Confederate Artillery Batteries around the Piper Farm

NOTE: This fact sheet was used for my accompanying article on Confederate Artillery posted above.

Confederate Artillery Batteries around the Piper Farm

Major Hilary Pollard Jones’ Artillery Battalion of the General Reserve of Artillery[1]

Wise (Wise 1959, p.298) gives Jones Bn. As 14 guns. But Jones stated to Carmen that his battalion consisted of 4 4 gun batteries, 1;6 guns aggregate, and 12 off., 290 EM=302 (Carmen MS, 23:35) Carmen (ibid., 24:12) gives Jones BC as 2 KIA, 15 WIA=17 TBC but he had no information on Turner’s and Wimbish’s batteries. Harsh finds little evidence that this battalion fought at Antietam, yet it is shown on the Copes maps, and is mentioned on one of the battlefield plaques. Jones did not submit a report. In the reorganization of October 1862, Jone’s takes command of D.H. Hill’s divisional artillery battalion and brings Pages and Peytons batteries with him.[2]

Pages (Morris “Louisa”) VA Battery, Capt Richard Channing Moore: 4 12 lb SB howitzers [3] Pendleton gives the battery’s armament as 2 3-in Ordnance RML, 1 12-lb. SB howitzer, and 3 6-lb. SBML, but Page states (ibid.) that Fredericksburg was the first battle in which the battery had 6 guns. Page’s BC were 2 KIA, 7 WIA=9 (Carmen MS, 24:12)[4], or 1 KIA, 7 WIA, 1 PW and 2 MIA (1KIA?)=11 (Macaluso)[5]

Peyton’s (Richmond “Orange”) VA Battery, Capt Jefferson Peyton: 1 3-in Ordnance RML, 1 12-lb. SB howitzer, 3 6-lb. SBML. Peyton’s BC were 8 WIA (Carmen MS, 24:12), or just 1 WIA[6]; Pendleton 1862.

Wimbish’s (Long Island) VA Battery, Capt Wimbish.

Turner’s (Co. D, Wise Legion Arty.) VA Battery Capt William H. Turner. Wimbish and Turner’s batts. Together had 5 or 7 guns, depending on whether the bn. Had 14 or 16 guns. Both batts. Were disbanded Oct 4, 1862 (Special Orders no. 209, ANV). According to Harsh, this battery was adjudged unfit to leave Virginia and so did not participate in the Maryland Campaign.[7]

Major John Selden Saunders Artillery Battalion of Richard Anderson’s Division.[8]

Carman (Carman MS, 23:24 gives the strength of Saunder’s Bn. As 328 aggregate and 16 guns. Evidently, this does not include Captain William H. Chapman’s (Dixie (Virginia) Battery attached to Featherston’s Bde. Harsh says there is slight evidence that the Dixie Battery was on the field. It was disbanded in October 1862.[9] BC are given as 5 KIA, 11 WIA=16 (Huger: 1 KIA, 2 WIA=3 [Porter’s History of Norfolk County]; Moorman: 1 KIA, 7 WIA=8; Grimes: 3 KIA, 2 WIA=5 [Carman MS, 24:3-4])[10].

Maurin’s (Donaldsonville) LA Battery, Capt. Victor Maurin: 2 10-lb Parrott RMS, 1 3-in. Ordnance RML, 3 6-lb. SBML. Maurin’s rpt (OR 19 (1) 848) mentions 2 10-lb. Parrott RML, 1 3-in. Ordnance RML, and an unspecified number of 6-lb SBML. Pendleton’s rpt. Agrees and gives the number of 6-lb SBML as 3. This armament is confirmed by correspondence of Eugene H. Levy with Carman (Carman MS, ltr of March 17, 1900, container 3). The battery was assigned to Pryor’s Bde. On ug. 18, 1862 (Owen 1885, p 100; see also Carman MS Levy to Carman, April 21, 1900). The battery was positioned on the right of 4 batts. Of Saunder’s Bn. “Our guns were a little to the right of the barn and in advance of R. H. Anderson’s [Division] until the division advanced through the cornfield and orchard toward the Bloody Lane” (ibid.). “Carter’s Virginia Battery came in on our left” (Carman MS, Levy to Carman, March 3, 1900). Maurin’s BC in the action near Shepherdstown (Sept 19) were 1 KIA, 2 WIA=3 (OR 19 (1),838. In Pendleton’s report, he says that his battery supported Perry’s Brigade (OR 19 (1),836. Note: Levy’s letter conflicts with Carmen’s report which in two places says this battery was ”west of” and “beyond” the Hagerstown road.[11]

Huger’s (Norfolk) VA Battery, Capt. Frank Huger; Lt. C.R. Phelps: 1 10-lb. Parrott RML, 1 3-in. Ordnance RML, 2 6-lb SBML. The battery was attached to Mahone’s Bde. (Pendleton 1862).[12] This battery was west of the Hagerstown road. Huger’s abandoned gun was found by soldiers of G.T. Anderson’s brigade and served by Lt Chamberlayne of the 6^th Virginia. A marker has been placed near this position. Huger was a West Pointer, Class of 1860 who resigned on May 21, 1861. He was the son of Confederate General Benjamin Huger. He was 31^st in his class and was assigned to the 10^th Infantry Regiment. Huger was possibly absent from the battery at the battle.

Moorman’s (Lynchburg) VA Battery, Capt. Marcellus Newton Moorman: 2 10-lb Parrot RML, 1 UI. Moorman’s rpt (OR 19 (1), 847) states that he lost 1 10-lb Parrot RML damaged and later removed by unknown parties (probably by Alexander’s Ordnance train) during the battle (Alexander 1989). Moorman assumed command of the battalion upon the mortal wounding of Grimes. Lieutenant C.R. Phelps then assumed command of the battery. Eventually his battery would be transferred to the Horse Artillery (Harsh STS p73)

Grime’s (Portsmouth) VA Battery, Capt. Cary F. Grimes [MWIA], Lt. John N. Thompson: 1 10-lb. Parrott RMS, 2 12-lb. SB Naval Howitzers. The battery was in action near Piper’s stone barn, where Grimes was MWIA (see Thompson, SHSP 34:151-53). It was disbanded Oct 4, 1862 (OR 19 (2) 652-654. The battery also fought at Crampton’s Gap three days earlier.

Chapman’s (Monroe “Dixie”) VA Battery, Capt William Henry Chapman: 1 3-in. Ordnance RML, 1 12-lb. Napoleon SBML. Although sometimes listed as “unattached” the battery was associated with Longstreet’s command and assigned to Featherston’s Bde. On Aug. 18, 1862 (Owen 1885m o, 100; see Featherston’s rpt. of Second Manassas, OR ser 16:604; and Wise 1959, pp. 204, 257, 283). At Antietam, the battery appears to have been temporarily attached to Kershaw’s Bde. as of Sept. 7 (see Moore 1989, p. 93)[13]. On Oct 2 the battery resumed its attachment to Featherston’s Bde. (OR., ser. 28:649) It was noted as present but not engaged by Carmen. The battery Lost 1 WIA, 1 CMIA=2 at Boteler’s Ford (Moore p95). It was disbanded Oct 4, 1862 (SO 209 ANV

Washington (LA) Arty., Col. James Burdge Walton

Captain M.B. Miller’s Battery (3^rd Company Washington Louisiana Artillery), Reserve Artillery, Longstreet’s Command.[14] Miller’s (3^rd Co.) Capt. M. B. Miller: 4 12-lb. Napoleon SBML. BC were 2 KIA, 10 WIA, 2CMIA=14 (Richmond Daily Dispatch Sept 26,1862). A nominal list in the Charleston (SC) Daily Courier (Sept 29,1862, p.4.) gives BC of the 3^rd Co. as 2 KIA, 11 WIA=13 and makes no mention of CMIA. Miller’s Co. had a caisson exploded by an enemy shell and was conspicuous in the Confederate center, suffering severely. Gen. Longstreet and members of his staff helped to man the battery at the crisis of the battle. The battery was assigned to the Reserve Arty. of Longstreet’s wing on Aug. 18, 1862 (Owen 1885, p. 100).

Captain Robert Boyce’s (Macbeth) South Carolina Battery of Nathan Shank’s Independent Brigade.[15] Capt. Robert Boyce: 6 U/I (O.R., ser. 16:639); Carmen gives 3 off., 112 EM+115 and 6 guns Carman MS, 23:28) and BC of 2 KIA, 17 WIA=19 (ibid., 24:5) BC are reported in O.R. (ser. 27:944).VX EW EWPOERWS IN O.R. The battery was assigned to Evan’s brigade on August 18, 1862 (Owen 1885, p. 100)

Captain James William Bondurant’s (Jeff Davis) Alabama Battery of Major Scipio Francis Pierson’s Artillery Battalion of D.H. Hill’s Division.[16]

Captain William K. Bachman’s (Charleston “German”) South Carolina Battery of Major Bushrod Washington Frobel’s Artillery Battalion of Hood’s Division.[17]

Name of Battery	10 pounder Parrotts	3 inch rifles	12 pounder Howitzers	Napoleons	6-lb S.B. guns	Total
Pages (Jones)			4			4
Peyton (Jones)		1	1		3	5
Maurin (Saunders)w	2	1			3	6
Huger (Saunders) w	1	1			2	4
Moorman (Saunders)	2				1	3*
Grimes (Saunders)	1		2**			3
Miller (Walton)				4		4
Boyce (Evans SC Bde)					6	6***
Bondurant (Pierson)		1	1			2****
Bachman (Frobel)			2*****	4		6
8 Batteries east of Hagerstown Pike	3	2	10	8	10	33
2 batteries west of Hagerstown Pike	3	2	0	0	5	10
Total guns	6	4	10	8	15	43
*one unidentified gun totals 3 for Moorman, guessing a six pound howitzer; **Naval howitzers; ***Guns are unidentified but likely six pound howitzers; ****Bondurant only has two guns in action, but has three 3 inch rifles and one 12 pound howitzer; I am saying one of each; ***** Blakely guns

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[1] Johnson, Curt, and Richard C. Anderson, Jr. Artillery Hell: The Employment of Artillery at Antietam. College Stateion Tex.: Texs A&M Univ. Press, 1995. 99.

[2] Harsh, Joseph. Sounding the Shallows. Kent: The Kent State University Press, 2000. 84

[3] Page, Richard Channing Moore. 1885. Sketch of Page’s Battery, or Morris Artillery 2^nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. New York: T. Smeltzer, 1885.

[4] Carmen, Ezra A. The Maryland Campaign of 1862. edited by Joesph Pierro. New York: Routledge, 2008, 473.

[5] Macaluso, Gregory J. Morris, Orange, and King William Artillery. Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1991, 12.

[6] Ibid, 12

[7] Harsh, Joseph. Sounding the Shallows. Kent: The Kent State University Press, 2000. 60

[8] Johnson, Curt, and Richard C. Anderson, Jr. Artillery Hell: The Employment of Artillery at Antietam. College Stateion Tex.: Texs A&M Univ. Press, 1995. 87.

[9] Harsh, Sounding the Shallows. 72.

[10] Carmen, Ezra A. The Maryland Campaign of 1862. edited by Joesph Pierro. New York: Routledge, 2008, 470.

[11] Carmen, 283, 297

[12] OR 19 (1). 836

[13] Moore, Robert H. The Danville, Eight Star New Market, and Dixie Artillery. Lynchburg, Va: H.E. Howard, Inc. 1989. 93

[14] Johnson, Curt, and Richard C. Anderson, Jr. Artillery Hell: The Employment of Artillery at Antietam. College Stateion Tex.: Texs A&M Univ. Press, 1995. 90.

[15] Johnson, Curt, and Richard C. Anderson, Jr. Artillery Hell: The Employment of Artillery at Antietam. College Stateion Tex.: Texs A&M Univ. Press, 1995. 89.

[16] Johnson, Curt, and Richard C. Anderson, Jr. Artillery Hell: The Employment of Artillery at Antietam. College Stateion Tex.: Texs A&M Univ. Press, 1995. 96.

[17] Johnson, Curt, and Richard C. Anderson, Jr. Artillery Hell: The Employment of Artillery at Antietam. College Stateion Tex.: Texs A&M Univ. Press, 1995. 89.