Battery B, Pennsylvania Light Artillery
Encyclopedia
Independent Battery "B", Pennsylvania Volunteers was a light artillery
battery
that served in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
. The unit was also referenced as the Twenty-sixth Independent Battery, Pennsylvania Artillery, and commonly as "Muehler's Battery," or "Stevens' Battery," after its first two commanders.
, provided for eight companies of infantry, and one of artillery. The artillery unit was recruited in Franklin County
, in August 1861, by Captain Peter B. Housum; but not having the required strength, it was consolidated with one recruited for similar service in Erie County
, by Captain Charles F. Muehler, and was mustered into service for a three year enlistment at Pittsburgh
, on October 11, 1861. Capt. Muehler was given command of the unit, until his resignation on November 16, 1862; he was replaced by Captain Alanson J. Stevens, on January 5, 1863.
The battery was attached to Negley
's Brigade, McCook's Command, Army of the Ohio
, to December 1861. Artillery, 2nd Division, Army of the Ohio, to June 1862. Artillery, 5th Division, Army of the Ohio, to September 1862. Artillery, 5th Division, II Corps, Army of the Ohio, to November 1862. Artillery, 3rd Division, Left Wing, XIV Corps, Army of the Cumberland
, to January 1863. Artillery, 3rd Division, XXI Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October 1863. Artillery, 3rd Division, IV Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to April 1864. Artillery, 1st Division, 4th Corps, to July 1864. Artillery Brigade, IV Corps, to August 1865. Department of Texas to October 1865.
Battery "B", Pennsylvania Light Artillery mustered out of service on October 12, 1865.
Headquarters at Camp Nevin, Kentucky, for instruction and drill. Camp at Nolin River, Ky., until February 1862. March to Bowling Green, Ky.; then to Nashville, Tenn., February 14-March 3. March to Savannah, Tenn., March 16-April 6. Battle of Shiloh, April 6-7 (reserve). Advance on and Siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Pursuit to Booneville May 31-June 6. Buell's Campaign in northern Alabama and middle Tennessee June to August. March to Louisville, Ky., in pursuit of Bragg, August 20-September 26. Pursuit of Bragg into Kentucky October 1-22. Battle of Perryville, Ky., October 8. Logan's Cross Roads October 18. March to Nashville, Tenn., October 22-November 6 and duty there until December 26. Advance on Murfreesboro December 26-30. Battle of Stones River December 30-31, 1862 and January 1-3, 1863. Duty at Murfreesboro until June. Tullahoma Campaign June 23-July 7. Occupation of middle Tennessee until August 16. Passage of Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River, and Chickamauga Campaign, August 16-September 22. Battle of Chickamauga September 19-20. Siege of Chattanooga September 24-October 27. Battles of Chattanooga November 23-25; Missionary Ridge November 24-25; Atlanta Campaign May to September 1864. Demonstration on Rocky Faced Ridge May 8-11. Buzzard's Roost Gap May 8-9. Demonstration on Dalton May 9-13. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Near Kingston May 18-19. Near Cassville May 19. Kingston May 21. Cassville May 24. New Hope Church May 25. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church, and Allatoona Hills, May 26-June 5. Operations about Marietta and against Kennesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Pine Hill June 11-14. Lost Mountain June 15-17. Assault on Kennesaw June 27. Ruff's Station, or Smyrna Camp Ground, July 4. Chattahoochee River July 5-17. Peachtree Creek July 19-20. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Operations in northern Georgia and northern Alabama against Hood September 29-November 3. Nashville Campaign November-December. Spring Hill November 23 and November 29. Battle of Franklin November 30. Near Nashville December 6. Battle of Nashville December 15-16. Pursuit of Hood to the Tennessee River December 17-28. Moved to Huntsville, Ala., and duty there until March 1865. Operations in northern Georgia and eastern Tennessee January 31-April 24. Duty at Nashville, until June. Moved to New Orleans, then to Texas and duty there until October 1865.
Field artillery in the American Civil War
Field artillery in the American Civil War refers to the important artillery weapons, equipment, and practices used by the Artillery branch to support the infantry and cavalry forces in the field. It does not include siege artillery, use of artillery in fixed fortifications, or coastal or naval...
battery
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
that served in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. The unit was also referenced as the Twenty-sixth Independent Battery, Pennsylvania Artillery, and commonly as "Muehler's Battery," or "Stevens' Battery," after its first two commanders.
Service
The order for recruiting the Pennsylvania Seventy-seventh Regiment77th Pennsylvania Infantry
The 77th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 77th Pennsylvania Infantry was organized at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and mustered in for a three year enlistment on October 15, 1861 under the command of...
, provided for eight companies of infantry, and one of artillery. The artillery unit was recruited in Franklin County
Franklin County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 129,313 people, 50,633 households, and 36,405 families residing in the county. The population density was 168 people per square mile . There were 53,803 housing units at an average density of 70 per square mile...
, in August 1861, by Captain Peter B. Housum; but not having the required strength, it was consolidated with one recruited for similar service in Erie County
Erie County, Pennsylvania
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 280,566. Its county seat is the City of Erie.- Geography :...
, by Captain Charles F. Muehler, and was mustered into service for a three year enlistment at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, on October 11, 1861. Capt. Muehler was given command of the unit, until his resignation on November 16, 1862; he was replaced by Captain Alanson J. Stevens, on January 5, 1863.
The battery was attached to Negley
James S. Negley
James Scott Negley was an American Civil War General, farmer, railroader, and U.S. Representative from the state of Pennsylvania. He played a key role in the Union victory at the Battle of Murfreesboro.-Early life:...
's Brigade, McCook's Command, Army of the Ohio
Army of the Ohio
The Army of the Ohio was the name of two Union armies in the American Civil War. The first army became the Army of the Cumberland and the second army was created in 1863.-History:...
, to December 1861. Artillery, 2nd Division, Army of the Ohio, to June 1862. Artillery, 5th Division, Army of the Ohio, to September 1862. Artillery, 5th Division, II Corps, Army of the Ohio, to November 1862. Artillery, 3rd Division, Left Wing, XIV Corps, Army of the Cumberland
Army of the Cumberland
The Army of the Cumberland was one of the principal Union armies in the Western Theater during the American Civil War. It was originally known as the Army of the Ohio.-History:...
, to January 1863. Artillery, 3rd Division, XXI Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October 1863. Artillery, 3rd Division, IV Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to April 1864. Artillery, 1st Division, 4th Corps, to July 1864. Artillery Brigade, IV Corps, to August 1865. Department of Texas to October 1865.
Battery "B", Pennsylvania Light Artillery mustered out of service on October 12, 1865.
Detailed service
Moved down the Ohio River with the 77th Pennsylvania, in November 1861, to Louisville, Ky.; then to General McCook'sAnson G. McCook
Anson George McCook was a brevet brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War, attorney, and three-term postbellum U.S. Congressman from New York...
Headquarters at Camp Nevin, Kentucky, for instruction and drill. Camp at Nolin River, Ky., until February 1862. March to Bowling Green, Ky.; then to Nashville, Tenn., February 14-March 3. March to Savannah, Tenn., March 16-April 6. Battle of Shiloh, April 6-7 (reserve). Advance on and Siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Pursuit to Booneville May 31-June 6. Buell's Campaign in northern Alabama and middle Tennessee June to August. March to Louisville, Ky., in pursuit of Bragg, August 20-September 26. Pursuit of Bragg into Kentucky October 1-22. Battle of Perryville, Ky., October 8. Logan's Cross Roads October 18. March to Nashville, Tenn., October 22-November 6 and duty there until December 26. Advance on Murfreesboro December 26-30. Battle of Stones River December 30-31, 1862 and January 1-3, 1863. Duty at Murfreesboro until June. Tullahoma Campaign June 23-July 7. Occupation of middle Tennessee until August 16. Passage of Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River, and Chickamauga Campaign, August 16-September 22. Battle of Chickamauga September 19-20. Siege of Chattanooga September 24-October 27. Battles of Chattanooga November 23-25; Missionary Ridge November 24-25; Atlanta Campaign May to September 1864. Demonstration on Rocky Faced Ridge May 8-11. Buzzard's Roost Gap May 8-9. Demonstration on Dalton May 9-13. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Near Kingston May 18-19. Near Cassville May 19. Kingston May 21. Cassville May 24. New Hope Church May 25. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church, and Allatoona Hills, May 26-June 5. Operations about Marietta and against Kennesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Pine Hill June 11-14. Lost Mountain June 15-17. Assault on Kennesaw June 27. Ruff's Station, or Smyrna Camp Ground, July 4. Chattahoochee River July 5-17. Peachtree Creek July 19-20. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Operations in northern Georgia and northern Alabama against Hood September 29-November 3. Nashville Campaign November-December. Spring Hill November 23 and November 29. Battle of Franklin November 30. Near Nashville December 6. Battle of Nashville December 15-16. Pursuit of Hood to the Tennessee River December 17-28. Moved to Huntsville, Ala., and duty there until March 1865. Operations in northern Georgia and eastern Tennessee January 31-April 24. Duty at Nashville, until June. Moved to New Orleans, then to Texas and duty there until October 1865.
Casualties
The battery lost a total of 35 men during service: 2 officers (Stevens & McDowell) and 8 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded (Cuddy, Feirstine, Haberlin, Heller, Reins, Schlof); 25 enlisted men died of disease.Commanders
- Captain Charles F. Muehler (also appears as "Mueller") - resigned commission on November 16, 1862
- Captain Alanson J. Stevens (nephew and ward of Congressman Thaddeus StevensThaddeus StevensThaddeus Stevens , of Pennsylvania, was a Republican leader and one of the most powerful members of the United States House of Representatives...
) - commanded at the battles of Perryville and Stones River as a lieutenant; killed in action, September 21, 1863, battle of Chickamauga - Captain Samuel M. McDowell - commanded at the battle of Chickamauga as a lieutenant; killed in action, June 27, 1864, battle of Kennesaw Mountain
- Captain Jacob Ziegler - commanded at the battle of Nashville
See also
- List of Pennsylvania Civil War Units
- Pennsylvania in the Civil WarPennsylvania in the Civil WarDuring the American Civil War, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania played a critical role in the Union, providing a huge supply of military manpower, equipment, and leadership to the Federal government...