               [1]

Stonewall Jackson accurately described the Union artillery, much of it coming from this position as inflicting “a severe and damaging fire.”[2]

The left: Miller's Sawmill Road

With most of the foliage off the trees, the views were stunning.  Behind us to the east, Red Hill loomed.  In front, looking west toward the battlefield, we could see the Tidball artillery position, the Observation Tower on the Sunken Road, and the Visitor Center (and the West Woods and Dunker Church behind it).  At the correct angle of view, the Philadelphia Brigade monument was directly behind the New York Monument.  The Hagerstown Pike south of the Visitor’s Center was clearly visible along with the Reel Ridge to the west.  Closer in, we could see the Boonsboro Pike. To the left of the road, we could plainly see the National Cemetery and the flag proudly flying over the graves of the fallen.  As we walked south and the views changed, the water tower in Sharpsburg emerged and to our great surprise, we saw the intersection of Branch Avenue and the Harpers Ferry Road and Miller’s Sawmill Road. 

The Right:  Sunken Road Tower and Visitor's Center

In the Civil War, the light artillery batteries employed by both sides were essentially limited to aiming and hitting targets that they could see.  Granted, shells fell short and others flew over intended targets out of view.  But under the stern tutelage of Henry Hunt, his Union artillerists were going to aim and shoot only at what they could see. Given the ranges of the guns on this ridge, everything that we could see, from the Sunken Road on the right to the final attack approach by A.P. Hill on the left was visible, within range and under the guns of the Union artillery. 

I couldn’t help but think as I viewed this position, of the story so well recorded by James Longstreet in his book From Manassas to Appomattox about one particular cannon shot fired from this position by Captain Stephen H. Weed.  Joseph Harsh in Sounding the Shallows puts the time of the shot at around 7:00 and 8:00 in the morning and the target as Cemetery Hill “twenty or so feet either north or south of the Boonsboro Pike.”[3]  Jim and I could plainly see the target. 

Lets follow Longstreet’s narrative which D.H. Hill subsequently described as “entirely accurate”:

"There is a shot for General Hill"

“During the lull after the reencounter of Walker’s Hill’s and Hood’s divisions against Mansfield’s last fight, General Lee and myself, riding together under the crest of General D.H. Hill’s part of the line, were joined by the latter.  We were presently called to the crest to observe the movements going on in the Union lines.  The two former dismounted and walked to the crest; General Hill, a little out of strength and thinking a single horseman not likely to draw the enemy’s fire, rode. As we reached the crest I asked him to ride a little apart, as he would likely draw fire upon the group. While viewing the field a puff of white smoke was seen to burst from a cannon’s mouth about a mile off.  I remarked, “There is a shot for General Hill,” and, looking towards him, saw his horse drop on his knees.  The dropping forward of the poor animal so elevated his croup that it was not an easy matter for one not an expert horseman to dismount a’la militaire.  To add to the dilemma, there was a rubber coat with other wraps strapped to the cantle of the saddle.  Failing in his attempt to dismount, I suggested that he throw his leg forward over the pommel.  This gave him easy and graceful dismount. This was the third horse shot under him during the day and the shot was one of the best I ever witnessed.”[4]

Longstreet goes on to record the statement of Union surgeon Major Alfred A. Woodhull who witnessed the shot from Weed’s position.

“On the 17^th of September, 1862, I was standing in Weed’s battery, whose position is correctly shown in the map, when a man on, I think, a gray horse, appeared about a mile in front of us, and footmen were recognized near.  Captain Weed, who was a remarkable artillerist, himself sighted and fired the gun at the horse, which was struck. “[5]

The National Cemetery

Stephen H. Weed was indeed a remarkable artillerist.  The native of Potsdam New York graduated from West Point with the outstanding class of 1854.  A cadet at the academy while Robert E. Lee was superintendent, Weed’s classmates included Lee’s son Custis, Oliver O. Howard, J.E.B. Stuart, Stephen D. Lee, Dorsey Pender, Grimes Davis, and a host of other men who contributed significantly to the war effort for both sides.  Weed was commissioned in the 4^th U.S. Artillery. The Fourth at the time was employed largely as part of the frontier constabulary.  Weed fought with his company in the Third Seminole War, and helped quell the Kansas disturbances. He was part of the expedition to Utah and along the way was engaged in skirmishes against the Indians.  A First Lieutenant since November 16, 1856, he was assigned with Battery K to Fort Ridgely Minnesota at the start of the Civil War.  A seasoned young veteran, Lieutenant Weed received a coveted battery command and promotion to captain in the new Fifth Artillery Regiment on May 14, 1861. Light Battery I and its commander fought with Fitz-John Porter’s Fifth Corps on the Peninsula, and at Second Manassas before the Maryland Campaign.  Weed’s star continued to rise after Antietam.  He commanded the Fifth Corps artillery with distinction at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.  Promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on June 6, 1863, Stephen Weed, age 30, was be killed instantly at Gettysburg defending Little Round Top on July 2, 1863.

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[1] Johnson, Curt and Richard C. Anderson. Artillery Hell The Employment of Artillery at Antietam. College Station Texas: Texas A&M University Press 1995, pages 36-37.

[2] War of the Rebellion Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies Series I, Volume 19, Part 1, page 956.

[3] Harsh, Joseph H. Sounding the Shallows. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press, 2000. page 203

[4] Longstreet, James. From Manassas to Appomttox. New York: Barnes and Noble. Originally published 1896. Page 208

[5] Ibid, 208

A Severe and Damaging Fire

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I decided to run a marathon seven years ago. I bought a book that suggested that I tell everyone up front that I was doing it.  That way, there could be no turning back.  Too many people would know.  That is somewhat against my nature but I did it in 2006 and I’m going to do it now for an entirely different effort.

In this blog lately you have seen a lot about West Pointers at Antietam and the regular artillery batteries.  It is something that I have grown increasingly interested in of late.  I have decided to take the plunge and write a book about the U.S. Army regular artillery in the Army of the Potomac focusing on their role in the Battle of Antietam.

I made a bibliographical survey of books on artillery.  There are many memoirs written about Confederate gunners.  There are also some written about the Federal volunteer batteries.  But I have found nothing specifically addressing the regular artillery. 

This project hopes to remedy that deficiency.  My plan is to trace the assembly of the regular batteries that would become part of the Army of the Potomac from the distant posts that they manned in January of 1861 to Washington.  It will be heavy on biography of the gunners.  At long last, the lives and careers of guys like Alanson Randol, William van Reed, Samuel Benjamin, “Dad” Woodruff, and Dunbar Ransom will be revealed.

I will address in detail the work of William Barry and Henry Hunt in the development of the federal artillery in the first 18 months of the war.   Recognizing and detailing the monumental work that Hunt performed in the two weeks before the Battle of Antietam making the artillery ready for battle is a major objective of this work.  This credit is long overdue.

I hope in some ways to do the same kind of work that Tim Reese did for the regular infantry in Syke’s Regulars or Larry Freihieit did for the cavalry in Boots and Saddles.   It is time to tell the story of the gunners.

Ransom's Battery Canister Range, Maximum Range and Landmarks

And finally to the Battle of Antietam.  As someone who walks the fields continuously as a park volunteer and guide, I really appreciate the significance of the military aspects of terrain and the importance of considering it when addressing the emplacement and use of artillery.  As a historical interpreter with Antietam's all volunteer Battery B, 4th U.S. Artillery, I have an idea of the technical aspects of a Civil War artillery unit.  As a retired Army officer, I bring a certain perception and approach to this work that I think will prove beneficial.  The photo of the map showing Ransom’s guns (Battery C of the Fifth Artillery) perhaps gives you an idea of some of the direction I am taking. There were 22 regular batteries on the battlefield (including Couch’s division). I will leave it to your imagination on how I proceed. I hope all this will make for an interesting and compelling work. 

Stonewall Jackson’s writes in his official report on the Maryland Campaign “At the first dawn of day skirmishing commenced in front, and in a short time the Federal batteries, so posted on the opposite side of the Antietam as to enfilade my line, opened a severe and damaging fire.” Coming from an artillerist of Stonewall’s credentials who also happens to be on the opposing side, that is high praise.  Hence the name for the project: A Severe and Damaging Fire – The Regular Artillery in the Battle of Antietam.

You will get some glimpses of my progress here at SFTNW over the months to come. Stay tuned.

Seven years ago, I told “everyone” and I successfully ran the marathon.  I wasn’t fast but I didn’t stop and I didn’t walk.  I had fun.  Once more against my nature, I am telling “everyone” about A Severe and Damaging Fire.  I hope that I will have the same success and satisfaction that I had in running the marathon, as I will have with this project.  And I am having fun.  See you on the field.

Where were all the Captains?

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Robertson's Battery of Horse Artillery (B&L 2nd Artillery)

During the Maryland Campaign twenty-two of the Union Army’s artillery batteries came from the Regular Army.  Five of these were actually consolidations of two batteries.  Battery consolidations occurred because of the difficulty in recruiting up to authorized strength. Even when consolidated, the batteries submitted separate battery muster rolls each month. That means that there are actually twenty-seven artillery batteries muster reports to look at when studying the regular batteries at Antietam.

These batteries were the core of the Army of the Potomac’s artillery power and were found in every infantry corps, the cavalry division, and the artillery reserve.  As originally envisioned by William Barry and Henry Hunt, the army’s first two artillery chiefs, the regulars formed the core of an infantry division’s artillery complement.  Their job was to train the volunteer batteries in the performance of their duties.  The plan was for the regular artillery battery commander was also the division’s chief of artillery.  The ratio was one regular to three volunteer batteries.  This did not always work out in practice.

A Federal artillery battery was authorized one captain and four first lieutenants. 

Each of the regular army’s five artillery regiments were represented during the Maryland Campaign.  Four of these had been in existence since 1821.  The Fifth Artillery was a new regiment established in May of 1861.

In reviewing the list of battery commanding officers at Antietam, one question becomes apparent.  Where were all the captains?

The table below shows all of the batteries.  It identifies the captain who commanded the battery according to the muster rolls for August 1862. The actual commander at the time follows in the next column. 

Battery	Captain (on muster rolls)	Actual Commander	Gun Type	Division/Corps assignment at Antietam
E&G First Artillery	Jefferson C. Davis (Company E) [1] John M. Schofield (USMA 1853 Company G)[2]	1LT Alanson Randol (USMA 1860)	4-12 lb Napoleons	Sykes Division Fifth Corps
I      First Artillery	James Ricketts (USMA 1839)[3]	1LT George Woodruff (USMA June 1861)	6-12 lb Napoleons	Sedgwick’s Division, Second Corps
K     First Artillery	William Graham[4]	CPT William Graham	6-12 lb Napoleons	Artillery Reserve
A Second Artillery	John C. Tidball (USMA 1848)	CPT John C. Tidball	6-3" Ordnance Rifles	Horse Artillery Cavalry Division
B&L Second Artillery	James W. Robertson (Company B) William Hays  (USMA 1840- Company L)[5]	CPT James W. Robertson	4-3" Ordnance Rifles	Horse Artillery Cavalry Division
D Second Artillery	Edward R. Platt (USMA 1849)[6]	1LT Edward Williston	6-12 lb Napoleons	Slocum’s Division, Sixth Corps
E Second Artillery	Josiah H. Carlisle (USMA 1845)[7]	1LT Samuel Benjamin (USMA May 1861)	4-20 lb Parrot Rifles	Willcox’s Division Ninth Corps
G Second Artillery	James Thompson (USMA 1851)[8]	1LT John H. Butler	4-12 lb Napoleons	Couch’s Division Fourth Corps
M Second Artillery	Henry Benson[9]	1LT Peter Hains (USMA June 1861)	6-3" Ordnance Rifles	Horse Artillery Cavalry Division
C&G Third Artillery	Horatio Gibson (USMA 1847 Company C) Alexander Piper  (USMA 1851 Company G)[10]	CPT Horatio Gibson	6-3" Ordnance Rifles	Horse Artillery Cavalry Division
L&M Third Artillery	Dunbar Ransom (Company L)[11] John Edwards (USMA 1851-Company M)	CPT John Edwards	4-10 lb Parrot Rifles	Cox’s Division, Ninth Corps
A&C Fourth Artillery	Francis N. Clarke (USMA 1840 Company A)[12] George Hazzard (USMA 1847)[13]	1LT Evan Thomas	6-12 lb Napoleons	Richardson’s Division, Second Corps
B Fourth Artillery	John Gibbon (USMA 1847)[14]	1LT Joseph Campbell (USMA June 1861)[15]	6-12 lb Napoleons	Doubleday’s Division, First Corps
E Fourth Artillery	Joseph C. Clark (USMA 1848)	CPT Joseph C. Clark	4-10 lb Parrot Rifles	Sturgis Division, Ninth Corps
F Fourth Artillery	Clermont Best (USMA 1846)[16]	1LT Edward D. Muhlenberg	6-12 lb Napoleons	Twelfth Corps
G Fourth Artillery	Albion Howe (USMA 1841)[17]	1LT Marcus P. Miller (USMA 1858)[18]	6-12 lb Napoleons	Artillery Reserve
A     Fifth Artillery	George Getty (USMA 1840)[19]	1LT Charles P. Muhlenberg	6-12 lb Napoleons	Rodman’s Division, Ninth Corps
C Fifth Artillery	Dunbar Ransom	CPT Dunbar Ransom	4-12 lb Napoleons	Meade’s Division, First Corps
D     Fifth Artillery	Charles Griffin (USMA 1847)[20]	1LT Charles Hazlett (USMA May 1861)	4-10 lb Parrots 2-12 lb Napoleons	Morell’s Division, Fifth Corps
F Fifth Artillery	Romeyn Ayres (USMA 1847)[21]	1LT Leonard Martin (USMA May 1861)	4-10 lb Parrots 2-12 lb Napoleons	Smith’s Division, Sixth Corps
I      Fifth Artillery	Stephen Weed (USMA 1854)	CPT Stephen Weed	4-3" Ordnance Rifles	Syke’s Division, Fifth Corps
K Fifth Artillery	John R. Smead (USMA 1854)[22]	2LT William E. Van Reed	4-12 lb Napoleons	Syke’s Division, Fifth Corps

Of the twenty seven battery captains, six (Davis, Schofield, Ricketts, Gibbon, Howe and Griffin) were brigadier generals of volunteers serving in infantry commands.  Three (Best Clarke, and Getty) were Corps Artillery Chiefs; two Ayres and Ransom were division artillery chiefs (though the information is confusing on Ransom); Hays commanded the Artillery Reserve; Piper was detailed to the defenses of Washington; Thompson to Cincinnati; three (Benson, Hazzard, and Smead), and had been recently killed or mortally wounded and the muster rolls did not yet reflect this; Carlisle was on sick leave; Platt was an inspector general on the Sixth Corps staff.  This left eight (Graham, Tidball, Robertson, Gibson, Edwards, Clark, Ransom [again], and Weed) actually in command of their batteries.  Dunbar Ransom is listed twice commanding both Battery L, Third Artillery, and Battery C, Fifth Artillery.  The note on Battery L’s muster indicates that Ransom was Chief of Artilery for Meade’s division.

The bottom line is that there were a lot of very young lieutenants commanding many of the regular batteries during the Maryland Campaign.  Stay tuned.

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[1] Jefferson C. Davis was a brigadier general of volunteers and commanded a division in the Army of the Cumberland. A sergeant in the Third Indiana Volunteers in the Mexican War, Davis was commissioned into the First Artillery on June 17, 1848. Not to be confused with the Confederate President, this Davis is famously known for shooting and killing his superior officer, Maj. Gen. William "Bull" Nelson in Louisville, Kentucky and after being slapped in the face by Nelson. A shortage of competent generals saved Davis from a court martial conviction.

[2] John Schofield a future commanding general of the U.S. Army was a brigadier general of volunteers and commanded the District of Missouri at the time of the Battle of Antietam. 

[3] James Ricketts was a brigadier general of volunteers and commanded the Second Division, First Corps.

[4] William Graham was directly commissioned into the First Artillery on June 7, 1855.  He may have benefited from the fact that his father and namesake Lieutenant William M. Graham who commanded the 11^th Infantry Regiment was killed at Molino del Rey during the Mexican War.

[5] William Hays was a staff lieutenant colonel and commanded the Artillery Reserve of the Army of the Potomac.

[6] Edward Platt was a staff lieutenant colonel and assistant inspector general of the Sixth Corps.

[7] Josiah Carlisle was on sick leave of absence, Aug. 3, 1862, to Apr. 14, 1863;

[8] James Thompson as Chief of Artillery, in defense of Cincinnati during rebel offensive into Kentucky during September, 1862

[9] Henry Benson was an enlisted artilleryman in the Second Artillery during the Mexican War.  He was commissioned into the Second Artillery on January 26, 1849.  Benson died August 11, 1862 of wounds received August 5, 1862 at Malvern Hill

[10] Alexander Piper who was Pope’s Chief of Artillery was now assigned as Assistant Inspector of Artillery at Washington DC.

[11] Dunbar Ransom was the Chief of Artillery of Meade’s Division and commanded Battery C, 5^th U.S. Artillery.

[12] Francis Clarke on detached duty as Chief of Artillery, Second Corps. He was promoted to Major, Fifth Artillery on August 5, 1862.

[13] George Hazzard died August 14, 1862 of wounds received at the Battle of White Oak Swamp on June 30, 1862.

[14] John Gibbon was a brigadier general of volunteers and commanded the Black Hat Brigade of Doubleday’s division, First Corps.

[15] Campbell had the staff rank of Captain-Staff Additional Aide de Camp

[16] Clermont Best was chief of artillery for the Twelfth Corps

[17]Albion Howe was a brigadier general of volunteers and commanded a brigade in Couch’s division, Fourth Corps

[18] Marcus Miller was the regimental adjutant detached to the battery. 

[19] George Getty was staff lieutenant colonel and commander of the Ninth Corps artillery.

[20] Charles Griffin was a brigadier general of volunteers and commanded a brigade in Morell’s Division, Fifth Corps.

[21] Romeyn Ayres commanded the division artillery of Smith’s Division, Sixth Corps

[22] John R. Smead was killed on August 30, 1862 at the Second Battle of Bull Run.