On Sept. 27th the First Connecticut Light Battery moved with the Tenth and Eighteenth Corps across the James River, and was stationed near Port Harrison. Here it was transferred to the Light Artillery Brigade, Twenty-fifth Army Corps, under General Weitzel. It was now in front of Richmond. Near Chapin’s Bluff on the 7th of October, at the Darbytown road on the 13th, and at the Charles City road on the 27th, the Battery was also engaged in some sharp fighting.
In November the six-pounder James rifles were exchanged for light twelve-pounder Napoleon guns, because it was almost impossible to get ammunition for the rifled guns. The winter was enlivened occasionally with some skirmishes, yet not much solid work was done, but with the advent of April there was business on hand.
On the 2nd of April, 1865, orders were issued, to attack the enemy’s lines near Fort Buchanan at daybreak the following morning. Near midnight, however, the plan of attack was modified, as it was thought that the enemy was preparing to abandon the defense of Richmond. Soon heavy and repeated explosions, and the sight of bright fires, confirmed the suspicion, and at daylight the Battery moved with the Twenty-fifth Corps through and over the enemy’s works
Early in the forenoon we entered the city, amid burning buildings and the explosion of shells at the arsenal, which was on fire.
While in the city the glad news came of the capture of Lee and his army, and the war was ended. In a few days the Battery was ordered to Petersburg, then May 3d to City Point.
About June 1st it was moved to Manchester, near Richmond, where, on the 11th day of June, 1865, the men were mustered out of the United States service; the horses, guns, and stores were turned over to the government officers at Richmond, and on Monday morning, June 12th, the men started for Connecticut, arriving at New Haven on the 14th – the first of the veteran troops to return to the State.
The war record of the First Light Battery is one of which no man feels ashamed. The well-merited praise which they received from regular as well as volunteer officers was very gratifying. It was frequently selected from the Artillery Brigade to fire over our skirmishers, and few batteries did more of this difficult work than the First Connecticut Light Battery. General Terry once said of it: “I will not say it is the best battery in the service, but I will say it is the best I have ever seen.”
On the department review, General Hunter, commander of the Department of the South, expressed his surprise at the fine appearance of it, and said he was not aware that he had so good a battery in his department.
Engagements
Pocotaligo, S. C., May 28, 1862.
James Island, S. C., June 3, 4, 15, 16, 1862.
Fort Finnegan, Fla., Oct. 8, 1862.
Willtown, S. C., July 10, 1863.
James Island, S. C., July 16, 1863.
James Island, S. C; Feb. 10, 1864.
Chester Station, Va., May 10, 1864.
Richmond Turnpike, Va., May 12, 1864.
Proctor’s Creek, Va., May 15, 1864.
Drewry’s Bluff, Va., May 16, 1864.
Bermuda Hundred, Va., May 17 to June 27, 1864.
Grover House, Va., May 27, 1864.
Wire Bottom Church, Va., June 16, 1864.
Strawberry Plains, Va., June 26, 1864.
Four Mile Creek, Va., Aug. 14, 1864.
Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. 27, 1864.
Petersburg, Va., Aug. 25 to Sept. 25, 1864.
Chapin’s Bluff, Va., Oct. 7, 1864.
Johnnon’s Farm, Va., Oct. 13, 27, 28, 1864.
Richmond, Va., October, 1864, to April, 1865
From “Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the War of Rebellion, 1861 to 1865″ published by the Connecticut National Guard in 1889.
