SECOND BATTERY MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER LIGHT ARTILLERY THREE YEARS (Re-enlisted)

The 2d Batty. Mass. Vol. Lt. Arty. was recruited by Maj. Moses G. Cobb at the armory of the Boston Light Artillery. The work of enlistment was begun April 20, 1861, but the original enlistment roll bears the date of April 24. It was originally raised as a company of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, but by Special Order No. 148, dated May 2, 1861, its organization as "a company of light artillery" was authorized. On July 5 it was ordered to proceed to Camp Adams, Wollaston Heights, Quincy, and on the 31st the men were formally enlisted and mustered into the service of the United States. This was the first Massachusetts battery to be mustered into the service for three years. It was armed with six bronze guns which had been rifled at Alger's Foundry in South Boston and which fired a 10.5 lb. Schenkel shell. On Aug. 8, 1861, the battery left Quincy for Washington, but while en route was ordered to proceed to Baltimore. On the 12th it occupied Mount Clare near Baltimore, the old camping place of Cook's Battery. Major Cobb not being able to go to the front in person, the battery left the State under the command of Capt. Ormand F. Nims who had had a prominent part in recruiting it. During November and December, 1861, the battery formed a part of an expedition which marched through the region of the Eastern Shore of Maryland to break up the work of recruiting for the Confederate army and to overawe the Secession element. After an absence of forty-one days it returned to its camp at Mount Clare. Here it remained until February, 1862. Having been assigned to duty with General Butler in the Department of the Gulf, on Feb. 25, 1862, it embarked for Fort Monroe, going into camp next day at Old Point Comfort where it remained until April 19, when it embarked on the transport DE WITT CLINTON, arriving at Ship Island on May 14. New Orleans was reached May 24, and Baton Rouge on June 2. Here the battery was assigned to Genl. Thomas Williams' Brigade. From June 20 to July 26 the battery was engaged in a demonstration against Vicksburg in cooperation with Farragut's fleet. This was a very hard and trying campaign, and at its close only 21 out of the 140 men in the battery were able to do duty. A detail of 30 men from the 9th Conn. Inf. was secured in order that all the guns might be manned. It was while the battery was in this weakened condition that it was called upon, Aug. 5, to assist in repelling the attack of Gen. John C. Breckenridge on Baton Rouge. The Confederate attacks lasted from 4 to 9 A.M.. The 2d Battery, now commanded by Lieutenant Trull, rendered very gallant service, changing its position four times in its efforts to beat back the enemy. The defense was successful, but the Union commander, Gen. Thomas Williams fell at the head of his command. The battery's loss was slight. Proceeding down the Mississippi about the 21st of August, it remained in the vicinity of New Orleans until Dec. 17, when it returned to Baton Rouge where it spent the winter of 186263. On the 16th of Dec. Gen. N. P. Banks, who had succeeded General Butler in command of the Department of the Gulf, reorganized the forces in Louisiana as the l9th Corps, and Nims' Battery became a part of Grover's (4th) Division. About March 13, 1863, the battery joined in the expedition which cooperated with Admiral Farragut in his effort to get his ships past the batteries at Port Hudson. Returning to Baton Rouge, March 20, a week later it was sent to Donaldsonville, La., whence it marched to Brashear City, where it joined the Teche expedition as a part of Kimball's (2d) Brigade of Grover's (4th) Division, Banks' (19th) Corps. Opelousas was reached April 20, and Alexandria on May 12. Here a Union fleet was found in possession of the town. After resting here about ten days the entire expedition returned via Simmsport to Bayou Sara on the Mississippi River. Arriving here May 24, the battery joined in the advance on Port Hudson. Here it did duty until the surrender of that place July 9, and two days later returned to Baton Rouge. The autumn of 1863 was spent in another expedition into the Teche country. The battery left New Orleans Sept. 18, arriving at Brashear City the following day. A week later the march was continued to Bisland and thence to Opelousas, skirmishing and fighting with the enemy taking place almost every day. Opelousas was reached October 21, and here the battery was attached to Gen. A. L. Lee's Cavalry Division. Leaving Opelousas on Nov. 1, the return trip began. Two sections of the battery had proceeded as far as Vermillionville when the remaining section under Lieut. Wm. Marland was attacked at Carrion Crow Bayou on the 2d and at Grand Couteau on the 3d, repelling the attacks on both days and suffering small loss. Arriving at New Iberia Nov. 17, the battery remained there until January, 1864, when it went into winter quarters at Franklin. On March 13, 1864, it broke camp and joined the Red River expedition under Genl. W. B. Franklin. Still assigned to Genl. A. L. Lee's Cavalry Division, the battery proceeded by forced marches along the same route which it had followed in the Teche expedition, reaching Alexandria March 21. On the 28th the march inland was resumed, Natchitoches was reached April 3, and Pleasant Hill April 7. On the following day, April 8, at Sabine Cross Roads, about three miles from Mansfield, La., a severe engagement took place in which the Union forces were driven from the field, the 2d Battery losing three men killed or mortally wounded, 16 officers and men wounded, five captured, together with all its guns and 82 horses. Retreating to Pleasant Hill and thence to Grand Ecore, the men were transported by boat to New Orleans, arriving April 22. On May 10 the battery was transferred to Carrolton and reequipped with four light guns which were later exchanged for three inch rifles. Captain Nims was sent north July 27 on recruiting duty, and two days later the members who had not re-enlisted embarked on the U. S. Mail Steamer MATANZAS for home. On Aug. 16 they were mustered out in Boston. The battery, now made up of recruits and re-enlisted men, proceeded on Sept. 2 to Morganzia, La., where it remained until the following spring. On Mar. 7, 1865, the battery sailed to Barrancas, Fla., to join Genl. Steele's expedition against Mobile. Captain Nims had now resigned and the battery was commanded by Captain Marland. After an exhausting march through the woods and swamps of western Florida it reached the vicinity of Mobile, Ala., and there assisted in the capture of Fort Blakely which surrendered April 9, the same day that Genl. Lee surrendered at Appomattox. The battery now set out on an expedition to Claiborne, Ala. Its last battle was at Daniels' Landing, April 11, 1865. Late in May, after a seven weeks march, Columbus, Miss., was reached. From here the battery was sent back to Mobile by rail and thence to Vicksburg by boat, arriving June 4. On July 22 its guns and equipments were turned over to the United States authorities and the men embarked for home. Boston was reached Aug. 4, and on the 11th, at Galloup's Island, Boston Harbor, the members of the battery were paid off and discharged.

Source: Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors & Marines in the Civil War

Massachusetts 2nd Light Artillery (Union)

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