Connecticut History Connection

The Second Connecticut Light Battery was organized in the city of Bridgeport in the month of August, 1862, and was mustered into the United States service on the 10th of September of the same year “for three years or during the war.”

The Battery left Camp Buckingham at Seaside Park on the 15th of October, 1862, for Washington, D. C., marching as far as New York city, and thence by rail, and went into camp at Bladensburgh Toll Gate.

On the 12th of December following, the Battery marched to Fairfax Court House and joined the second brigade of General Casey’s division under command of General Stoughton. Its first smell of gunpowder was in repelling a night attack of Stuart’s cavalry at this place.

In the latter part of January, 1863, the Battery was ordered to Wolf Run Shoals, where it remained until the 25th of June, guarding the “defenses of Washington.” Here occurred many of the most pleasing incidents of its camp life. The camp was pleasantly located; but four men died.

When the Army of the Potomac followed Lee into Maryland and Pennsylvania, the Battery was ordered, on June 25th, to the Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac, under command of General Tyler, joining it at Edwards Ferry and marching thence via Frederick City and Taneytown to Gettysburg. On leaving Wolf Run Shoals eleven hundred rounds of fixed ammunition were destroyed for want of transportation. On arriving at Gettysburg on the afternoon of Friday, the second day of the battle, the Battery was ordered into position to the left of the center, where the enemy made a bold but ineffectual attempt to break through our lines, and just as the gallant Sickles was being borne to the rear.

The Battery was in position for fifty-six hours consecutively, and a portion of the time in the fiercest of the fight, yet it escaped, providentially, without the loss of a man and with only three slightly wounded. The Battery lost but three horses, and one caisson exploded by the enemy’s shell.

The McPherson Farm, Gettysburg, PA

On the 5th of July the Battery left Gettysburg for Frederick City, reaching there on the 6th and remaining there until the 18th, encamped with the Seventh New York State Militia. From thence the Battery went to Washington, reaching there on the 20th, and went into camp at Camp Barry.

On the 18th of August the Battery embarked at Alexandria for New York to aid in enforcing the draft. Reaching New York on the 22d, it went into camp in the City Hall Park, and from thence sections of the Battery were sent to East New York, Troy, Albany, Kingston, and Tarrytown. Up to this date the Battery had lost five men by death, six by desertion, fifteen by discharge, and fifteen were sick in hospital.

After the draft in New York had taken place the Battery returned to Camp Barry, remaining there until ordered to the Department of the Gulf.

From “Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the War of Rebellion, 1861 to 1865″ published by the Connecticut National Guard in 1889.