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The Rigby's Light Artillery Battery "A"
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Unit History
Battery A. was originally a part of the Purnell Legion. It was organized in Baltimore and Pikesville in August and September, 1861, to serve three years.
After it's organization the battery was assigned to the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia. In the Spring of 1862, when General George McClellan moved against Richmond, the battery was assigned to General Hunt's artillery reserve, Army of the Potomac.
Positioned on the right of the Federal line with General Sumner's Corps on July 1, 1862, the battery was instrumental in repulsing General Lee's attacks on the Federal line at Malvern Hill.
After the failure of McClellan's Penninsular Campaign, Battery A. moved north with much of McClellan's forces to hook up with General Pope's command, but Pope was defeated by General Lee at Second Manassas, and moved back toward Washington. Lee followed up his victory at Masassas by crossing into Maryland. On September 14, 1862, Battery was brought into action at Crampton's Gap as Federal forces forced their way through the lightly defended passes on South Mountain, Maryland.
On September 17, during the Battle of Antietam, the battery was posted on McClellan's right with Slocum's Divison. During the assault on Lee's lines the battery managed to fight it's way to within yards of the Dunkard Church. Here it remained for much of the fighting, only yards away from the Confederate battle line. The battery suffered heavy losses and was comended by General Slocum.
Colonel Wainright, Chief of Artillery for the Army of the Potomac complimented the battery for it's service during the Battle of Fredericksburg. In May of 1863, when General Hooker attempted to flank Robert E. Lee's position at Fredericksburg by moving to Chancellorsville, the battery remained at Fredricksburg as part of the force Hooker left in front of Lee's army. During the Chancellorsville/Fredericksburg action the battery was engaged at Marye's Heights on May 3rd; and Salem Heights on May 3 & 4.
At Gettysburg the battery was again on the extreme right of the Federal line, ironically placing them opposite the Maryland Infantry C.S.A. at Culp's Hill. The battery was heavily engaged on the 2nd and 3rd day of the battle.
Battery A. was consolidated with Battery B. on March 11, 1865. Battery lost during service 6 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 28 Enlisted men by disease. Total 34.
Assignments
SERVICE.--Duty at Baltimore, Md., and on eastern shore of Maryland till May, 1862. Joined Army of the Potomac on the Virginia Peninsula. Peninsula Campaign June to August. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Battles of Mechanicsville June 26. Savage Station June 29. White Oak Swamp June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison's Landing till August 15. Movement to Fortress Monroe and Alexandria August 15-22. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Battles of Crampton's Pass, South Mountain, Md., September 14. Antietam September 16-17. At Downsville, Md., till October 29. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 29-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. "Mud March" January 20-24, 1863. At White Oak Church till April 27. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Operations at Franklin's Crossing April 29-May 2. Battle of Maryes Heights, Fredericksburg, May 3. Salem Heights May 3-4. Banks' Ford May 4. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June II-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3. Duty on line of the Rappahannock and Rapidan till October. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8, Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7, 1864. Morton's Ford February 6-7. At Camp Barry and in the Defenses of Washington March to July, 1864. Dismounted and ordered to Harper's Ferry, W. Va., July 3 as Infantry. Duty in District of Harper's Ferry, W. Va., till March, 1865. Consolidated with Battery "B," Maryland Light Artillery, March 11, 1865.
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If any information is missing, Incorrect or you want to add Information then Send us an
Unit HistoryBattery A. was originally a part of the Purnell Legion. It was organized in Baltimore and Pikesville in August and September, 1861, to serve three years. After it's organization the battery was assigned to the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia. In the Spring of 1862, when General George McClellan moved against Richmond, the battery was assigned to General Hunt's artillery reserve, Army of the Potomac. Positioned on the right of the Federal line with General Sumner's Corps on July 1, 1862, the battery was instrumental in repulsing General Lee's attacks on the Federal line at Malvern Hill. After the failure of McClellan's Penninsular Campaign, Battery A. moved north with much of McClellan's forces to hook up with General Pope's command, but Pope was defeated by General Lee at Second Manassas, and moved back toward Washington. Lee followed up his victory at Masassas by crossing into Maryland. On September 14, 1862, Battery was brought into action at Crampton's Gap as Federal forces forced their way through the lightly defended passes on South Mountain, Maryland. On September 17, during the Battle of Antietam, the battery was posted on McClellan's right with Slocum's Divison. During the assault on Lee's lines the battery managed to fight it's way to within yards of the Dunkard Church. Here it remained for much of the fighting, only yards away from the Confederate battle line. The battery suffered heavy losses and was comended by General Slocum. Colonel Wainright, Chief of Artillery for the Army of the Potomac complimented the battery for it's service during the Battle of Fredericksburg. In May of 1863, when General Hooker attempted to flank Robert E. Lee's position at Fredericksburg by moving to Chancellorsville, the battery remained at Fredricksburg as part of the force Hooker left in front of Lee's army. During the Chancellorsville/Fredericksburg action the battery was engaged at Marye's Heights on May 3rd; and Salem Heights on May 3 & 4. At Gettysburg the battery was again on the extreme right of the Federal line, ironically placing them opposite the Maryland Infantry C.S.A. at Culp's Hill. The battery was heavily engaged on the 2nd and 3rd day of the battle. Battery A. was consolidated with Battery B. on March 11, 1865. Battery lost during service 6 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 28 Enlisted men by disease. Total 34. AssignmentsSERVICE.--Duty at Baltimore, Md., and on eastern shore of Maryland till May, 1862. Joined Army of the Potomac on the Virginia Peninsula. Peninsula Campaign June to August. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Battles of Mechanicsville June 26. Savage Station June 29. White Oak Swamp June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison's Landing till August 15. Movement to Fortress Monroe and Alexandria August 15-22. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Battles of Crampton's Pass, South Mountain, Md., September 14. Antietam September 16-17. At Downsville, Md., till October 29. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 29-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. "Mud March" January 20-24, 1863. At White Oak Church till April 27. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Operations at Franklin's Crossing April 29-May 2. Battle of Maryes Heights, Fredericksburg, May 3. Salem Heights May 3-4. Banks' Ford May 4. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June II-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3. Duty on line of the Rappahannock and Rapidan till October. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8, Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7, 1864. Morton's Ford February 6-7. At Camp Barry and in the Defenses of Washington March to July, 1864. Dismounted and ordered to Harper's Ferry, W. Va., July 3 as Infantry. Duty in District of Harper's Ferry, W. Va., till March, 1865. Consolidated with Battery "B," Maryland Light Artillery, March 11, 1865. |
